Is Rapture in September? Let No Man Deceive You

There are a lot of visions right now on the internet about the rapture being this September during the Feast of Trumpets on the 23rd or 24th. Many believe these visions and prophecies without question, but we need to be very careful.

Jesus never told us to just believe other people’s visions without questioning. He warned us about false prophets in the last days. We are encouraged to test everything (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21) and judge all prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:29), and also to search the scriptures (Acts 17:11). So it is not a sin or unspiritual to question the dates being set and prophecies being given; it is wise.

“Do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test all things.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21.

I do not despise prophecies because I do not know everything, but I am encouraged by the Bible to test all things. Now, I am not saying the Lord will not come in September because I do not know. That’s the thing—no one does. But I am saying we must be very careful about clinging to dates, especially when Jesus himself indicates that the date will catch everyone unaware.

I would selfishly wish Jesus would come today, but I know it is not for me to know the times and seasons set by the Father by his own authority (Acts 1:7).

“And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” Acts 1:7

I truly believe the rapture date is a secret that belongs to the Father, in the same way Jesus’ first coming was unexpected and a secret (Deuteronomy 29:29).

“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29

Some thoughts to ponder:

AN HOUR WE DO NOT EXPECT

Jesus was very clear that his coming will be at an hour WE DO NOT EXPECT. He used the example of a thief and said that if the homeowner knew in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and not allowed his house to be broken into. When I read this, I ask myself, if the homeowner knew for sure the thief was coming on the 23rd or 24th of September, wouldn’t he make sure to be awake all through to ensure his home is not broken into?

But Jesus says we must be ready always because he will come at an hour we are not expecting. If we are expecting him to return on the 23rd or 24th of September, then the surprise element Jesus spoke of and the waiting in FAITH rather than having secret knowledge of the date are gone!

“If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. For this reason, YOU ALSO MUST BE READY, BECAUSE THE SON OF MAN WILL COME AT AN HOUR YOU DO NOT EXPECT.” Matthew 24:43-44

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. TAKE HEED, WATCH, AND PRAY, FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE TIME IS. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: WATCH!” Mark 13:32-37

WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES, WILL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?

The idea of always being ready is rooted in faith. Those who believe Jesus is coming back and look forward to his return should always be ready until their dying breath. That is FAITH. Paul says the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). If one is only preparing because they have been given a heads-up about the date and are now rushing to repent to beat September, is their repentance or faith real? This is not real readiness.

What about those who don’t have internet and live in a village somewhere, or poor people with no electricity? They haven’t had the privilege of seeing videos online about September. Wouldn’t God then be unfair to give some people advance notice and leave others clueless?

Many of those who are convinced that the rapture is in September are rushing to repent and get right with God, but how much of this repentance is genuine? It is a good thing that many are repenting, but is it a true conversion? Will it stand the test if the date passes? The Bible tells us, “The just shall live by faith.”

THE 10 VIRGINS

In the parable of the 10 virgins, when the trumpet call came, all of them were caught by surprise, and all were sleeping (both the wise and foolish virgins). But the difference was this: the wise virgins had OIL in their lamps all along. They were not waiting for a particular date to have oil ready; otherwise, even the foolish ones would have had oil ready too if they had been notified of the date.

The element of surprise was crucial to distinguishing who was a real bride and who was not. The REAL bride is ready always, not just when a date is announced. Even if Jesus takes another 20 years to return, the true bride will be ready always each day, and because of that, the day will not catch her by surprise in that sense, because she was ready. The midnight cry has already gone out; Jesus is coming. We should always be ready.

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut.” Matthew 24:1-10

A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

Jesus and the apostles Paul and Peter all said the Lord would come like a thief in the night, and the command was to WATCH, meaning to always be on alert and watching for the same. But Paul added that for believers the day would not catch them as a thief, not because they would know the date, but because they are children of the light and would be awake, watching, and ready always.

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. THEREFORE LET US NOT SLEEP, AS OTHERS DO, BUT LET US WATCH AND BE SOBER. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore, comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10

“If the homeowner had known IN WHICH WATCH OF THE NIGHT THE THIEF WAS COMING, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:43-44

“BUT THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you.” 2 Peter 3:10-15

“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” Revelation 16:15

WATCH AND PRAY!

The Lord’s and the apostles’ admonition always was to watch and be ready and live holy lives, regardless of when! The bride stays ready always with oil in her lamp because she does not know when the Lord will return and because she is always watching in eagerness. Her eagerness and preparation should not be tied to a date.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. TAKE HEED, WATCH, AND PRAY, FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE TIME IS. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: WATCH!” Mark 13:32-37

Now, I think it is normal for believers to look for signs of the Lord’s return, and Jesus told us that we should be aware of the signs when his return is near (Matthew 16:3, Matthew 24:33). He gave us signs to watch for. However, the Lord’s teachings regarding his return made it clear that it would not be a day anyone knows, and it would be unexpected.

Nevertheless, his bride would not be caught unawares or unready, because she is always watching, waiting, and expecting. The Lord’s warnings to watch and be ready are about maintaining a state of readiness and watchfulness at all times and not sleeping like the world.

PAST PREDICTIONS

Rapture date setting is nothing new. There were rapture dates set in past centuries, which led to great disappointments. For example:

Harold Camping predicted the Rapture for May 21, 2011; Edgar C. Whisenant claimed it would occur between September 11–13, 1988 in 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988; William Miller set it for October 22, 1844, leading to the “Great Disappointment”; Herbert W. Armstrong anticipated it around 1975; Ronald Weinland predicted it for May 27, 2012; Hal Lindsey implied in The Late Great Planet Earth (1970) that the Rapture could happen by the 1980s; and Pat Robertson forecasted it for October or November of 1982.

INTERNET AND AI AGE PREDICTIONS WILL BE MORE VIRAL

With the internet, of course, it can appear to be a new phenomenon and be more pronounced due to the viral nature of videos. But since time immemorial, Christians have always attempted to set dates, and each time they were convinced of them. I guess it is just human nature.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to know the time of the Lord’s return or being eager for it. We are encouraged to watch, but it is not wise to share dates with authority because this goes against God’s Word and does more harm than good.

There are dangers in date setting, which can include:

1. False repentance
2. Danger of great disappointment
3. Apathy if the date fails
4. Panic and not carrying out everyday affairs and responsibilities
5. Mockery by the world if the date fails
6. Lack of confidence in the Lord’s return
7. Despising of prophecies and prophets
8. Loss of faith

All said and done, we are admonished to be ready and watchful and to expect the Lord’s return. There is even a crown for those who long for his appearing (2 Timothy 4:8). Paul was longing for the Lord’s return even back in his day. The Lord’s bride should long for his return. It will be a glorious day when the Lord comes for His Church. I pray that those who have set their hopes on September based on internet prophecies will not be disappointed to their detriment.

BE FOUND FAITHFUL

The Lord’s desire is for us to be found faithful when he comes. He wants us to be busy sharing the gospel and making disciples. We are not to be passively waiting or seeking escape from tribulation but to be found active with his main mission and reason for dying, which is the salvation and maturity of souls.

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 24:45-51

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.” Matthew 25:14-19

“He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” Luke 19:12-13

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28:18-19

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