Rapture 911: What To Do If You're Left Behind (Pocket Edition)

Part 1

Quick Truths

Chapter 1 - What Happened

Millions of people from all across the planet have vanished. It’s an event we’ve referred to as the rapture. The word rapture means to be seized, carried off, snatched away, or taken to another place of existence. You won’t find the word rapture in most Bible translations. Instead you’ll likely find the phrase caught up. In Latin the word for caught up is rapio and is where we get the English word rapture.

Here’s one of the rapture passages from the Bible that explains what happened. There are many others that I’ll go over in detail later in this book.

But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

This passage tells us that Jesus, the Lord, gathered all the people who believed he died and rose again. These people were the believers. He gathered two groups of believers. First, those who believed and were already dead which you read as dead in Christ and fallen asleep in Jesus. Second, those who believed and were still alive. He met them all in the clouds. Now all those people will be with Jesus forever.

In the rapture, God took the people who placed their faith in his son Jesus up to heaven. This is God’s greatest promise. If you believe in Jesus, you get eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

So what exactly did the raptured people believe about Jesus? They believed that God sent his son Jesus to die for their sins. They also believed that Jesus didn’t stay dead; that he rose from the grave and proved he was God in the flesh.

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

You see, we’ve all sinned, and we all deserve death and an eternal life separated from God because of that. This Scripture further expounds upon the great news. God redeemed us with the blood of Jesus. The people who were raptured understood that when you place your faith in what Jesus did, God considers you righteous.

But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance; to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time, that he might himself be just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26)

Chapter 2 - Why It Happened

The rapture happened for a number of reasons. Here are a few to help you get a quick understanding. I’ll explain in great detail later in this book.

God removed the believers from earth because God’s wrath has come. I think many of you know the history of Noah and the flood. God told Noah to build an ark because a flood was coming. The flood was God’s wrath because the world had become so wicked and filled with violence. Noah was protected from that wrath in the ark. The rapture is a similar type of event.

God said to Noah, I will bring an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them and the earth. Make a ship of gopher wood. … I, even I, will bring the flood of waters on this earth, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the sky. Everything that is in the earth will die. But I will establish my covenant with you. You shall come into the ship, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. (Genesis 6:13-14, 17-18)

God’s wrath is not meant for believers. Noah was protected from it and the people who were raptured are now being protected from it. In these two verses, us refers to the believers; people who placed their faith in Jesus.

Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:9)

Another reason the rapture happened is because God wants everyone to be saved.

God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3-4)

God created every one of you reading this. He loves you. He wants you to live with him in eternity in heaven. If you’re reading this after the rapture and you are one of the left behind, I know it probably doesn’t feel like God loves you right now. Know that he most certainly does. These Scriptures tell us that God loves us so much that he sent his son Jesus to die for us. In fact, he sent Jesus to die for you thousands of years ago, knowing you were going to be a sinner. God didn’t show this act of love for you once you cleaned up your life, didn’t sin as much, started going to church, etc. Nope. That’s because God’s love is unconditional.

By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. … We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:9-10, 19)

But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

God often uses things we perceive as bad like pain, sorrow, sickness, death, and loss in order to bring us closer to him. This is a time of testing for you. The rapture will help many people realize God exists. The Bible tells us that many, many people will become believers through the coming events. Don’t waste the opportunity. This is your last chance to place your faith in Jesus and be saved.

Yahweh your God is testing you, to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 13:3)

Yahweh is a term used in the Old Testament books of the Bible and it refers to God’s proper name. It’s often translated LORD or God. That Scripture told us why God tests us. It’s so he can tell if you love him with all your heart. As one of the left behind, how you handle what’s to come will reveal your attitude toward God. This time of testing will be difficult for you; don’t give up. If you decide to place your faith in Jesus, everything will work out for your good.

My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises every son whom he receives. (Hebrews 12:5-6)

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Another purpose for the rapture is to usher in God’s time of wrath against the wicked, just like the flood in Noah’s day punished the wicked. The rapture and the events that happen during the tribulation period will do the same. Now, if you have a bad attitude toward God about the situation you’re in as one of the left behind, and you get bitter and angry and shake your fist at God in defiance, well you’re going to experience his wrath.

According to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath … God; who will pay back to everyone according to their works: … to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath, indignation, oppression, and anguish on every soul of man who does evil. (Romans 2:5-6, 8-9)

Chapter 3 - Deception Warning

One of the first things that’s going to happen after the rapture is strong delusion. Delusion means a false belief or to mislead. Delusion is an attack on the truth. We can already see this in the world today. With so much fake news and deception, it’s often quite difficult to determine what the truth is. It will get way worse after the rapture.

It’s going to get worse because God is going to let everyone left behind believe Satan’s lies. Satan is the lawless one. This deception and working of error is meant to test everyone’s heart. It’ll harden the hearts of and further blind people who don’t want anything to do with God.

Then the lawless one will be revealed … and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:8, 10-12)

So what is truth? God and his word are truth. God is perfect and holy and can’t lie. The Bible is his word; God’s Spirit was with every one of the authors as they wrote his words down; God’s Spirit was with the scholars as they decided what books to include in the Bible we know today.

All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever. (Psalm 119:160)

God, who can’t lie. (Titus 1:2)

Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

As you read this book, you’ll learn that Satan is behind every lie and deception. Satan is a creation of God; a fallen angel. The Bible calls him the father of lies and a murderer.

You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. (John 8:44)

Your battle on this earth is not against mankind; it’s against Satan and his army of fallen angels. The principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness describe the demonic angels and their hierarchy.

For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

To understand the deceptions Satan will use, you need to understand what his goals are. Satan, the shining one, wants to be God.

How you have fallen from heaven, shining one, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north! I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High! (Isaiah 14:12-14)

He wants to be worshiped just like God, and he wants to create just like God creates. Satan hates God and everything God created. Thus Satan hates you. Satan will lie about God, the Bible, Jesus, Christians, the rapture—anything and everything to do with God. Since Satan wants to be God, he’ll try to convince you that he is. The Bible tells us he’ll be able to perform all sorts of signs and wonders.

Chapter 4 - You Can Still Be Saved

If you’re left behind, you may be thinking you messed up and missed your chance to live in heaven for eternity with God. That’s not the case. There’s still hope for you. You can be saved too. You can see your loved ones who vanished in the rapture again. The decision is entirely up to you. You just have to make the right choice.

God loves you and wants to spend eternity with you. But there’s a problem, and it’s called sin. Sin is doing and even thinking anything that isn’t perfect and holy. Every single one of us commits sin. We can’t help it; it’s our nature. It doesn’t matter what your sin is or how big or little you perceive your sin to be. It could be lying, lust, pride, or murder. Any sin is sin in God’s eyes.

There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one. (Romans 3:12)

God is perfect and sinless and righteous in every way. Thus so is where he lives, heaven. Sin is the opposite of God. Sin cannot exist in heaven. Since people are inherently sinful, no one can live with God unless the sin problem is taken care of first.

Case in point: Adam and Eve. They lived in the garden of Eden with God. They saw God every day. Heaven is wherever God is, so they essentially lived in heaven. After they sinned and ate from the forbidden tree, they got kicked out of the garden. They couldn’t live with God anymore. This Scripture records that event. God sent him, which is Adam, out from the garden.

God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:23-24)

Here’s the good news: God has a solution for the sin problem. He demands a perfect and spotless sacrifice to atone for sin. When Adam and Eve first sinned, God killed an animal to clothe them and atone for their sin.

Yahweh God made garments of animal skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)

In the Old Testament times before Jesus came, God’s people sacrificed animals to atone for their sin.

If anyone of the common people sins unwittingly, in doing any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and is guilty, if his sin which he has sinned is made known to him, then he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without defect, for his sin which he has sinned. He shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering. (Leviticus 4:27-29)

Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. (Hebrews 13:11 NLT)

Don’t run off to find an animal you can sacrifice to atone for your sin. God’s already taken care of the sacrifice offering permanently for you. He loves you so much that he sent Jesus, his perfect and sinless and righteous son, down to earth to live as a man. Jesus was then sacrificed for you. He was crucified to atone for your sin. We know this worked, because Jesus isn’t dead. God raised him from the dead. Then Jesus appeared to hundreds of people in his risen state. All you have to do now is believe.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Belief. It seems too simple doesn’t it? But that’s the irony, it’s not simple at all. In fact, belief is really hard. The Bible says the path to God is narrow and most don’t find it. That’s because we’re accustomed to striving for what we want down here on earth. The harder we work, the more we get. We love to boast about our accomplishments. We love to be in control. That’s not God’s way. God is in control, and it’s about what God did, not what you’ve done. His solution is a gift. He gave his son as a gift to you. You just have to accept it.

But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—… for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:4-5, 8)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

You see, it’s God’s grace that saved you. As sinners, we are doomed to an eternal life far removed from God. That’s God’s rule. Grace is God demonstrating his love for us by pardoning us based on us believing Jesus died for our sins. God treated Jesus the way we deserve to be treated. Jesus was crucified. God did that so he could treat us the way Jesus deserves to be treated. Jesus is now in heaven with God.

A person who believes what they cannot yet see has faith. They believe God and that Jesus died for their sins. Have faith.

Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Here’s what you must come to believe.

You recognize that you are a sinner.

You don’t want to be a sinner anymore. You ask God to forgive you.

You want to live with God for eternity in heaven.

You know that you can’t save yourself.

You believe that God sent his son Jesus to atone for your sin by dying on the cross.

You believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that Jesus reigns with God in heaven.

You surrender your salvation to Jesus and ask him to come into your life.

Now you can’t just go through the motions and say these things. You have to actually mean them, deep down from your heart. That’s what faith is all about.

This is the good news of the Bible. That Jesus, the son of God, died for your sins, rose from the grave, and reigns from heaven with God.

Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

If you truly believe all those things, then tell God. That’s what praying is, just talking to God. Tell him you believe each of those truths and ask him to come into your life. And he will indeed!

It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Acts 2:21)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future. You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You shall seek me, and find me, when you search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Here’s an example prayer you can say to God:

Lord Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner and that I need your forgiveness so that I can live with you for eternity in heaven. Please forgive me. I believe that you are the son of God and that you died on the cross for my sins. I believe that you rose from the grave! I want to turn from my sins and trust and follow you as Lord and Savior. Please come into my heart and life. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Chapter 5 - Left Behind Starter Checklist

Here’s a short checklist to help you get through what’s happened and prepare for what’s to come. A more detailed checklist is included in Chapter 20.

1. Choose to believe that Jesus died for you

This is the most important thing on this checklist. In fact, it’s the only thing on this list that matters at all. If you decide not to believe in Jesus, then nothing else is going to make any difference whatsoever. I know that’s hard to hear for some of you, but