When Pride-Ego-Lust Veils the Promise of GRACE

UNMASKING THE BLINDNESS

Look around. Listen closely. Who is talking about the HARPAZO?

The pulpits are silent. The scholars are debating. The Church is asleep.

But a greater danger than the world's chaos is the viper coiled around the Christian heart: the serpent of SELF-RIGHTEOUS PRIDE!

For too long, lies about God’s final act of GRACE have been allowed to stand.

The truth of the Harpazo (The Rapture)—Christ’s promised, imminent, and instantaneous rescue of His Bride—is being deliberately buried under layers of theological arrogance, fear of "escapism," and a stubborn refusal to admit total, absolute spiritual bankruptcy.

THE DOOM OF RELIGIOUS PRIDE

The same spirit that blinded the Pharisees to the face of their Messiah now blinds the modern church to the promise of His return.

This is not a complex debate for ivory towers; it is a TEST OF GRACE.

Are you trusting in your own ability to endure wrath, or in Christ’s promise to deliver you from it? Are you building a kingdom here through your SELF-effort, or are you desperate for a home prepared by PURE GRACE?

Silence the sophisticated deceptions! The Bible is not ambiguous! The only thing veiling the glorious truth of the coming HARPAZO is the human PRIDE that hates a gift it cannot earn, and resists rescue because it believes it can survive alone.

WAKE UP!

This teaching rips the veil off PRIDE’S deception. If your theology rejects a Pre-Tribulation Harpazo, you must ask yourself: Is it because of Scripture... or because SELF still reigns on your heart's throne?

The storm is coming, and no SELF-righteous works will endure the Day of Wrath-NONE. Only pure, unadulterated GRACE saves.

THE LIES END HERE. THE TRUTH IS IMMINENT.

“But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” — Romans 2:5

The GRACE We Cannot See

The Harpazo (“to snatch away, to catch up”) — what English speakers call “The Rapture” — stands as one of the most profound demonstrations of God’s sovereign GRACE in all of Scripture. Yet tragically, it remains hidden from many who bear the name “Christian.”

Not hidden because Scripture is unclear. Not hidden because evidence is lacking. But hidden because of the same spiritual blindness that afflicted the religious leaders of Jesus’ day: the blindness of religious pride, the darkness of self-righteousness, the delusion of self-sufficiency.

Just as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes knew the Scriptures BUT DID NOT BELIEVE, so many today read about the Harpazo but do not see it. They have eyes but cannot perceive. They have ears but cannot hear. Why?

Because SELF still sits on the throne where Christ should reign.

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The SELF Problem: The Root of Religious Blindness

The Tyranny of SELF

When Adam fell, humanity became SELF-aware in a deadly way. Not the good self-awareness of being image-bearers of God, but the toxic self-consciousness and self-ambition for:

- SELF-righteousness — “I am good enough”

- SELF-promotion — “Look at what I’ve accomplished”

- SELF-protection — “I must guard my reputation”

- SELF-preservation — “I must secure my own life”

- SELF-ambition — “I will make a name for myself”

- SELF-assurance — “I know I’m saved because I…”

- SELF-reliance — “I can figure this out myself”

- SELF-confidence — “My understanding is correct”

All of these are manifestations of PRIDE — the original sin, the root rebellion, the core of our fallen nature.

The Pattern of Self-Measurement

Romans 10:3 — “For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.”

The religious heart operates on SELF-measurement:

- SELF-evaluated performance (“I pray, I fast, I give, I teach, I preach, I worship”)

- SELF-conscious comparison (“I’m not like other sinners, not as bad…”)

- SELF-justified works (“I’ve earned God’s favor”)

This is religion — man’s attempt to feel good about God through SELF-effort, through performance of the flesh, through the works of the unregenerate and uncircumcised mind.

Isaiah 64:6 — “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.”

Even our BEST is filthy before God! Yet religious pride says, “Surely MY righteousness counts for something!”

Why SELF Blinds Us to GRACE

Grace is looking for HUMILITY. Grace thrives in absolute humility, death to all forms of SELF.

SELF cannot comprehend GRACE because:

- GRACE requires admission of total bankruptcy — SELF says “I have resources”

- GRACE demands we receive, not achieve — SELF says “I must earn it”

- GRACE is unmerited favor — SELF says “I deserve recognition”

- GRACE makes God the hero — SELF says “I’m the hero of my story”

- GRACE means zero human contribution — SELF says “I did my part”

The Harpazo is PURE GRACE — we contribute nothing. We cannot earn it. We cannot achieve it through spiritual disciplines. We cannot qualify ourselves. It is a GIFT given to those who know they are:

- Broken (not whole in ourselves)
- Weak (not strong in ourselves)
- Lost (not found by our own navigation)
- Depraved (not good in our nature)
- Desperate (not self-sufficient)

Only those who know their POVERTY can receive HIS WEALTH, a drink from rivers of living water without cost.

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The Pharisee Problem: They Knew But Did Not Believe

The Stunning Tragedy

John 5:39-40 — Jesus said to the religious leaders: “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”

They KNEW the Scriptures!
They STUDIED the prophecies!
They MEMORIZED the Law!

But they did NOT BELIEVE.

Why? Religious pride blinded them to GRACE.

What They Knew But Rejected

The Pharisees knew:

- Messiah would come (they were waiting for Him)

- He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)

- He would be from David’s line (2 Samuel 7:12-13)

- He would perform miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6)

- He would bring salvation (Isaiah 53)

Jesus fulfilled EVERY prophecy before their eyes!

Matthew 11:2-6 — When John the Baptist sent disciples to ask if Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus responded: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.”

These were the EXACT Messianic signs from Isaiah! Yet:

John 12:37 — “Though he had done so many signs before them, still they did not believe in him.”

Why They Could Not Believe

John 12:39-40 — “Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.’”

“They COULD NOT believe” — judicial hardening had set in!

Their PRIDE made them:

- Trust in their own righteousness (Luke 18:9)

- Love the praise of men (John 12:42-43)

- Fear losing their position (John 11:47-48)

- Unwilling to humble themselves (Matthew 23:12)

- Blind to their own blindness (John 9:40-41)

John 9:41 — Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

The claim to see while being blind is the WORST blindness!

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The Same Blindness Today: The Harpazo Rejected

The Modern Pharisee

Just as the ancient Pharisees knew Scripture but rejected the First Coming, many modern “Christians” know Scripture but reject the Harpazo — the promise of the Blessed Hope.

They say:

- “The Rapture is a new doctrine” (ignoring 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

- “It’s escapism” (despising God’s promise of deliverance)

- “We must go through tribulation” (confusing sanctification trials with God’s wrath)

- “It’s not important” (dismissing what Scripture emphasizes)

- “There are different views” (using uncertainty as excuse for unbelief)

But the deeper issue is not intellectual — it’s spiritual. It’s the SELF problem.

Why the Harpazo Offends Religious Pride

The doctrine of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture exposes and demolishes every form of SELF-righteousness:

1. It Proves We Cannot Endure God’s Wrath

Romans 2:5 — “But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”

This verse is DEVASTATING to religious pride and stands as PROOF of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture!

Here’s why:

Paul is writing to people who claim to know God (Romans 2:17 — “But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law…”). Yet he says they are “storing up wrath.”

If the Church goes through the Tribulation (which IS the “day of wrath” — Revelation 6:17), then believers would be experiencing the wrath Paul says they’re storing up!

But 1 Thessalonians 5:9 declares: “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 2:5 makes clear that “the day of wrath” is for the HARD-HEARTED, the IMPENITENT, those storing up wrath.

The Bride of Christ has:

- A SOFT heart (circumcised by the Spirit — Romans 2:29)

- A REPENTANT heart (given as a gift — 2 Timothy 2:25)

- NO wrath stored up (Jesus bore it — Romans 5:9)

The Rapture before Tribulation proves: We are UNABLE to endure wrath because Christ ALREADY endured it FOR us!

This demolishes the pride that says, “I’m strong enough to endure God’s judgment.” NO! We’re not! That’s the point of GRACE!

2. It’s Pure Gift — Zero Human Contribution

Titus 2:13 — “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

We WAIT. We don’t EARN. We don’t ACHIEVE. We don’t QUALIFY OURSELVES.

This infuriates religious SELF:

- “But I’ve been faithful!” (So what? It’s still GRACE)

- “But I’ve suffered!” (Suffering doesn’t earn the Rapture)

- “But I’ve grown!” (Growth is evidence, not currency)

The Harpazo is for the POOR IN SPIRIT who know they deserve wrath but receive mercy.

3. It Highlights God’s Sovereignty, Not Our Worthiness

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 — “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.”

“We SHALL BE changed” — passive voice! GOD does it TO us!

We don’t change ourselves into glorified bodies. We don’t “prepare” ourselves for translation. HE transforms us in an instant!

This strips away all boasting:

- Not by OUR spiritual discipline
- Not by OUR understanding
- Not by OUR readiness
- But by HIS POWER, HIS TIMING, HIS CHOICE

4. It Requires Childlike Faith, Not Scholarly Pride

Matthew 11:25 — “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.”

Many reject the Harpazo because it seems “too simple,” “too good to be true,” “too literal.”

Their SELF-wisdom says:

- “Prophecy must be spiritualized”
- “These passages are metaphorical”
- “We can’t be dogmatic about eschatology”

But simple faith says:

- If God promises to remove us before wrath, He will

- If Scripture describes catching up, it will happen

- If Jesus said He’d return for us, He will

Religious SELF cannot accept this simplicity — it wants complexity to showcase intelligence.

5. It Exposes Who Truly Loves His Appearing

2 Timothy 4:8 — “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

Do you LOVE His appearing? Or does it threaten your religious system?

Those who reject or dismiss the Harpazo often reveal:

- They love THIS world more than the next

- They love THEIR ministry more than His return

- They love BEING NEEDED more than being with Him

- They love the PROCESS more than the PRIZE

The Bride LONGS for the Bridegroom!

Revelation 22:17 — “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’”

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The Biblical Certainty: Clear Scriptural Proof

The Harpazo Explicitly Taught

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up [harpagesometha] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”

This is not symbolic. This is not metaphorical. This is LITERAL:

- The Lord DESCENDS

- Dead believers RISE

- Living believers are CAUGHT UP

- We meet Him in the AIR

- We’re with Him FOREVER

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 — “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”

Instantaneous transformation! Physical bodies changed to glorified bodies!

The Pre-Tribulation Timing Proved

PROOF 1: Romans 2:5 — Wrath Is For The Hard-Hearted

As detailed above, Paul contrasts those “storing up wrath” (hard-hearted, impenitent) with those who have received God’s righteousness.

The Tribulation is called:

- “The day of wrath” (Revelation 6:17)
- “The hour of trial” (Revelation 3:10)
- “The time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7)

But believers are:

- Not appointed to wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9)

- Kept FROM the hour of trial (Revelation 3:10)

- Saved FROM the coming wrath (Romans 5:9)

Romans 2:5 proves the “day of wrath” is for those WITHOUT Christ, not those IN Christ!

PROOF 2: 1 Thessalonians 5:9 — Not Destined For Wrath

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Greek ouk etheto hemas eis orgen — “did not appoint/destine us unto wrath.”

If the Tribulation is the outpouring of God’s wrath (and it is — Revelation 6:16-17, 11:18, 14:10, 15:1, 16:1), and we are not destined for wrath, then logically we are not present during the Tribulation.

PROOF 3: Revelation 3:10 — Kept FROM the Hour

“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.”

Tereso ek — “keep FROM” not “keep THROUGH”

- Ek means “out of” (source, origin, separation)

- Not dia (through) or en (in)

Jesus promises to keep the faithful church OUT OF (not through) the hour of trial.

PROOF 4: Luke 21:36 — Escape What Is Coming

“But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Ekphygein — “to escape, to flee out”

Jesus Himself tells us to pray to ESCAPE the Tribulation events!

Why would He tell us to pray for escape if escape isn’t possible?

PROOF 5: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 — The Restrainer Removed

“For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed… And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed.”

Who/what is the Restrainer?

The Holy Spirit dwelling in the Church!

When the Church (and therefore the indwelling Spirit’s restraining presence) is removed, the Antichrist is revealed and the Tribulation begins.

PROOF 6: John 14:1-3 — I Will Come Again

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

This is NOT the Second Coming to earth (Revelation 19).

At the Second Coming:

- Jesus comes WITH His saints (Jude 14, Zechariah 14:5)

- He comes TO earth to reign

- He defeats His enemies

- He establishes His kingdom

At the Rapture:

- Jesus comes FOR His saints (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

- We go to HEAVEN (“Father’s house”)

- We’re taken TO HIM

- We go WHERE HE IS

Two distinct events! The Rapture BEFORE Tribulation, the Second Coming AFTER Tribulation!

PROOF 7: Revelation 4:1 — “Come Up Here”

“After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’”

The structure of Revelation:

- Chapters 1-3: The Church Age (seven churches)

- Chapter 4-5: Heaven’s throne room (Church in heaven)

- Chapters 6-19: The Tribulation (Church NOT mentioned on earth)

- Chapter 19: Second Coming (Church returns WITH Christ)

The Church is mentioned 19 times in Revelation 1-3, then DISAPPEARS from earth during chapters 6-18 (the Tribulation), then REAPPEARS in chapter 19 coming FROM heaven!

“Come up here” (Revelation 4:1) represents the Rapture — the Church called UP before the judgments begin!

PROOF 8: The Type of Noah

Genesis 7:1, 7, 16 — “Then the LORD said to Noah, ‘Go into the ark… And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood… And the LORD shut him in.”

Genesis 7:10 — “And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.”

Noah entered the ark BEFORE the judgment fell! God shut him IN before the wrath poured out!

2 Peter 2:5, 9 — “If he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah… when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly… then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.”

God’s pattern: Rescue the righteous BEFORE pouring out wrath on the wicked!

PROOF 9: The Type of Lot

Genesis 19:15-16, 22 — “As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, ‘Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.’… ’Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.’ Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.”

Lot was REMOVED before judgment fell!

And notice: “I can DO NOTHING until you arrive there” — God’s wrath was HELD BACK until the righteous were removed!

Luke 17:28-30 — Jesus said, “Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot… it will be just the same on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”

Same pattern for us: Removal BEFORE wrath!

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The Lie of Unbelief: What Rejection of the Harpazo Reveals

Unbelief Always Has Roots

When someone who claims to be a Christian rejects or dismisses the Harpazo, it often reveals deeper issues:

1. SELF-Righteousness — “I Can Endure”

“I don’t need to be rescued. I’m strong enough to go through the Tribulation. I’ll prove my faith by enduring.”

This is PRIDE disguised as faithfulness.

The truth: You cannot endure God’s wrath. That’s why Jesus bore it for you.

Romans 5:9 — “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

Saved FROM wrath, not THROUGH wrath!

2. SELF-Importance — “God Needs Me Here”

“The Church must be here to evangelize during the Tribulation. How will people get saved?”

This is PRIDE disguised as ministry.

The truth: God will raise up 144,000 Jewish evangelists (Revelation 7:4), two witnesses (Revelation 11:3), and an angel preaching the eternal gospel (Revelation 14:6). He doesn’t NEED you. He WANTS to rescue you.

3. SELF-Wisdom — “I’ve Studied This”

“I’ve read multiple views. The evidence is unclear. Eschatology is debatable.”

This is PRIDE disguised as scholarship.

The truth: When Scripture is clear but you claim it’s unclear, you’re not exercising wisdom — you’re exercising unbelief.

Matthew 11:25 — God hides truth from the “wise” and reveals it to “children.”

4. SELF-Sufficiency — “I Don’t Need Rescue”

“Rapture theology is escapism. We should focus on transforming culture.”

This is PRIDE disguised as cultural engagement.

The truth: Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). We’re pilgrims, strangers, aliens (Hebrews 11:13, 1 Peter 2:11). We’re supposed to be looking for rescue!

Titus 2:13 — “waiting for our blessed hope.”

5. SELF-Glory — “I Want To Be A Martyr”

“It would be glorious to die for Christ in the Tribulation.”

This is PRIDE disguised as devotion.

The truth: Martyrdom may be glorious, but it’s not something to desire. If God calls you to it, He’ll give GRACE. But seeking suffering is often pride seeking recognition.

Jesus prayed in Gethsemane: “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39). He embraced the cross in obedience, not in desire for suffering.

The Core Issue: Loving Darkness Rather Than Light

John 3:19-20 — “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”

Why do some “Christians” hate or dismiss the doctrine of the Rapture?

Because it EXPOSES:

- Their love for this world

- Their trust in their own strength

- Their pride in their own understanding

- Their attachment to their own importance

- Their comfort in their religious systems

The Harpazo says: “You’re not strong enough, smart enough, righteous enough, important enough, or good enough. You need PURE GRACE to rescue you.”

Religious SELF cannot bear this.

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The Fruit of Unbelief: Consequences of Rejecting the Harpazo

What Happens When Christians Don’t Believe In or Prepare For the Rapture?

1. They Live Without Urgent Hope

Titus 2:13 calls it “our blessed hope.”

Hope transforms how we live! When you’re not looking up, you settle down.

Those who dismiss the Rapture often become:

- Earthly-minded rather than heavenly-minded (Colossians 3:1-2)

- Focused on building here rather than storing up there (Matthew 6:19-20)

- Comfortable in Babylon rather than longing for Zion

Hebrews 11:13-16 — The faithful “acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland… But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.”

2. They Miss The Sanctifying Power of Hope

1 John 3:2-3 — “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

The hope of seeing Jesus face-to-face PURIFIES!

When you believe He could come at ANY moment:

- You live differently
- You speak differently
- You prioritize differently
- You love differently

You live ready!

3. They Become Vulnerable To Deception

2 Thessalonians 2:3 — “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed.”

If you don’t understand the timing and sequence of end-time events, you’re vulnerable to false teachers who will say:

- “Peace and safety!” when destruction is imminent (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

- “This is the Antichrist!” about various political figures (causing confusion)

- “The Rapture already happened!” (causing despair)

Knowledge of the Harpazo protects you from deception.

4. They Rob Themselves of Comfort

1 Thessalonians 4:18 — “Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

WHICH words? The words about the Rapture! (verses 13-17)

When facing death, persecution, suffering, or the chaos of the end times, the promise that Jesus will catch us up to Himself is meant to COMFORT us!

Those who reject this doctrine:

- Have no comfort in death (beyond general resurrection)

- Have no comfort in persecution (no rescue promised)

- Have no comfort in tribulation (must endure it all)

They’ve traded the Father’s comfort for stoic endurance.

5. They Often Become Spiritually Proud

Notice the pattern:

Those who believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture often say:

- “I don’t deserve this!”
- “It’s pure GRACE!”
- “I’m desperately waiting!”
- “I can’t earn it!”

Those who reject it often say:

- “I’m strong enough to endure”
- “I don’t need to escape”
- “My theology is more sophisticated”
- “I’ll prove my faith through the Tribulation”

Do you see the difference?

One is humble, grateful, desperate for GRACE.

The other is proud, self-sufficient, confident in self.

6. They Align With The Pharisee Spirit

Remember: The Pharisees knew the Scriptures about Messiah’s coming but did not believe.

Today: Many know the Scriptures about Christ’s return for His Bride but do not believe.

Same spirit. Same blindness. Same pride.

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The Path From Blindness To Sight: How To See The Harpazo

If You’ve Been Blind To This Truth, How Can You See?

1. Acknowledge Your SELF-Pride

James 4:6 — “God opposes the proud but gives GRACE to the humble.”

Confess:

- “I’ve trusted in my own understanding”
- “I’ve been proud of my theology”
- “I’ve rejected what seemed too simple”
- “I’ve loved complexity over clarity”
- “I’ve wanted to be needed more than rescued”

Proverbs 3:5-7 — “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding… Be not wise in your own eyes.”

2. Admit Your Total Inability

John 15:5 — “Apart from me you can do NOTHING.”

Confess:

- “I cannot endure God’s wrath”

- “I cannot survive the Tribulation in my own strength”

- “I cannot transform myself for glory”

- “I need PURE GRACE to rescue me”

Romans 7:18 — “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.”

3. Read Scripture Like A Child

Matthew 18:3 — “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Approach the Word with:

- Simplicity rather than complexity
- Trust rather than skepticism
- Humility rather than expertise
- Wonder rather than analysis

When you read 1 Thessalonians 4:17 — “caught up together with them in the clouds” — believe it means exactly what it says!

4. Ask The Holy Spirit For Illumination

John 16:13 — “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”

Pray: “Holy Spirit, I’ve been blind. I’ve trusted my own wisdom. I’ve been proud of my theology. Please open my eyes. Please help me see what You’ve said clearly in Your Word. Remove my pride. Give me childlike faith. Show me the truth about Your promise to rescue Your Bride. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Psalm 119:18 — “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

5. Study The Scriptures On The Harpazo Honestly

Acts 17:11 — The Bereans “examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

Read and meditate on:

- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (the Rapture described)

- 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 (the transformation explained)

- John 14:1-3 (Jesus’ promise to return for us)

- Titus 2:11-13 (GRACE teaches us to wait for blessed hope)

- Luke 21:36 (pray to escape what’s coming)

- Revelation 3:10 (kept FROM the hour of trial)

- 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (not appointed to wrath)

- Romans 5:9 (saved FROM wrath)

Let Scripture speak! Don’t force it into your system — let it reform your system!

6. Embrace Your Desperate Need

Luke 18:13 — The tax collector “beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’”

Realize:

- You’re not strong enough (you need rescue)

- You’re not righteous enough (you need GRACE)

- You’re not wise enough (you need revelation)

- You’re not sufficient (you need Him)

Matthew 5:3 — “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

7. Long For His Appearing

2 Timothy 4:8 — “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

Ask yourself honestly:

- Do I LOVE the thought of Jesus returning?

- Does my heart leap at the idea of seeing Him?

- Do I LONG to be with Him?

- Or do I prefer to stay here, in control, important, needed?

If you don’t love His appearing, ask Him to change your heart!

Revelation 22:17 — “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’”

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Conclusion: The Harpazo — Pure GRACE For The Desperate

The Bottom Line

The Harpazo (Rapture) stands as God’s magnificent declaration:

“You cannot save yourself.”

“You cannot endure My wrath.”

“You cannot transform yourself for glory.”

“You cannot even come to Me unless I draw you.”

“So I will RESCUE you — not because you’re strong, but because you’re weak.”

“Not because you’re worthy, but because I LOVE you.”

“Not because you’ve earned it, but because GRACE is who I AM.”

This is the Gospel in eschatological form!

The Great Divide

Two groups emerge:

THE RELIGIOUS (Like the Pharisees):

- Know the Scriptures but don’t believe

- Trust in their own understanding

- Pride themselves on sophisticated theology

- Say “I can endure” / “I don’t need rescue”

- Love their position more than His appearing

- Are blinded by SELF-righteousness

- Store up wrath for the day of wrath (Romans 2:5)

THE DESPERATE (Like the Tax Collector):

- Know they’re broken, weak, lost, depraved

- Trust in God’s promise, not their strength

- Embrace simple, childlike faith

- Say “God, be merciful to me!”

- Long for Jesus more than this world

- Are humbled by GRACE

- Are kept FROM the hour of trial (Revelation 3:10)

The Warning to Modern “Christians”

Just as Jesus warned the religious leaders of His day:

Matthew 21:31 — “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.”

So today we must hear:

Those who know they are desperate sinners, who cling to GRACE alone, who believe God’s simple promise to catch them up — these will be taken in the Harpazo.

But those who trust in their theological sophistication, their spiritual maturity, their ability to endure, their religious credentials — these may find themselves left behind, shocked that the “escapists” they mocked are gone, and they remain for judgment.

Luke 13:24-30 — “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.”

Religious activity does not equal salvation!

Biblical knowledge does not equal faith!

Claiming Christ does not equal knowing Christ!

The Urgency of Now

Romans 13:11-12 — “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand.”

The signs are everywhere:

- Israel regathered (1948) — Ezekiel 37

- Jerusalem back in Jewish hands (1967) — Luke 21:24

- Gospel preached to all nations — Matthew 24:14

- Knowledge increased — Daniel 12:4

- Apostasy in the Church — 2 Thessalonians 2:3

- Scoffers saying “Where is the promise?” — 2 Peter 3:3-4

- The stage set for the Antichrist system

The Rapture could happen at ANY moment!

Are you ready?

Not “Have you done enough?” — that’s religion.

But “Are you IN CHRIST?” — that’s GRACE.

The Final Question: What Is Your Foundation?

Matthew 7:24-27 — Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Jesus says clearly: He’s coming back for us (John 14:3).

Paul says clearly: We’ll be caught up (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Scripture says clearly: We’re not appointed to wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

Do you believe these words?

Or are you like the Pharisees — hearing but not believing?

If You’re Building On SELF, The Storm Will Destroy You

If your hope rests on:

- Your spiritual disciplines (SELF-effort)
- Your theological knowledge (SELF-wisdom)
- Your religious activity (SELF-righteousness)
- Your ability to endure (SELF-confidence)
- Your ministry importance (SELF-glory)

Then you’re building on sand.

When the Tribulation comes (and it will), when the wrath is poured out (and it will be), when the Antichrist rises (and he will), your SELF-foundation will crumble.

But if your hope rests on:

- Christ’s finished work (His sacrifice)
- God’s clear promise (His Word)
- Sovereign GRACE (His choice)
- The Spirit’s seal (His guarantee)
- Jesus’ return for His Bride (His love)

Then you’re building on the ROCK.

And when Jesus shouts, when the trumpet sounds, when the archangel calls — you will be CAUGHT UP, transformed, glorified, and forever with the Lord!

The Invitation: From Religion to Relationship

If you’ve been living in religious SELF-effort

If you’ve been trusting your own understanding

If you’ve been blind to the GRACE of the Harpazo

TODAY is the day to repent!

2 Corinthians 6:2 — “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Admit: “I’ve been proud. I’ve trusted in myself. I’ve been blind to Your GRACE. I’m not strong enough. I’m not worthy. I NEED to be rescued. I cannot endure Your wrath. Jesus, I’m desperate for Your mercy!”

Believe: That Jesus died for your sins, rose from the dead, and is coming again to catch up His Bride before the Tribulation — not because you’re worthy, but because He LOVES you.

Receive: The gift of salvation, the promise of the Harpazo, the blessed hope — all by GRACE through FAITH, not of works.

Ephesians 2:8-9 — “For by GRACE you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

The Cry of the Bride

Revelation 22:20 — “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

This is the cry of those who:

- Know they’re broken and need Him
- Recognize they’re weak and long for strength
- Understand they’re lost and crave His finding
- Admit they’re depraved and desperately need GRACE
- Are empty and hunger to be filled with Him

Not the cry of the self-sufficient.

Not the cry of the religiously proud.

Not the cry of those who think they can endure on their own.

But the cry of the BRIDE — desperate, longing, aching for her BRIDEGROOM!

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Final Word: The Glory of GRACE-Alone Deliverance

Why This Matters Eternally

The doctrine of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is not peripheral. It’s not “just eschatology.” It’s not a minor point of disagreement.

It’s a test of:

- Whether you truly understand GRACE (unmerited favor requiring zero human contribution)

- Whether you’ve died to SELF (and all its pride, sufficiency, and righteousness)

- Whether you believe GOD’S WORD simply (or must sophisticate it to fit your system)

- Whether you LOVE His appearing (or prefer your life here)

- Whether you’re DESPERATE for rescue (or confident in your own endurance)

Those who reject it often reveal hearts still clinging to SELF.

Those who embrace it often reveal hearts desperate for GRACE.

The Pharisee Test

Ask yourself these honest questions:

- Do I trust my theological education more than simple Scripture? (Pharisee spirit)

- Do I feel superior to “simple-minded” Rapture believers? (Pharisee spirit)

- Do I want to prove my faithfulness through tribulation? (Pharisee spirit)

- Do I resist doctrines that make salvation “too easy”? (Pharisee spirit)

- Do I prefer being needed here over being with Jesus? (Pharisee spirit)

- Do I mock or dismiss Pre-Tribulation believers as escapists? (Pharisee spirit)

If you answered yes to any of these, you may be operating in the same religious blindness that kept the Pharisees from recognizing their Messiah!

The Tax Collector Test

Or ask yourself these:

- Do I know I’m utterly unworthy of rescue? (Tax collector spirit)

- Do I marvel that God would save someone like me? (Tax collector spirit)

- Do I long for Jesus more than this world? (Tax collector spirit)

- Do I cry “God, be merciful to me, a sinner”? (Tax collector spirit)

- Do I embrace GRACE as my ONLY hope? (Tax collector spirit)

- Do I say “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”? (Tax collector spirit)

If you answered yes to these, you have the heart that receives the Harpazo — not because you’re worthy, but because you know you’re NOT!

The Pattern Holds

Throughout redemptive history, God has always:

- Chosen the weak (not the strong)

- Revealed truth to children (not the wise)

- Saved the desperate (not the self-sufficient)

- Rescued the humble (not the proud)

- Delivered before judgment (Noah, Lot)

- Surprised the religious (who thought they had it figured out)

The Harpazo follows this exact pattern!

It’s for the POOR IN SPIRIT.
It’s for the BROKEN-HEARTED.
It’s for the DESPERATE.
It’s for those who cry “MARANATHA — Come, Lord Jesus!”

The Coming Shock

Luke 17:26-30 — “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”

When the Rapture happens:

- The world will be shocked (business as usual interrupted)

- The religious will be shocked (they mocked the “escapists”)

- The proud will be shocked (they thought they’d earned their place)

- The self-righteous will be shocked (they trusted their own goodness)

But the DESPERATE will be HOME.
The BROKEN will be HEALED.
The WEAK will be made STRONG.
The BLIND will finally, fully SEE!

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Closing Exhortation: See, Believe, and Wait

Hebrews 9:28 — “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”

And JOIN the Bride in her cry:

“EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS!”

Revelation 22:20 — “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

MARANATHA!

The Lord is coming!

And for those with eyes to see:

GRACE — pure, undeserved, magnificent GRACE — will catch us up before the wrath falls.

Not because we’re strong enough to endure it.

But because He’s GRACIOUS enough to spare us from it.

To GOD be the GLORY — from eternity past, through the ages, and into eternity future!

AMEN and AMEN!

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