BE READY TODAY
Who am I?
I am a nobody. I have no authority, no credentials, no platform. I am a humble Christian who has lost everything this world values - reputation, respect, position. The world considers me foolish. I am persecuted, mocked, beaten down. I am dead to self, so I don’t care.
I am like the thief on the cross - empty hands, nothing to offer, completely dependent on Christ's righteousness alone. I come to the cross as an infant, with the faith of a baby.
I am dead. Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me."
I don't speak from SELF. SELF is dead. I speak from the Spirit of Truth dwelling within me.
WHAT I DISCOVERED
For years, I investigated like a reporter seeking truth. Not building frameworks - discovering what's already written. Not inventing theories - reading what God already said.
I started with a clean slate: Scripture alone. No commentary. No theological systems. Just the Bible.
THE LIE WE WERE TOLD
"The rapture was invented by John Darby in the 1830s."
This is false.
Paul taught harpazo in his FIRST letters (1 & 2 Thessalonians, 49-51 AD)
Early Church Fathers taught it: Irenaeus (disciple of Polycarp, who knew John), Didache (mid-2nd century), Victorinus (303 AD), Ephraim of Syria (4th century)
Reformation era: Increase Mather, Cotton Mather (1600s-1700s)
Francisco Ribera taught gathering of believers before tribulation in 1590
The harpazo has been taught since Paul. Anyone saying otherwise is repeating a lie.
THE MISUSED VERSE
"But of that day and hour no one knows" (Matthew 24:36)
This is used to mock those who watch.
But read what comes AFTER:
Matthew 24:42: "Therefore be on the alert"
Matthew 24:44: "For this reason you also must be ready"
Matthew 25:13: "Be on the alert then"
Mark 13:35-37: "Therefore, be on the alert... What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert!'"
Jesus COMMANDS watching. Not forbids it.
WHO SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED
1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 (NASB): "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day."
THE PATTERN
Unbelievers (darkness): Day comes AS THIEF, sudden destruction, no escape
Believers (light): Day does NOT overtake as thief, we are NOT in darkness
Paul says believers DON'T NEED instruction on times and seasons BECAUSE we are sons of light. The day won't surprise us like it surprises those in darkness.
WHAT SCRIPTURE COMMANDS
Never once does Scripture command: "Don't watch."
Every single time:
WATCH (Matthew 24:42, 25:13, Mark 13:33-37)
BE ALERT (1 Thessalonians 5:6)
BE READY (Matthew 24:44)
EAGERLY AWAIT (Hebrews 9:28, 2 Timothy 4:8)
LOVE HIS APPEARING (2 Timothy 4:8)
LOVE OF THE TRUTH, WHICH IS HIS APPEARING
THE PHARISEE PATTERN
THEN
Luke 19:44: Jesus wept over Jerusalem because "you did not recognize the time of your visitation"
John 11:47-48: Pharisees said, "If we let Him go on like this... the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation"
They killed Jesus to protect their position.
NOW
The same spirit operates today:
Protect position, platform, reputation
Build kingdoms of SELF
Love this world more than His appearing
Mock those who watch
Use Matthew 24:36 to silence watchers
They're killing the message to protect their position.
THE BEATITUDES - WHO ENTERS THE KINGDOM
Matthew 5:3-12 (NASB):
Poor in spirit (empty hands)
Those who mourn (over sin and fallen world)
Gentle/meek (not proud) Like a child
Hunger for righteousness (not self-righteousness)
Merciful (not judgmental)
Pure in heart (Holy Spirit, not SELF)
Peacemakers (like children)
Persecuted for righteousness (mocked for watching)
NOT:
Those protecting positions
Those judging humble seekers
Those loving this world
Those building SELF-kingdoms
THE ONLY SOURCE OF TRUTH
John 14:6: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life"
John 16:13: "When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth"
1 John 5:6: "the Spirit is the truth"
THE PROBLEM
FLESH = SELF = SIN = opposes truth, can't know truth
SPIRIT = TRUTH = LIFE = reveals truth
Satan's strategy: Keep people in SELF, block Holy Spirit, lie about timing
God's solution: Repent, empty SELF, receive Holy Spirit
THE WRATH TO COME
WHAT IS IT?
1 Thessalonians 1:10: Jesus "rescues us from the wrath to come"
Revelation 6:16-17: "the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come"
The Wrath = God's judgment during 7-year Tribulation
Daniel's 70th week (Daniel 9:27)
Seal, Trumpet, Bowl judgments (Revelation 6-19)
Matthew 24:21: "great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world"
WHY THE WRATH?
John 3:36: "he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him"
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12: "they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved"
Romans 1:18: "wrath of God is revealed... against all... who suppress the truth"
SUMMARY
Rejected the only Savior
Loved SELF over Spirit
Chose darkness over Light
Refused to repent despite evidence
WHEN DOES WRATH BEGIN?
AFTER THE HARPAZO
1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, 9: "While THEY are saying 'Peace and safety!' destruction will come upon THEM suddenly... But YOU, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief... For God has not destined US for wrath"
THE PATTERN
THEY (darkness) → sudden destruction, wrath
YOU (light) → NOT destined for wrath
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: "The Lord Himself will descend... and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds"
Revelation 3:10: "I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world"
SEQUENCE
Harpazo - Church removed
7-Year Tribulation - Wrath poured out
Second Coming - Christ returns with saints
1000-Year Kingdom - co-reign with Jesus
WHY BELIEVERS ESCAPE
NOT because we're worthy.
Ephesians 2:8-9: "by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works"
BECAUSE
Christ's righteousness alone (2 Corinthians 5:21)
His blood justifies us (Romans 5:9)
We are His Bride (Ephesians 5:25-27)
He promised (John 14:1-3)
THE THIEF ON THE CROSS
Luke 23:42-43: "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!' And He said to him, 'Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.'"
THE THIEF HAD:
NOTHING to offer
EMPTY HANDS
ONLY FAITH
RECEIVED GRACE
BELIEVERS ARE LIKE THE THIEF
Empty hands - no merit
Grace alone - not works
Like infants - completely dependent
Poor in spirit - spiritually bankrupt
Waiting for Him - looking to Jesus alone
Matthew 18:3: "unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven"
THE SIGNS ARE EVERYWHERE
MIDDLE EAST - WARS
June 2025: Israel-Iran 12-day war
Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities
Killed IRGC commander Hossein Salami
Iran struck back, Trump involved
Ongoing conflicts:
35,000+ Israeli attacks across 5 countries since Oct 2023
Gaza: 93,000+ estimated deaths
Yemen, Lebanon, Syria all active
Israel announced indefinite occupation plans
WORLD WAR 3 FORMING
October 3, 2025: Russia's largest attack on Ukraine
381 drones and 35 missiles on gas infrastructure
790,000+ Russian casualties total
400,000+ Ukrainian casualties
Putin warns "new stage of escalation" with US
19% of Ukraine occupied
EARTH GROANING
2025 extreme weather:
Historic Gulf Coast snowfall records
California fires killing 30
Deadly Texas floods
Dust storms affecting 330 million people
Multiple billion-dollar disasters
SIGNS IN HEAVENS
October 6, 2025: Supermoon (30% brighter, 14% larger)
THE URGENT MESSAGE
TO THOSE IN DARKNESS
You face the wrath because you:
Rejected the only Savior
Chose SELF over Spirit
Loved darkness over Light
Suppressed truth
THE ESCAPE
Acts 16:31: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved"
Romans 10:9-10: "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved"
HOW TO BE SAVED
REPENT - Turn from SELF, turn to Jesus
EMPTY YOURSELF - Like infant, like thief - nothing to offer
BELIEVE - Jesus died for your sins, rose from the dead
RECEIVE - By faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone
CONFESS - Jesus is Lord
You don't need to:
Clean up first
Earn it
Be worthy
Have good works
Understand everything
You only need:
Empty hands
Humble heart
Faith in Jesus alone
TO BELIEVERS
Luke 21:28: "when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near"
Luke 21:36: "keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things"
THE COMFORT
1 Thessalonians 4:18: "Therefore comfort one another with these words"
What's the comfort?
NOT: "You'll go through wrath but Jesus will help"
YES: "Jesus rescues you FROM the wrath"
THIS IS NOT ABOUT ONE DATE
This is about EVERY DAY.
You could die today. Heart attack. Car accident. Stroke. Violence. Disease.
The Harpazo could come today. Or tomorrow. Or next week. Or next year.
EITHER WAY: BE READY
James 4:14: "You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away"
2 Corinthians 6:2: "Behold, now is 'THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,' behold, now is 'THE DAY OF SALVATION'"
Not tomorrow. TODAY.
THE FIVE WISE VIRGINS
Matthew 25:1-13 - Ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom:
FIVE FOOLISH:
No oil (no Holy Spirit)
Unprepared
Locked out
FIVE WISE:
Had oil (Holy Spirit)
Watching and ready
Entered the wedding
Jesus' conclusion: "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour"
They weren't wrong for watching at the door.
They were RIGHT for being ready.
THE FINAL WORD
We don't know if the Harpazo is tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year.
WE DON'T NEED TO KNOW
We know:
It's coming
It could be any day
We must watch
We must be ready
Death could come first
SO BE READY TODAY.
Not because we figured out a date.
Not because we're smart or special.
BECAUSE SCRIPTURE COMMANDS IT.
And because the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of Truth - reveals truth to those who seek it.
IF YOU'RE NOT READY
RIGHT NOW
"Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I have nothing to offer. I am spiritually bankrupt. I cannot save myself. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Save me by Your grace alone. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Make me ready for Your coming. Amen."
Romans 10:13: "whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be saved"
IF YOU ARE READY
KEEP WATCHING.
KEEP WAITING.
KEEP YOUR OIL FULL.
1 Thessalonians 5:11: "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another"
Whether He comes tomorrow or we die tomorrow or He tarries for years:
BE READY TODAY.
Come, Lord Jesus.
We are nobodies speaking truth. We have nothing but Christ. We are dead to self, alive in Him. To God alone be the glory.BE READY TODAY
THE Grace Awakening Study Guide
Who is Craig Rogers and KINGDOM Empowered?
About the Author:
Craig Rogers
KINGDOM Empowered CEO and CoFounder
Professional Experience: CEO | KINGDOM Empowered (2020 -...
Professional Experience: CEO | KINGDOM Empowered (2020 - Present) In his role as co-CEO, Craig’s daily mission is to surrender his...
