Hebrews 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Many times the question has been asked regarding who Jesus will take with Him when He comes for His Church at the Rapture.
Some have claimed that only those who have purified themselves of the sins of the world will be ready and therefore taken by Jesus. Others claim that the church must endure the seven year tribulation period so that she can be cleansed and ready for Jesus. Still others say that when Jesus comes, all those who have called on His name will be taken by Him back to heaven.
For the simple answer to this question, all one has to do is go back to the first example of a person taken in a rapture in the old testament book of Genesis:
Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
Paul later referred to this event in the Book of Hebrews as being an example of what God will require for Jesus to take us with Him: To fully please God by trusting Him with our faith in Jesus Christ. The same faith that Enoch had that caused God to remove him from the earth before the great judgment of the flood, is the same faith that we can have that will cause Jesus to remove us from the earth before the judgment of the great tribulation period.
“By faith Enoch was taken, so that he did not see death…”
The fact of Enoch’s faith towards God for his salvation, is all that God required of him in order to remove him from the earth. Paul records that it was this faith that Enoch had in trusting God for his salvation that “pleased God”. Then concludes his thought by proclaiming that “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Of course the opposite of this would be that the person that has faith fully in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, has fully pleased God.
As you walk with the Lord today, meditate on the fact that all of your sins have already been removed and you are completely right with God, if you have already trusted in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. There is no further rite of purification that you need to undergo. The sacrifice of Jesus was complete and fully satisfied God. If you have placed your life in Jesus hands for your salvation they you are fully ready for Him when He comes for His Church. You will be rising to meet the Lord in the air along with everyone else who has trusted in the Jesus.
Rob Robinson
