Rapture Insurance

All eggs in one basket

Most experienced investors diversify their portfolios, because they never know exactly what will happen in the future. Sadly, many Christians put all their eggs in one basket when it comes to preparing for disaster, a disruption in the food supply chain, martial law, persecution or potential martyrdom.

Some simply suffer from normalcy bias, i.e., "Bad things may happen elsewhere but not here, because I've never seen them happen here." This was the attitude of many of the 300,000 New York homeowners who lost their homes during Hurricane Sandy.

Others suffer from fatalistic passiveness, i.e., a belief that everything is predetermined or predestined, so why bother trying to take personal responsibility and live by faith? When these people see warning signs provided by God, they simply do nothing to prepare physically and emotionally, they don't study the facts, and they don't warn those they love. The Apostle Paul said that these people have "denied the faith and are worse than infidels", i.e., those with no religious beliefs (1 Tim. 5:8).

Still others suffer from rapture distraction, i.e., they are so eager to see the return of Jesus Christ that they can't imagine they'll be on earth when anything bad happens, so they don't prepare to face disaster or serious trouble - even though the Bible is filled with stories of people who by faith prepared for disaster or serious trouble and were saved.

American materialism effect
Everybody wants a comfortable, smooth life, especially Americans. Many people view the ideal life as having a well-paying job and going home to sit in a La-Z-Boy chair and be entertained on a 40 inch flat screen TV. So why not desire to get raptured to heaven to watch the Great Tribulation on a large flat screen TV in heaven? 

Will American Christians get raptured out before all the bad stuff happens and watch all the action on earth from La-Z-Boy chairs in heaven?

The problem with the American mindset is that Jesus was not American. He said, "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil" (John 17:15). Similarly, the Apostle Paul said, "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Millions of Christians have been martyred throughout history. It's happening today in countries like Syria. It's going to be a sad day if persecution starts in the US before the rapture happens. Many will not be ready for martyrdom and will deny the faith instead.

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Rev. 6:10)

But before all these [earthquakes, pestilences, fearful sights], they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

Learn from the Chinese

Rapture distraction was a serious problem in China when Mao Tse Tung and the communists took over China in 1949. At first, they ousted the Nationalists and took the property of the landowners. Eventually, they began to persecute Christians. Sadly, at that time, many Christians were hoping for a pre-tribulation rapture, and it didn't happen in time to save them from imprisonment and torture. In fact, many Christians had developed a false sense of security, so they didn't prepare spiritually or physically for great hardship and suffering. Sadly, many denied Jesus and fell away from the faith. However, some drew close to Jesus and sought Him in prayer and intense study of Scripture. Only these were victorious. For more information, see Corrie Ten Boom on the Rapture of the Church.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? - Hebrews 12:3-7

But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. - Luke 21:9-12

Buying rapture insurance
Preparing for the possibility of NOT being raptured out of this world before disaster and/or persecution start is not difficult. It only requires faith (Hebrews 11:1,7). Although it is impossible to fully prepare for disaster and/or persecution, here are a few suggestions, especially for those who live in the US:

• If you are not saved, then repent and turn to Jesus ASAP! See How to Be Saved
• Do not receive the abomination that causes desolation, aka the Mark of the 7-headed Beast
• Be sure you are in daily fellowship with Jesus - reading the Bible (to listen to Him), praying (praising Him, confessing sin, thanking Him for all kinds of things in your life - both pleasant and unpleasant, and asking Him to help you and others).
• Put on the full armor of God to fight against the evil in your heart and against the devil and his evil spirits. See Eph. 6:10-20.
• Pray and fast and ask God for mercy and guidance. See Daniel 9:3 and Mark 9:29.
• Learn about binding demons and loosing good angels (see Mt. 18:18) and casting out demons (see http://wrwpublications.com/ or http://www.omegaman.tv/.)
• Spend time in fellowship with other people who want to follow Jesus and share each others burdens and the truth.
• Actively tell other people about Jesus and your faith in Him and be prepared to love and serve those who might persecute you. Jesus said, "You have heard that is was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." (Mt. 5:43,44 NKJV)
• Think of what your family might need if there is a systemic collapse. Every man has a duty to consider in advance (pronoei) the needs of his family (I Tim. 5:8). Consider the possibility of the need to store up supplies and/or relocate, since "a prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished." (Pr. 22:3)
• Read history about the Nazi holocaust, since the coming holocaust of Jews and Christians may be much worse.