Verses of the Day: The Rapture

What does it mean to be left behind after the Rapture?

Being left behind after the rapture means enduring the Antichrist's reign and tribulation while hoping for salvation at Christ's second coming.

In certain evangelical Christian eschatology, being "left behind" after the rapture refers to those who are not taken up to heaven when Jesus returns to gather his faithful followers.

First off, what is the Rapture? and why is there even a Rapture? Hello, my name is Elize and I go by the EAF, social media wise. 😄

End-times event called the rapture where true believers in Jesus Christ will suddenly be taken up into the air to meet the Lord, our beloved father, YahWeh. This is based on a particular interpretation of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 that describes believers being "caught up" to be with Christ.

In this view, the rapture will take place unexpectedly before a 7-year period of intense suffering on earth known as the Great Tribulation. All Christians, both those alive and those deceased, will be rescued in the rapture while nonbelievers are left behind. The removal of Christians before the tribulation is thought to be an act of mercy and salvation.

After the rapture, it is believed the Antichrist will gain global authority, deceiving those left behind. Despite great hardship under his reign, many will still come to faith in Christ, although at the cost of their lives.

At the end of the 7 years, it is taught that Christ will visibly return to overthrow evil once and for all. He will establish a kingdom on earth and reign there for 1,000 years before the final eternal state begins. Those who endure to the end with faith can still be redeemed.

This eschatological timeline provides hope to many Christians and shapes how they view end-times prophecy. Faithfulness today is encouraged by anticipation of being spared from coming wrath via the rapture.

And the reasons list:

• To spare believers from undergoing divine wrath and judgment against a sinful world (1 Thessalonians 5:9)
• To separate and protect the church from the corrupt, satanic world system during the tribulation period (Revelation 13:7-8)
• To fulfill God's promises to keep believers from eternal condemnation and deliver them into His heavenly kingdom (John 3:36)
• To fulfill the prophecy that believers will meet Christ in the air when He returns (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
• To remove believers and allow for the revelation of the Antichrist on earth during the tribulation as foretold (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8)
• To reward those who faithfully watch and wait for Christ's return with a heavenly glorification (Revelation 3:10)
• To serve as the blessed hope of Christ's return that motivates holy living (Titus 2:11-13)
• To vindicate Christ's resurrection by resurrecting and rapturing deceased believers to meet Him (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
• To initiate the series of end times events that culminates in Christ's millennial kingdom on earth (Revelation 20:4-6)

To later answer the big question for those who wonder: What does it mean to be left behind after the Rapture?

From our knowledge, 

Only faithful followers of Christ will be raptured, while unbelievers and nominal Christians remain on earth. Those left behind will remain through the period of intense hardship and persecution known as the Great Tribulation. An individual called the Antichrist will gain authority over the world and impose the 'mark of the beast' during the tribulation. Those left behind may still attain salvation if they realize their error and turn wholeheartedly to faith in Christ, though at high personal cost. Many will endure suffering, trials, martyrdom and intense spiritual warfare as God pours out judgments on the earth meant to spur repentance. At the end of the 7-year tribulation period, Christ will return visibly in glory to defeat evil and establish his millennial kingdom. If left behind individuals endure in faith until this Second Coming, refusing the mark of the beast, they can still be redeemed.