There is a danger of believing the Rapture. Are you one of the ones who are in danger? In short humor, people might say, “I’m not looking for the undertaker, I’m looking for the uppertaker.” And there certainly is a great Blessed Hope in Jesus’ soon return! However, the dangers of believing the Rapture is seen related to self, others and just plain laziness.

First, there is a danger toward selfishness in believing the Rapture. Followers of Christ might be so self-focused, they think God will deliver them before things get too bad, so they don’t understand the times like the men of Issachar, “…the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” (1 Chron. 12:32 NKJ) That selfishness may cause one to remove himself from others, because “the Rapture is going to happen at any time. I have my fire insurance and I’m going to heaven, so I’ll just enjoy myself.”

Secondly, there is a danger of removing self from the rest of society.  There is a danger of not witnessing to others, because some think they may not be around very much longer any way, so why bother to connect with others. Or it is dangerous, because some may remove themselves from helping society with transformation towards the Lord being the end goal. That leads to the danger of not witnessing to others. There is also the danger of removing self from politics. Christians ought to be involved in politics with the end-goal of influencing the nation for Christ’s name.

Thirdly, there is a danger of laziness in study and sanctification. Some may think they understand the Rapture, so other teaching on marriage, family, holiness may fall to a lower priority. Some become preoccupied with prophecy and the Rapture, so they become an agenda rather than the holiness of God.

The above may be considered dangers of believing the Rapture, however, the greater danger is to think it won’t happen. It is more dangerous, because the Rapture is the natural interpretation of Scripture.  The “Literal historico-grammatical” approach to interpretation clearly supports the Rapture.  Other systems of thinking require more symbolism and reading into Scripture of a particular theology. It is more dangerous because some will blend Israel into the church in Replacement Theology, which means the church has replaced the nation of Israel and the Jews have no more part in God’s history. That “Theology” denies the natural reading of Scripture and calls God’s promises, mere desires on His part. It blasphemes God by calling His promises empty words. Today, every Jew who trusts in Jesus is a part of, and will be raptured with, the church, but unbelieving Jews will be left behind to form the regenerated nation of Israel and seek after the return of the Messiah at the Second Advent.

There is a deliverance in the Rapture from the wrath to come (1 Thes. 1:10).  However, Biblical teaching on the Rapture does not indicate that you or a particular nation will be delivered from God’s coming judgments.  There may be numerous judgments of God, before the Rapture and the Tribulation judgments.  The United States is not a chosen nation and while it has been exposed to more light and blessing that almost any other country in history, the Rapture may not happen until after the United States is reduced to a third world status, if God so desires.