A Message of Hope and Warning for the Great Basin Region

Something is burning so deeply in my spirit that I cannot remain silent. If I were to keep quiet, I would betray both my Lord and my own conscience. I write this not as a scholar, not as someone seeking to win arguments, but as a brother who loves you and trembles before God.

The Lord Jesus has placed a warning on my heart, and I must give it. If I withhold it, I would be complicit in the very danger I see looming before us. The apostle Paul once said, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16). That is how I feel as I write to you now.

I love Christ’s Bride. I love His appearing. And I long for you to love His appearing too, because there is a crown waiting—a crown that the righteous Judge Himself has promised to give to all who do (2 Timothy 4:8).

But I also know, with tears in my eyes, that there are forces—even within the household of faith—that would distract you, discourage you, or deceive you into letting go of that blessed hope.

Jesus Himself warned us, “I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown” (Revelation 3:11). Beloved, if He cautioned us about crown thieves, then crown thieves are real. And if He told us to hold fast, then letting go is possible. This is not a game, nor is it an optional doctrine. It is a matter of eternal reward, of comfort in this life, and of being ready when He comes.

Crown robbers may try to diminish our hope and silence our expectation, but never forget—“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us”—their voices cannot cancel the power of Christ or the reward He has promised.

Please know this comes from love. I am not writing with anger or bitterness, but with a trembling heart. “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11). I cannot live with myself if I don’t warn you. My prayer is that as you read, you will sense not just the urgency but the compassion of Christ, who desires that none of His people be robbed of their joy, their hope, or their crown.

So, with humility but also with boldness, I invite you to walk with me through this message. Test it against the Word of God. Lay aside traditions and assumptions. Let the Scriptures speak for themselves. And above all, keep your eyes fixed on the One who promised, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, LorD!

The Crown That Cannot Be Stolen—Unless You Let It

There is a crown waiting for every believer who loves Christ's appearing. Not a crown of gold or silver that rust can corrupt or thieves can steal, but an eternal crown of righteousness that Jesus Himself will place upon the heads of those who have loved His appearing and watched for His return.

But there are those among us—sincere though they may be—who are unknowingly stealing this crown from the very people they claim to serve. They are crown robbers, and their theft is not of gold or precious stones, but of something far more valuable: the blessed hope of Christ's imminent return.

"Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." 2 Timothy 4:8

Who Are These Crown Robbers?

Crown robbers are not necessarily false teachers or wolves in sheep's clothing. Many are sincere believers who genuinely love the Lord. But they have embraced teachings that rob others of the comfort, hope, and reward that comes from watching for Christ's imminent return.
Crown robbers, among many things, teach that Jesus cannot come back for His church right now—that He must wait for certain events to unfold first.

These well-meaning individuals tell the body of Christ:

"Don't bother looking for Him. Don't love His appearing. Focus on the work down here instead. The rapture isn't coming soon, so settle in for the long haul."

In doing so, they steal the crown of righteousness from those who would otherwise be watching and waiting with eager anticipation.

"Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown." Revelation 3:11

Notice that Jesus Himself warns us about crown thieves. He doesn't say someone can't take your crown—He warns us to hold fast so that no one does take it. This warning would be meaningless if crown robbery were impossible.

The Philadelphia Church vs. The Sardis Church

The contrast between these two churches in Revelation 2-3 reveals the heart of this issue. Philadelphia represents the faithful church that loves Christ's appearing, while Sardis represents those who think they are alive but are spiritually dead regarding His return.

Philadelphia: The Watching Church

"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown." Revelation 3:10-11

To Philadelphia—the church of love of the truth, the faithful church—Jesus gives the promise of being kept from the hour of trial. He speaks of His coming as comfort, as reward, as deliverance. "I'm coming quickly," He says, "so hold fast to what you have."

Sardis: The Spiritually Dead Church

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead... Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.'" Revelation 3:1, 3

To Sardis—those who think they are spiritually alive but are actually dead—Jesus uses His coming as a threat rather than comfort. "If you will not watch," He warns, "I will come upon you as a thief in the night."

The difference is stark: To the watching remnant, His coming is deliverance and reward. To the non-watching non-believing church, His coming is a surprise and judgment–you go through the Great Tribulation. You get what you believe.

The Crown of Righteousness and the Blessed Hope

The crown of righteousness is specifically promised to "all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8). This is not a crown for perfect living or great works, but for loving and watching for Jesus' return. It is tied directly to the blessed hope of the rapture. JUST BELIEVE.

"Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 3:20

When teachers tell believers that Jesus cannot come for His church at any moment—that there are prophetic events that must happen first—they rob people of this crown. They steal the very thing that would make them eligible for this specific reward: loving His appearing and watching for His return.

The Promise of Being Kept From the Hour of Trial

"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." Revelation 3:10

The Greek phrase here is crucial: "keep you from" (tereo ek) means to keep completely out of, not to preserve through. It's the same construction used when Jesus prayed, "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one" John 17:15.

This promise is made to the faithful, watching church. It is a promise of deliverance from the coming time of global testing that will fall upon "those who dwell on the earth"—a phrase used throughout Revelation to describe unbelievers.

Jesus is going to pull the loving Father move: removing His children from the earth before His judgment falls upon the world.

The Rapture in Revelation 4

After the judgment of the seven churches (representing the complete church age), John is called up to heaven with a voice "like a trumpet," saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this" (Revelation 4:1).

"After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, 'Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.' Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven." Revelation 4:1-2

This is a typology—a prophetic picture—of the pre-tribulation rapture. After the church age ends, there is an open door in heaven, a trumpet-like voice, and a "come up here" command. John is immediately caught up to heaven before the judgments begin in Revelation 6.

Just like Noah was removed before the flood, and Lot was evacuated before Sodom's destruction, the faithful church will be removed before God's wrath is poured out on the earth.

The 24 Elders: Representatives of the Church in Heaven

In Revelation 4:4, we see 24 elders sitting on thrones around God's throne, clothed in white garments with golden crowns. Who are these elders?

"Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads." Revelation 4:4

The number 24 represents the priesthood (1 Chronicles 24). The elders sit on thrones (promised to overcomers in Revelation 3:21), wear white garments (promised to the faithful in Revelation 3:18), and have crowns (the rewards promised to watching believers).

"And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth." Revelation 5:10

These elders cannot be angels because Revelation 7:11 clearly distinguishes between "all the angels" and "the elders and the four living creatures."

The 24 elders represent the church—already in heaven, already crowned, already ruling—while the judgments unfold on earth.

A Personal Appeal: My Belief About September 2025

I want to share something from my heart. Based on my study of biblical patterns, feast days, and prophetic timelines, I believe there is a strong possibility that the HARPAZO could occur in September 2025—specifically around September 22-24, which corresponds to Rosh Hashanah (the Feast of Trumpets) in 2025.

I am not setting dates. I am not claiming to be a prophet. I am sharing my sincere biblical conviction based on years of study. If I am wrong, it changes nothing about my love for Jesus or my commitment to watching for His return. I will continue to love His appearing, whether He comes in September 2025, September 2035, or any other time He chooses.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." Matthew 24:36

I acknowledge that no one knows the day or hour, yet we are commanded to keep watch. Remember, we should know the season, and I believe we are in that season now.

The Cost of Following Crown Robbers

What happens to those who listen to crown robbers? What is the eternal cost of being convinced that Jesus cannot come at any moment?

First, they lose the crown of righteousness, which is specifically given to those who love His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8). If you are taught not to love or expect His appearing, you forfeit this crown.

Second, they may find themselves among the Sardis church—thinking they are spiritually alive but actually dead to the blessed hope. When Jesus does return, it will come upon them "as a thief in the night" rather than as a welcomed bridegroom.

"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." 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5

Third, they miss out on the comfort that this doctrine is meant to provide. Paul said to "comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:18). What comfort is there in being told you must endure the worst period in human history before Jesus returns?

The Danger of Crying "Maranatha" Without Meaning It

"Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" Revelation 22:20

If we are going to go through the tribulation—through Daniel's 70th week of testing and judgment upon the earth—then when we cry "Maranatha! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!" we are actually crying for our own judgment to fall upon us. We are asking for the most horrible period in human history to begin. Where is the comfort in that? Where is the blessed hope? It makes no sense.

But if we understand that Jesus is coming to deliver His bride from the wrath to come, then "Maranatha" becomes a cry of hope, expectation, and deliverance. We are not asking for judgment to fall on us, but for our beloved to come and take us home before judgment falls on a Christ-rejecting world.

A Message to Those Who Will Be Left Behind

If you are reading this after September 2025 and the rapture has occurred, know this: it is not too late for you. God's mercy extends even into the tribulation period. Many will come to faith during that terrible time.

"After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands." Revelation 7:9

These are tribulation saints—those who come to faith after the church is removed. Though you will face persecution and martyrdom, you can still be saved. Call upon the name of Jesus Christ, repent of your sins, and trust Him as your Savior.

But understand: the easy grace period is over. The tribulation will be a time of unprecedented suffering, and faith will cost you everything—including likely your physical life.

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." Revelation 12:11

The Gospel: Your Only Hope

Whether you believe in a pre-tribulation rapture or not, whether you think I'm right about September 2025 or completely wrong, there is one thing that matters above all else: your relationship with Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins. He was buried and rose again on the third day. He offers you free salvation—not based on your works, but based on His finished work on the cross.

If you have never trusted Christ as your personal Savior, do it now. Don't wait. Whether the rapture comes in 2025 or 2125, you need to be ready to meet God.

Hold Fast What You Have

"Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown." Revelation 3:11

To those who believe in the blessed hope of Christ's imminent return, I urge you: hold fast what you have. Don't let anyone steal your crown by convincing you that Jesus cannot come at any moment. Keep watching. Keep waiting. Keep loving His appearing.

"And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." 1 John 2:28

To those in the Great Basin Region and beyond: the King is coming. The signs are all around us. The time is shorter than most people think. Get right with God. Share the Gospel. Love one another. And above all, keep looking up.

"Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." Luke 21:28

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. We love you, we're waiting for you, and we refuse to let anyone steal the crown you've prepared for those who love your appearing.

"Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:18

The just shall live by faith.