OCTOBER 30, Matthew 24:6-8

We are living in a sobering moment in history. We are people who would probably see the last days – the days before Jesus comes and meets believers halfway in the air – it is known as “ The Rapture”. But before that takes place, what will happen? What are the signs of the last days?

The scripture text gives us clues. The Bible foretells of wars, pestilences and earthquakes. Indeed, after World War 2, there have been many smaller wars. Thank God none of them had been near Singapore, but these wars are very real and have made many homeless, and have killed thousands where they occurred. Iraq and Afghanistan and Eastern Europe are just some of the places where war has hit.

As for pestilences, we are still affected by H1N1, one of the fastest spreading viruses in modern times. Again, thank God H1N1 is not as deadly as SARS. Otherwise, thousands more people would have died.

Earthquakes are becoming more devastating, and more of them are occurring as the days go by. The largest in recent memory erupted on 26thDec 2004. The earthquake triggered a series of deadly tsunamis along the coasts in the Indian Ocean, killing nearly 230,000 people in 11 countries, and ooding coastal communities with waves up to 20 metres tall (as high as a 15-storey building)! With a magnitude of between 9.1 and 9.3, it is the second largest earthquake ever recorded. And there was the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 which killed about 16,000 people.

For Christians, we thank God we will be raptured before even worse things happen. To be raptured means to be caught up to meet Jesus in mid-air, and He will usher us into heaven! This is not a science- fiction story but it is what the Lord has planned for those who love Him.

Do you love Him? Are you prepared for the Rapture?

Thought: Am I prepared for the Rapture?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder of the Rapture. Help me to be a good Christian child, and to live by what Your Holy Word teaches. In that way, I shall be fully prepared to meet Jesus in mid-air when He comes to take me home during the Rapture. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.