For this very reason, I have spent all the time that was needed to prove that there must be a conversion, which is the mighty work of God, that changes a son of darkness into a son of Light, a slave of Satan, into a son of God! So, a Christian, initially: ‘Is a Son of God! The apostle John is taken up with this amazing privilege, this unique status a man reaches by the grace of God; for he writes: ‘Behold what manner of love the Father (GOD) has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world, does not know us (it does not understand us, nor recognise that we are such– just as did not recognise that Jesus was The Son of God) is that it did not know Him. Dear friends (dear beloved) now we are sons of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.’ (1 John 3: 1-2) Some very amazing, out of this world events are in store for all true believers in Christ, they will all begin with the Rapture!

It is obvious that the rapture was prophesied in the Old Testament, His eternal kingdom of God was definitely prophesied, but it is only Jesus that made it clear and introduced the rupture as an important Christian doctrine, for He taught it to His disciples when with them in the upper room, and the apostle John recorded it in chapters 13 – 17 of his Gospel, there it is written: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house (or property) are many rooms; (or mansions) if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you with me, that you also may be where I am. (John 14: 1-3) I will not enter now into details concerning the rupture, for I will enlarge on it later.

It is obvious that commitment to the cause and the glory of Christ, is the reason why Christians are left on earth. I heard it being said by a man of God, I cannot remember where and when, or who he was, but it got written in my heart and I have not forgotten it, because it is so true, he said: ‘If there was not a work on earth to do, at conversion a believer would go straight to heaven, and there would not be any need to be filled with the Holy Spirit and power, nor to live and do for God.’ Luke mentions that one of the two criminals that were crucified, one to the left, and one to the right of Jesus Christ, after having rebuked the other criminal who was throwing insults at Jesus, one of them turned to the Lord, and said: ‘Remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered: I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’ (Luke 23: 39-42) 

It is obvious, he had just become a disciple of the Lord, with very little time left, so it proves that being saved by grace, that immediately Jesus said to Him what He did, and went with Him to paradise! Therefore, the minister I quoted above was right. Ten days after Jesus went to Heaven, was the day of Pentecost, Jesus was in heaven and with Him was the thief that believed on Him, Note, that on the day of Pentecost, a hundred and twenty disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, not just the eleven apostles, thus I conclude that all of them, although ready to go to Paradise like was the thief Jesus took with Him, they were left on earth with a great mission in view!

 The last words Jesus spoke to them on the Mount of Olives, recorded in the Book of Acts, are the following: ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and I all Judea and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ (Acts 1: 8) Thus, they were left on earth for a purpose, and to obey the Lord’s command, they were called to be witnesses, and to be witnesses they had to commit themselves to the work of God, and to do so, they had to wait until they were baptised with the Holy Spirit, and be specially anointed. A Hymn that many still sing, like I do! says: ‘There’s a work for Jesus ready at your hand. ‘Tis a task the Master just for you has planned. Haste to do His bidding, Yield Him service true; There’s a work for Jesus none but you can do!’ What a lovely way to realise it, ‘Sing it.’ There is more to the Christian life then to go to Church. Although, that also is most important and part of the mission!