Rapture: Will people get a second chance to be saved?
The reality is that we’re fortunate to even have a first chance to be saved. We certainly don’t deserve it. If you have this which is spoken of as salvation, you certainly don’t have it because of anything you did to earn it. The Bible tells us that’s true for all of us.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
If you haven’t already been saved, you still have a chance right now to get this matter of salvation settled once and for all. Despite all the confusion and controversy about it, salvation is a very simple matter. It wasn’t simple at all in terms of what God had to do to provide us with the opportunity for it, but for us salvation couldn’t be any easier than it is. All that’s involved is personal acceptance of what God did through Jesus Christ to provide for it.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
It is by faith in this which He did through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection that we all have a shot at salvation.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
2 Corinthians 6:1-2
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech [PARAKALEO = literally to call to one’s side, to ask, or make a request] you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured [PROSTATIS = helped] thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation [SOTERIA = salvation or deliverance.) [Emphasis added]
Could it be made any more plain? Salvation is something everyone needs. The “good news” about it is that God has provided a way to have it for everyone. Some people foolishly think He only did this for a select group. No! He did this for everyone so that anyone could be saved and saved forever.
1 Timothy 2:4-5
4 Who will have [THELO = desires] all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [Emphasis added]
It is faith in what He did that moves us from a place of condemnation to one of salvation.
Romans 8:1a
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,… [Emphasis added]
This is something none of us earned or ever will earn. Salvation comes to us freely by faith in Jesus Christ and what He did through His death, burial, and resurrection. Putting this off to a future time is never a good idea. None of us have any knowledge about exactly how long we have to live and once we die we’re faced with judgment.
Hebrews 9:27
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: [Emphasis added]
This “judgment” is called The Last Judgment or the Great White Throne Judgment. I have both articles and videos on this website about all this to provide you with a thorough understanding of these things. Here are links to some of those articles—
Judgment: Who will be at the last one?
Judgment: How do I escape God’s wrath?
#195 ~ The Great White Throne Judgment
We are warned that rejection of this truth leads to what the Bible calls “strong delusion.” This tells us that our unbelief clouds our thinking so that the possibility of our future acceptance of this diminishes. God takes this decision seriously even if you don’t. We have numerous examples of this recorded in the Bible.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them STRONG DELUSION, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. [Emphasis added]
Such has happened to many people. YOU do not need to become one of them. Salvation is now being offered to you through what you’re reading. What you choose to do with this information is yours to do with as you please. As I first heard it said many years ago—”God is a gentleman. He’s given you the freedom to choose.” God has given you free will. What will your decision be about this? Whatever it is, He will honor it.
This event called The Rapture is something you need to know about. Because it is so important, I have written numerous articles about it for this website—
Rapture: What is the meaning of this term?
Rapture: Is there anything about it in The Four Gospels?
Rapture: Does this occur before The Tribulation?
Rapture: Who was the first to reveal this?
Rapture: How is this different from the Second Coming?
There are even videos about it—
#12 ~ The Rapture – The next really great event in history.
Some people are even foolish enough to believe that there’s a place called Purgatory where you’ll be given a second chance for salvation and entrance into Heaven. I even have an article about this fictitious place on this website—
Your life situation will be far better with salvation, rather than being without it. Where you’ll spend eternity will then be settled once and for all. The moment this life here on Earth is over for you you’ll be transported to Heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:8
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. [Emphasis added]
We’re going to have a perfect resurrection body in which to dwell forever.
2 Corinthians 4:14
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. [Emphasis added]
Here are links to articles and videos about all this—
Heaven: What do we need to know about it?
Heaven: Will EVERYONE end up there?
#236-EP36 ~ How can a person qualify for Heaven?
As you’ll see in all these, the Rapture is a wonderful event. It is then that members of that which is called the Body of Christ will all get new and perfect bodies. No one knew anything about this prior to its revelation through the apostle Paul. Until then it had been a mystery, a secret held in the mind of God.
1 Corinthians 15:51-57
51 Behold, I shew you amystery [MUSTERION = secret]; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [Emphasis added]
Many times, this event is confused with another one that involves unbelievers being suddenly taken for judgment.
Matthew 24:40-42
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. [Emphasis added]
What you’ve just read is a judgment where unbelievers are taken to Hell and believers are left to go into the prophesied Millennial Kingdom. In the Bible this is called the Baptism of Fire. You can read all about it in my article that speaks of it and the many other baptisms spoken of in the Bible—
Baptism: What are we to believe about it?
Conclusion—
There will be no second chances for anyone. If you want to get to spend eternity in this wonderful place called Heaven, you must prepare now in this life. There will be no second chances. Preparation for you couldn’t be simpler. Just put your faith in Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection as the SOLE basis for your salvation. It is that plus nothing! Salvation and gaining your “ticket” into Heaven is free. There’s plenty of Scripture that tells us this—
Again, Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
If you’ve still not done this, I pray you will right now. It is faith in Christ that’ll give you all the goodness, all the righteousness you’ll ever need for entrance into Heaven.
