The “Rapture”, Again

FRI., OCT. 30, 1992, 6:05 AM
FARM, STUDY

A news item tells you that, yet again, a group of Christians has expected the literal rapture on a particular day this month. They expected to be lifted up to heaven, leaving the earth to sinners and unbelievers. Theirs would be a glorious new life, because they had been faithful to a prophesy. And, of course, I have raised up prophets in every age who speak for Me, and I did give John the revelation vision that suggests the rapture to come.

And yet… the day came and went, and the rapture did not happen. Another direct and specific prophesy was not matched by My actions. The emotions in individuals and within this group are many and varied. It is hard for you to even try to imagine how you would feel with such a stark expectation… and then to experience it completely unfulfilled. Of course it is basically the experience of dying to all that you have, here in the earth… except that they expected that they would be lifted up as a group… their believing family members and all of their true friends in Christ. You can imagine dying, and there are some experiences and aspects of life that you wouldn’t mind leaving behind. Still, you still have a sense of earthly purpose, and you have, in contrast to these Korean Christians, word from Me that I am still basically satisfied with earth life, and that I have no plans to bring about the rapture, leaving the earth to wicked ways.

I have a certain sense of sorrow when an expectation as strong as this one goes unfulfilled. Oh, yes, I could have controlled it, so why do I say that I’m sorry? Recall the words to the song that you use often as a closing… “I do not wish you joy without a sorrow… nor endless day without the healing dark…” That is a truth associated with spiritual development. There have to be some disappointments, some failures, some experiences of faith unrewarded. You have not had to deal with many of these, and when you have them you don’t do exceedingly well. Because… you still don’t recognize these as tests of spirit… even more important, sometimes, than successes, accolades, and rewards, earned and unearned.

You must, then, hear Me saying that it is important to your faith and your relationship with Me to have that faith tested by a failure. Yours are mostly simple: you ask Me to bless your brew-making, to produce a tasty, just right carbonated beverage. Occasionally that prayer is unfulfilled. The brew is not what you prayed for. It may even be awful. Do you stop asking for My blessing? Must I respond to every prayer just as you desire? Is continued success necessary to keep your spirit allied with Mine? Must you have “endless day” and “brilliant sun” and “tides that never turn against your barque”?

So, yes, I do feel some sorrow when some of Mine experience what they deem to be a failure of Mine. My sorrow, however, is pointed toward their turning away because of some unfulfilled expectations… turning away from the Source of that which they finally and truly are – spirit.

It is sad when evil seems to triumph. It is sad when a culture like yours opts for excessive luxuries instead of providing for the welfare of all children. And yet when I see faith truly tested, and when I see it develop as a result I can feel joy. There finally is ultimate reward for being faithful. This present earth life is not all there is, by any means.