Bible Study Simply

What Does It Mean To Be a Rapture Prepper?

Rapture prepper is a term recently used up by a non-celebrity not so famous podcaster. The interesting thing about this is that her comments made national news after she appeared in a CNN interview. She made a really interesting comment. One that I’d like to shed some positive light on.

Who has ever know the mind of God. Who can say they’ve looked into His thoughts and know what He was going to do?

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

The answer is no one!

Humanity Always Gets It Wrong

When the ancient nation of Israel needed a new king, even God’s own prophet Samuel was given seven chances to pick the next king of Israel from David’s family of siblings. Samuel got it wrong seven times. The one person no human would’ve picked was chosen by God to be the next king of Israel. And a great king he became because of God.

God works in ways we don’t understand. The Bible is filled with these examples.

This leads me to Jennifer Welch. A podcast co-host who holds extreme liberal views and recently was a guest speaker on an obscure CNN show. Her comments led to national attention when she chose that she would ridicule God and those who believe in His Word.

Jennifer’s attention was directed to the White House and Christians in particular. Here are the comments she made on Wednesday June 18th.

Jennifer Welch said that “House Speaker Mike Johnson is a rapture prepper just like Ted Cruz is. You have this whole sect of MAGA that supports Israel because they want the Jews to be in Israel so that Jesus can come back for the rapture. And that’s a “very real” issue in Congress, adding: “That’s not foreign policy, that’s magical thinking.”

First, I’d like to applaud her for her taking the time to become knowledgeable about God’s truth and the necessity and will of God for the Jews to return to their land. This a scriptural truth. Although it’s only one part of God’s prophetic story, it’s still accurate.

I’ll go out on a limb and claim that Jennifer didn’t take enough time to know and understand all of God’s prophecy yet to be fulfilled. Because I don’t think she realizes that she just helped to fulfill one of God’s end time prophecies.

Scoffers Will Come To Laugh At Rapture Preppers

Jennifer is in fact helping to fulfill prophetic words given to us by Peter in his second letter.

“Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.” (2 Peter 3:3-5)

As we rapidly approach the end of this age leading into the Tribulation, scoffers like Jennifer are becoming a dime a dozen. They’re growing in popularity, especially among unbelieving pagans.

She also forgets that the God she ridicules is the same One who spoke of all the prophecies that have been fulfilled perfectly and most accurately without error.

Is “Rapture Prepper” a New Term?

Many in recent days since this interview, have come to believe that this is a new term.

Rapture Prepper is in fact not a new term. It was used by rapture preppers as recently as 2021 and most likely even before that.

In 1959, the false teacher and Calvinist Harold Camping co-founded the radio network, Family Radio. Harold was a Calvinist Christian and a former engineer. He believed he had devised the mathematical formula that revealed the exact day of the rapture.

Unfortunately, Harold, like Jennifer only knew and understood pieces of God’s word. Harold had many followers who came to believe what he thought he discovered.

Needless to say, Harold’s so called discovery was a failure. Had Harold taken the time to understand God’s word, He would’ve figured this out on his own.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36)

Do Rapture Preppers Know That Israel Is Directly Tied to the Rapture?

Many have taken the road to revile Jennifer for her comments for taking the low road and laughing at evangelical republicans that believe the existence of Israel and the Jews returning to their homeland is directly tied to the Second Coming of Christ.

Factually, Israel is very much directly tied to Christ’ return. Has anyone noticed how this tiny country the size of New Jersey has the entire world’s attention. Not only that. The nation has become a burden to governments across the globe because unbelievers who oppose the God of Israel. Wait, doesn’t the Bible speak of this.

“And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.” (Zechariah 12:3)

Should We Ridicule Rapture Preppers?

I would like to thank Jennifer for brining to light some scriptural truths about Christianity and the rapture. While she may have been laughing at Christians, she was bringing to the mind of many people a very important biblical topic.

One that is on the minds of many people today as they attempt to understand everything happening in the world today.

How many people has she encouraged to want to go and explore the topic of the rapture? Even those who believe in the rapture likely don’t understand the significance of Israel and end time events.

I spent more than forty years in the Catholic Church of Rome. I had no idea of the teachings of the rapture and its relevance to the last days of this age. It’s only when I excommunicated the Catholic church out of my life and chose God’s word that I began to understand the truth.

This interview will undoubtedly cause many to examine further those topics she brought up that she meant for ridicule. Christians understand fully how often God will take something meant for evil and turn it into something good.

God’s Use of Antisemitism

Antisemitism is a perfect example. We look at the hatred of Jews as a horrendous evil in our world. And it is a despicable evil. One of the worse because it’s Satan’s work in opposing God’s own chosen people.

This has not stopped God from using the enemies of the Jews to move them in His direction according to His will. It was the Russian Pogroms of the late 1800’s that began to move the Jews back into their land which at the time was barren and desolate. Look what God has done since and still doing today to protect it.

Does it mean He’s not going to use antisemitism to continue returning His people back to the land of Israel as we approach the final fulfillment of end time prophecies. Please refer back to the opening Bible verse of this article.

What’s a Rapture Prepper?

Finally, let’s take closer look at the definition of a rapture prepper. Anyone who’s a true biblical Christian can be considered a rapture prepper. If you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior. God has justified your heart. You walk each day in the light of the strength of the Holy Spirit toward holiness and righteousness, then you’re one of these preppers.

In other words, you understand the theology of the rapture. Then the imminent Second Coming of Christ. Every true biblical Christian anxiously awaits the imminent moment Christ returns to gather His believers.

So, in essence, a true biblical Christian is a rapture prepper. We prep by walking in the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we watch this world fall deeper into darkness. We stay close to God and His word and we rely on Christ for our salvation.

Is a Rapture Prepper a Christian?

They can be. But not necessarily. Someone can believe in the rapture but not understand salvation and the need for Christ. Many people believe that everyone who does good will be raptured. This is a false teaching that comes well short of God’s word. These people will be in for a shocking surprise, unfortunately. Unless the true gospel reaches them before.

You can be a rapture prepper and not be a Christian. But you can’t be a Christian and not be a rapture prepper.

Having spent more than forty years in the Catholic Church of Rome, I experienced a similar thing. When the Holy Spirit drew me out, I came to understand this one thing among many.

You can be a Catholic without being a Christian. But you cannot be a Christian while being a Catholic. God’s Word is in direct opposition to the teachings of man that come out of the Catholic Church.

God has not asked any of us for our opinion or thoughts on what His plan should be. Things are not falling apart. Everything is falling perfectly into place.

God raises kings and deposes them. He does this not according to mankind’s demands, but only according to His purpose and will to fulfill what has been spoken of by the prophets.

”He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.”

Daniel 2:21

God does not bend to the whims of mankind. He doesn’t seek the counsel of humans when He accomplishes His purpose.

Choosing a King to Discipline His People

There was no way in the world that Hillary was going to lose the presidential election. They had every reason to believe she was going to win. Wait! What? Trump won?

Throughout the Old Testament, God’s intention was to raise up the nation of Israel to be a blessing to the world. They would be a nation that God would use to show His glory to all people.

God would put forth in front of the people of Israel, light and darkness. He told them to always choose light.

He made it clear, if they followed Him in obedience, they would be richly blessed. If they chose darkness and rejected Him, they would be disciplined.

They unfortunately chose darkness over and over again. Their sins led them to God’s discipline.

Approximately 2500 years ago, God chose King Nebuchadnezzar to ransack and destroy Jerusalem and carry off the Jewish people into exile in a foreign and pagan land. God chose this pagan, idol worshiping king to fulfill His promise that the people of Israel would be disciplined for their repeated transgressions. God’s people would be exiled into Babylon for 70 years before they would be released.

God did not go the the Jewish leaders of that day and ask them if this was a good idea. He didn’t ask them for their thoughts or if they had a better plan. No!

King Nebuchadnezzar fulfilled God’s purpose by exiling God’s people out of their land. Then when God was finished with this king, He was disciplined for how He treated the people of Israel.

Raising a President

Current President Trump became President through the will of God in order that he might perform two very important tasks. God’s hands are on all things and all things move toward His will.

In 1948, against every piece of advice given to him by his staff, U.S. President Harry S. Truman recognized and declared that Israel was a nation.

Why was it important that the U.S. make this declaration? Because what the U.S. says carries a great deal of weight in the world. Nations listen to what the U.S. says and does. On this day, God used the U.S. as a mouthpiece to declaring it’s right to be a nation.

In a single day, a nation was born.

“Before she goes into labor,
she gives birth;
before the pains come upon her,
she delivers a son.
Who has ever heard of such things?
Who has ever seen things like this?
Can a country be born in a day
or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
Yet no sooner is Zion in labor
than she gives birth to her children.
Do I bring to the moment of birth
and not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Do I close up the womb
when I bring to delivery?” says your God.

Isaiah 66:7-9

Some 70 years later, the U. S. is used again as a mouthpiece to the world to make a declaration concerning God’s Holy Land. After the failure of prior presidency’s and against the will of his staff, President Trump makes the big announcement. Jerusalem is officially the capital of Israel.

Are you seeing this? Not since the time of King David has Jerusalem been considered the capital of Israel. Against the whims of mankind, God restored His Holy Land and He’s in the process of physically restoring His people back into His land.

“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.

Genesis 12:2-3

More than half of all Jews now live in Israel and the number is climbing daily.

“For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God

Ezekiel 36:24-28

Let me clarify that this passage begins with the physical restoration of God’s people. This physical restoration is happening right now, before our very eyes. The second half of this passage points to the spiritual restoration of God’s people that is still to come at a future date. These are two separate events. The second is going to occur at the end of the Tribulation period.

But wait, that’s not all!

The Second Important Thing

A young Jewish man by the name of Jared Kushner was chosen by President Trump to lead an important peace effort. A peace effort that had the support of no one within the administration.

Just as Truman did in 1948, as Trump did in 2017, Jared Kushner would go against the grain and every piece of advice given to him. He would lead the effort to create a channel of peace between several Arab nations, former enemies of Israel and form the Abraham Accords.

Who thought a young Jewish man against all odds, could convince Arab nations to form a peace alliance with Israel. But God.

Why is this important? Israel, in the near future will enter a period of peace before the beginning of the Ezekiel war. Jared’s work in creating these peace alliances will serve as the foundation for this temporary peace that Israel will soon experience according to Ezekiel 38.

God has been and will continue to accomplish what He desires. He will fulfill all that He has spoken through the prophets. Not a single nation has changed that fact nor will there ever be a nation to change the course of God’s plan.

He doesn’t ask our opinion nor does He need it.

“So is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Isaiah 55:11

Who Is Satan In the Bible?

With each passing day, there appears to be a growing commonality between people of various beliefs and backgrounds. It’s revolves around the idea of who is Satan in the Bible and how something is terribly wrong with our world. We hear increasingly the things that are happening in our midst are evil.

Well, if you’re one of these people, you’re on the right track. It can almost seem comical to dig into the different meanings the world has for the term evil, especially when the articles attempting to define evil are steeped in psychology.

Quite simply, evil is anything that contradicts the holy nature of God or demonstrates a rejection of God and His desires for us, which can be tied to the question of who is Satan in the Bible.

God does not force evil on anyone nor does He purposely try to trip you up into evil behavior. We as humans are perfectly capable of making ourselves fully available to the whims of the one we call Satan. In fact, mankind has perfected sin in such a way that we’ve made this world a perfect habitat for the devil, as seen in biblical texts describing who is Satan in the Bible.

Who Satan Is Not!

Satan is not that fleshy character that’s all spray painted red with a long pointy tail holding a pitch fork. This is the Hollywood Satan. Since this particular character came on the scene, Hollywood has creatively devised many different fleshly looking Satan’s over the past several decades. But this doesn’t work, because there is no Satan in the flesh.

Besides, these are scary Satan’s and the devil has no intention of trying to scare you. Quite the opposite. He would prefer to gently take you in the direction that you think is good and leads to God while leading you straight to hell. This is a subtlety highlighted in the question of who is Satan in the Bible.

C.S. Lewis said it best.

“The safest road to hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”

In other words, he doesn’t want to believe that you’re being lead to hell. So he does it gently and quietly.

This is why Jesus began His Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24:4 with the words “watch not to be deceived.” While the world is filled with deception, Jesus was concerned with mankind’s spiritual deception.

If the Spirit of Satan is Real, Where Does He Come From?

We know that He was one of the greatest angels among all angels in heaven. He likely committed the very first sin of pride. This is taught by Isaiah in the following verse.

12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

Isaiah 14:12-14

The Word of God does not reveal when Satan fell from heaven, but we can surmise that it was before creation. We know this because he was in the garden with Adam and Eve.

What is the Character of Satan?

Ezekiel, the prophet describes the character of Satan through the evil King of Tyre in the following verses.

12 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God;
you walked among the fiery stones. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. 16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.

Ezekiel 28:12-18

Where Does Satan Spend His Time?

After reading the passages from the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel, it’s no surprise how Satan answers God’s question in the following verses from the book of Job. After all, he was cast down to earth.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”

Job 1:6-7

This verse from Job helps us understand why the devil was given certain names, which we’ll discuss next.

By What Names Is Satan Known?

We can see in the following verses that Satan has many names by which he’s referred to in the Bible. Here, John names him the prince of this world.

“I will no longer talk much with you, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.”

John 14:30

While we know his spirit is here among us, John notes that he is the ruler of the world we live in. This gives us a clear indication as to the lawlessness and evil that is at work around us today.

Paul also calls him the ruler of the air from this verse in Ephesians.

“in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”

Ephesians 2:2

John calls him by another name in his first letter to the church of believers. He makes a point to call out the difference between the followers of Christ and the unbelievers.

“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”

1 John 5:19

We see here in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians that Satan is the god of this world.

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

2 Corinthians 4:4

Those who have wisdom and understand God’s word know that Satan is the prince of this world. He is a very powerful ruler. We know his power is limited and his time is running short. His end is in sight as we see the days grow more evil.

Who is Satan in the Bible influences how everyone perceives him. Satan is after everyone of us. He’s wiser and more cunning than any of us. We are a testimony to that fact by our sinful nature. Especially in the boasting and pride of sin that we display today.

Does Satan Have a Kingdom?

Absolutely! It has a hierarchy that flows all the way down to mortals that do his bidding for him here on earth.

“If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?”

Matthew 12:26

Paul reminds us that our daily battle is against the governmental system of Satan’s kingdom. He has many followers and those who do his bidding. While the Bible doesn’t indicate this, many scholars believe that a third of the angels of heaven fell with the devil.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Ephesians 6:12

All of these Bible teachings should be taken literally, just as God intended them to be. It should lead us to take heed the advice that Paul lays out in his letter to the Ephesians.

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Ephesians 4:25-29

“10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Ephesians 6:10-11

All the more so today, as we see the “Day of the Lord” approaching rapidly like a thief in the night.