Oh My God... no, no, no... I Have Made a Terrible Mistake. God, Please FORGIVE ME!

Image if... In the predawn darkness of what would become the most catastrophic day in human history, Pastor Todd Nelson's phone shattered the silence of his St. George home. As CEO Pastor of Covenant Life Multi-Site Church—a thriving network spanning five campuses across Utah—Todd had fielded countless emergency calls. But the trembling voice of his Salt Lake campus pastor would forever divide his understanding of time into "before" and "after." "Todd... half my congregation is missing. Not absent—missing. Their cars are in the parking lots, but they're gone. Clothes left behind in their vehicles."

Within hours, the scope became clear: millions had vanished simultaneously worldwide. No bodies, no evidence of mass casualty events—simply gone. The pattern was unmistakable and devastating for those who remained: every person Todd could identify who had taught or believed in a pre-tribulation rapture had disappeared.

For fifteen years, Todd had built his reputation on scholarly amillennial theology. He had gently but firmly dismissed premillennial "prophecy nuts" as theologically unsophisticated. He had preached that believers were already living in the millennium, that the kingdom had come, that the tribulation was symbolic.

Todd's seminary training at the prestigious Townsend Institute had thoroughly grounded him in this interpretation.

Now, staring at empty pews where his most premillennial members once sat, Todd faced the horrifying possibility that his sincere theological convictions had left him—and thousands who trusted his teaching—unprepared for the most crucial moment in human history.

The irony was cruel: those he had dismissed as "escapist" had indeed escaped. Those he had taught to expect their "best life now" were about to face the worst period in human history.

The delay Todd had interpreted as evidence against premillennial urgency was revealing itself as the very delay Christ had warned about—the time when many would lose faith because the bridegroom seemed to tarry.

As global systems collapsed and a new world order emerged, Todd would discover that theological error—even sincere error—carries real-world consequences. The question was no longer academic: Had his amillennial interpretation, however well-intentioned, left his congregation unprepared for the birth pangs that were now beginning to grip the world?

This is the story of what happened to those left behind—not because they lacked faith in Christ, but because they had been taught that the very warnings meant to prepare them were merely symbolic. It is a sobering reminder that in the arena of prophecy, being wrong isn't just an academic exercise—it can mean the difference between escape and endurance, between being taken and being left to face the wrath that is to come.

The following is a work of fiction exploring potential consequences if premillennial eschatology proves correct and amillennial teaching proves insufficient preparation for end-times events.

Tuesday Morning, 6:47 AM

Todd Nelson's iPhone buzzed insistently on his nightstand in his St. George home. As CEO Pastor of Covenant Life Multi-Site Church, he was accustomed to early morning calls—usually staff emergencies or family crises requiring pastoral care. But when he answered, the voice on the other end was his campus pastor from the Salt Lake location, and something was terribly wrong.

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, 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 to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

"Todd, I... I don't know how to say this. Half my congregation is missing. Not absent—missing. Their cars are in the parking lots, but they're gone. Clothes left behind in their vehicles. I've been getting calls all morning from spouses, parents... Todd, what's happening?"

"I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left." Luke 17:34–36

Before Todd could respond, call-waiting clicked in. Then another. His phone began ringing continuously as similar reports flooded in from all five campuses across Utah.

Supporting Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Matthew 24:40-41

The Realization

By noon, the scope became clear through emergency broadcasts and social media. Millions of people had vanished simultaneously worldwide. No bodies, no evidence of mass casualty events—simply gone. Left behind were clothes, shoes, jewelry, and in many cases, confused family members searching frantically for their loved ones.

Todd's wife Sarah sat in their living room, tears streaming down her face. "Todd, my sister Rebecca is gone. She's the one who always talked about the rapture, remember? She tried to tell us..." Her voice trailed off as the implications settled in.

At their main campus, Todd called an emergency meeting. Of their typical Sunday attendance of 2,000 at the St. George location, barely 800 remained. The pattern was consistent across all five campuses—roughly 40% of their congregation had vanished, the rest are too freaked out to attend.

Supporting Scripture: Luke 17:34-36; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 

The Painful Recognition

Elder Mike Thompson, who had served on the board for fifteen years, spoke what everyone was beginning to understand: "Todd, they're all gone. Every person I can think of who talked about the rapture, who believed in a literal tribulation period... they were the ones who disappeared."

The room fell silent as the weight of realization settled. Todd thought about the countless sermons he'd preached about "living your best life now," about the kingdom being present and spiritual rather than future and literal. He remembered dismissing premillennial teachings as "escapist theology" and "fear-based interpretation." Todd was wrong, and now he is forced to look into the faces of those he deceived and misled.

Rebecca Martinez, a longtime member, stood up trembling. "Pastor Todd, my daughter Emma always tried to tell me about the rapture. She'd bring me those books by Tim LaHaye and others. I threw them away because you taught us they were wrong. She kept saying Jesus was coming back for His bride before the tribulation. Where is she now? Where is my baby?"

Supporting Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Revelation 3:10; Matthew 25:1-13 - 

The Crumbling Foundation

Within days, the global situation deteriorated rapidly. Economic systems collapsed as millions of key personnel—many of them Christians who had believed in pre-tribulation rapture—simply vanished. The remaining world leaders began implementing emergency measures for global stability.

"Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God." 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4

Todd found himself facing the most difficult congregation he'd ever addressed. The survivors who remained were frightened, confused, and increasingly angry. Many had family members who had tried to share premillennial beliefs with them, only to be discouraged by Todd's teaching.

Jennifer Walsh, whose husband had been raptured, confronted Todd directly: "You taught us that people who believed in the rapture were deceived. You said we were already in the millennium, that we didn't need to worry about end-times persecution. My husband tried to prepare our family spiritually for what might come. You convinced me he was wrong. Now he's gone, and I'm here with our three children facing... facing what, exactly?"

Supporting Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Daniel 9:27; Revelation 6:1-2

The Tribulation Begins

As global events unfolded exactly as premillennial teachers had predicted, the remaining congregation began to understand their situation. A charismatic world leader emerged, promising to restore order and unity. Economic systems were restructured around a new identification system that would be required for all buying and selling.

"And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name." Revelation 13:16–17

Todd recognized with growing horror that this matched the biblical descriptions of the mark of the beast that he had spiritualized in his teaching. The very prophecies he had dismissed as symbolic were playing out literally before his eyes.

Standing before his decimated congregation one week later, Todd struggled to find words: "I was wrong. I taught you wrong. I genuinely believed I was faithfully interpreting Scripture, but I led you astray about the most crucial events in human history. Those we dismissed as 'prophecy nuts' and 'rapture enthusiasts'—they were right. They tried to prepare us, and we wouldn't listen."

Supporting Scripture: Revelation 13:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Daniel 11:36-39

The Personal Cost

Todd's own family was split. His brother Mark, a construction worker who had attended a small premillennial Baptist church across town, was gone. Mark had repeatedly invited Todd to prophecy conferences and shared books about end-times preparation. Todd had gently but firmly dismissed these as "unscholarly" and "sensationalistic."

"Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment." James 3:1

Now, Todd's teenage son David asked the question that haunted them all: "Dad, Uncle Mark tried to tell us. He said we needed to be ready for Jesus to come back for the Bride. Why didn't you listen to him? Why did you teach us he was wrong?"

Sarah, Todd's wife, had grown increasingly distant as she processed the reality. "Todd, you built your reputation on being right about Scripture. People trusted you with their spiritual lives. Remember those people you chased out of the church? They are gone. My sister Rebecca begged me to reconsider the rapture teaching. She said she was afraid for our souls. I told her you knew better than some 'uneducated' interpretation. Now they are with Jesus, and I'm facing seven years of hell on earth."

Supporting Scripture: James 3:1; Ezekiel 34:1-6; 1 Corinthians 4:2 

The Impossible Choices

As the new global system implemented its marking system for economic participation, Todd faced the ultimate pastoral challenge. He now understood that taking the mark would mean eternal damnation, but refusing it meant potential starvation for the families under his care.

"If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb." Revelation 14:9–10

Standing before his remaining 300 members at their main campus—the other locations had closed as persecution intensified—Todd delivered the most difficult message of his pastoral career:

"I led you into this situation through my theological error. I genuinely believed I was teaching truth, but I was wrong about the most important prophetic events in history. Now we face the choice our missing brothers and sisters don't have to face—refuse the mark of the beast and likely die as martyrs, or take it and lose our souls forever."

Mary Chen, an elderly woman whose son had been raptured, raised her hand: "Pastor, my boy tried to tell me about the tribulation saints. He said some would be saved during this time but would have to suffer greatly. Is that us now?"

Todd nodded grimly. "Yes, Mary. We're now what the Bible calls tribulation saints. We must endure to the end, refuse the mark, and likely face martyrdom. Those who were raptured were spared this trial."

Supporting Scripture: Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 7:13-14; Matthew 24:13

The Weight of Leadership

Late at night in his study, Todd wrestled with the magnitude of his error. He thought about his seminary training, his confidence in amillennial interpretation, his dismissal of premillennial teachers as inferior scholars. The Townsend Institute had trained him well in systematic theology, but their amillennial framework had blinded him to literal prophetic interpretation.

"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time." Revelation 20:1–3

He opened his Bible to Revelation 20 and read it with new eyes—eyes that now saw the millennium as a literal future kingdom rather than the present church age. The binding of Satan he had interpreted as Christ's victory over death now seemed clearly to be a future event. The first resurrection he had spiritualized now appeared to be a literal rapture of the saints.

"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future 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." 2 Timothy 4:6–8

Most painfully, he recognized that his "best life now" theology had been exactly backward—the best life for believers was supposed to come after the rapture, during the millennium, and ultimately in the eternal state. Instead, he had taught his congregation to expect their best life in the present age, leaving them unprepared for the worst period in human history.

Supporting Scripture: Revelation 20:1-6; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 24:21-22 

The Final Recognition

As persecution intensified and many of his former congregation members were martyred for refusing the mark of the beast, Todd faced his own final moments. He had been betrayed by a former church member who had taken the mark and was now working for the global enforcement system.

"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future 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." 2 Timothy 4:6–8

In his jail cell awaiting execution, Todd wrote a final letter to any believers who might survive the tribulation:

"To those who remain faithful to the end: I was wrong about the timing of Christ's kingdom. I taught you that we were already living in the millennium, that the tribulation was symbolic, that the rapture was escapist theology. I genuinely believed these things, but I was catastrophically wrong.

The premillennial teachers we dismissed—they were right about the sequence of end-times events. They prepared their congregations for the rapture and warned about the tribulation period. We called them fear-mongers and accused them of poor scholarship. They are now with Christ while we face the beast's wrath.

I don't write this to condemn myself or others who taught amillennial theology in good faith. But I write as a warning about the consequences when sincere religious teachers are wrong about crucial biblical truths. My error didn't affect my salvation—I still trusted in Christ's atoning work—but it could have left thousands unprepared for the greatest test in human history.

If any premillennial teachers read this after Christ's return, please know that we who taught differently weren't trying to deceive anyone. We simply got it wrong about timing and sequence. But the cost of that error was measured in unnecessary suffering for thousands who trusted our interpretation.

To any who might face similar theological decisions in the future: Take seriously those who warn about God's coming judgment, even if their theology seems unsophisticated. Sometimes the 'simple' reading of Scripture is the correct one, and the consequences of being wrong about prophetic timing are severe.

I go to my death knowing that Christ has forgiven my errors, but carrying the weight of knowing how many people I led into tribulation through my sincere but mistaken teaching."

Supporting Scripture: Revelation 20:4; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; Acts 20:26-27; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 

After the Storm

Seven years later, as Christ descended to establish His literal thousand-year kingdom on earth, the few tribulation saints who had survived looked back on the cost of theological error. Todd Nelson and most of his congregation had died as martyrs, faithful to Christ but bearing the consequences of inadequate preparation for the end times.

"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God." Revelation 19:11–13

The premillennial teachers who had been dismissed and marginalized during the church age were vindicated, though they took no joy in being right about such catastrophic events. They mourned for their amillennial brothers and sisters who had suffered tribulation unnecessarily, recognizing that sincere theological error could have devastating real-world consequences.

The millennium they inherited was indeed literal—a thousand years of Christ's personal reign on earth, with the raptured saints ruling alongside Him, and the tribulation survivors finally experiencing the peace that amillennial theology had incorrectly claimed was already present in the church age.

Supporting Scripture: Revelation 19:11-16; Revelation 20:4-6; Zechariah 14:9; Isaiah 2:2-4 

The Road Not Taken: An Alternative Timeline

But what if Todd Nelson had made different choices? What if he had embraced premillennial teaching instead of dismissing it? Here's how his story might have unfolded differently...

Fifteen Years Earlier: A Different Path

Todd Nelson stood in his small office at Grace Community Fellowship in Draper, Utah, staring at the job offer on his desk. Covenant Life Church in St. George was offering him the position of CEO Pastor for their ambitious multi-site expansion. The salary was triple what he made shepherding his congregation of 150 souls. The prestige was undeniable. The "platform for ministry" seemed limitless.

But something in his spirit felt unsettled.

Just last month, he'd been challenged by old Pastor Jim Martinez from the little Baptist church across town. Jim had given him a stack of books on premillennial eschatology and asked him to pray through the implications. "Todd," the elderly pastor had said, "if Jesus is coming back for His bride soon, how does that change how we prepare God's people?"

Todd had initially dismissed the books as "sensationalistic." His seminary training at the prestigious Townsend Institute had thoroughly grounded him in amillennial theology. But Jim's earnest plea haunted him: "What if we're wrong? What if the rapture really is imminent? How do we prepare the sheep for that reality?"

Supporting Scripture: Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2-4; Ephesians 4:11-12 

The Turning Point

That night, Todd opened his Bible to 1 Thessalonians 4 and read with fresh eyes: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, 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 to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord."

For the first time, Todd considered: What if Paul meant this literally? What if the "catching up" (harpazo) was an actual, physical removal of believers before the tribulation period described in Revelation?

He spent the next three months in intensive Bible study, comparing premillennial and amillennial interpretations. Slowly, the weight of literal interpretation began to convince him. The prophecies about Israel's restoration, the descriptions of Christ's earthly reign, the warnings about end-times persecution—all began to make sense when taken at face value.

Supporting Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21

The Decision

Todd called Covenant Life Church and declined their offer. Instead, he made a radical commitment: Grace Community Fellowship would remain small, intimate, and focused on one primary mission—preparing the bride of Christ for the imminent rapture while making disciples who would make disciples.

His wife Sarah was initially concerned. "Todd, we could have had financial security. You could have had influence over thousands instead of hundreds."

Todd took her hands gently. "Sarah, if Jesus is coming back soon for His church, what matters more—building a religious empire or preparing His bride to meet Him? I'd rather shepherd 150 people well than mislead 5,000."

Supporting Scripture: Matthew 25:21; Luke 16:10; 1 Corinthians 4:2

The New Ministry Philosophy

Grace Community Fellowship transformed Todd's new vision. Instead of seeking numerical growth, they focused on spiritual depth. Todd implemented a discipleship model where mature believers were paired with newer Christians, who would eventually mentor others in an endless cycle of multiplication.

Every Bible study included prophetic teaching. Not date-setting or sensationalism, but careful examination of Scripture's promises about Christ's return for the church. Todd taught his congregation to live with expectant hope—working diligently in the present while watching eagerly for the Lord's return.

"We're not trying to escape responsibility," Todd would explain to critics. "We're trying to be found faithful when our Bridegroom returns. That means loving our neighbors, sharing the gospel, and preparing each other for either the rapture or martyrdom—whichever comes first."

Supporting Scripture: Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 3:2-3; Luke 21:36 

The Opposition

The transformation didn't come without cost. The larger amillennial churches in the area viewed Todd's teaching with suspicion and sometimes hostility. He was labeled a "prophecy nut" and excluded from ministerial associations.

The Townsend Institute routinely criticized pastors who "regress into outdated dispensationalism." Former seminary classmates stopped associating with him. Some accused him of leading people astray with "fear-based theology."

But Todd pressed on, finding encouragement in the growing spiritual maturity of his small flock. His congregation began to exhibit an unusual combination of joyful expectation and sacrificial service. They lived as if Jesus might return at any moment, while working as if He might not return for years.

Supporting Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12; John 15:20; 1 Peter 4:12-14 

The Discipleship Multiplication

Within five years, the 150-member congregation had equipped nearly 50 lay ministers who were actively discipling others. Some started house churches, others became missionaries, and still others remained in secular jobs but became powerful witnesses in their workplaces.

Todd's "small" ministry began to have an exponential impact as his disciples made disciples throughout Utah and beyond. The key difference from the mega-church model was sustainability—each person equipped was able to equip others, creating a multiplication effect rather than dependence on a central leader.

Mary Chen, a new believer who had been mentored by Rebecca Martinez (whose daughter had been raptured in the original timeline), became a powerful evangelistic force in the Asian community. She would later say, "Pastor Todd taught us that every believer is called to make disciples. When you know Jesus is coming back soon, you can't keep quiet about it."

Supporting Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:2; Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 4:12 

The Morning of Glory

On that Tuesday at 6:47 AM, Todd's phone did buzz—but this time with calls of celebration, not confusion. His congregation members were calling to share their joy as they watched the sunrise knowing they would soon see their Savior.

"Pastor Todd!" Rebecca Martinez called excitedly, "Emma and I are both ready! Thank you for teaching us to watch and wait. We're not afraid—we're excited!"

As the rapture occurred, Todd felt the familiar tingle of transformation as his mortal body was changed in the twinkling of an eye. Looking around at his raptured congregation, he saw the faces of people who had been prepared for this moment—not surprised by it, but welcoming it as the fulfillment of their blessed hope.

In that moment of translation, Todd glimpsed the other timeline—the one where he had chosen empire over intimacy, numbers over nurture, success over faithfulness. He saw the faces of those who had been left behind because they had been taught to expect their best life now instead of preparing for their best life in eternity.

Supporting Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Philippians 3:20-21

The Faithful Shepherd's Reward

As Todd stood before his Savior in that glorious moment of meeting Him in the air, he heard the words every faithful pastor longs to hear: "Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master."

The small congregation Todd had shepherded was with him—not because he had built a religious empire, but because he had faithfully prepared the bride for her Bridegroom. His decision to reject worldly success in favor of biblical faithfulness had eternal consequences.

In the distance, he could see other pastors arriving with their flocks—some with thousands, some with hundreds, some with just a few. But each faithful shepherd was rewarded not based on the size of their ministry, but on their faithfulness to prepare God's people for this moment.

The irony was not lost on Todd: by choosing to remain small, his ministry had become eternally significant. By refusing to build an empire on earth, he had invested in a kingdom that would never end.

Supporting Scripture: Matthew 25:21; 1 Peter 5:4; 2 Timothy 4:7-8 

This alternative timeline explores how different choices—rooted in different eschatological convictions—might have led to vastly different outcomes. The story suggests that faithfulness to biblical truth, even when costly in earthly terms, has eternal significance that transcends worldly measures of success.

To learn "How Amillennial Doctrine Aligns with Satan's Methods," click on "Next Page," below, knowing the best is yet to come. Hold on, because the ride is about to get bumpy for Amillennialists.