As I’ve been doing these podcasts, on occasion I’ve talked a lot about the Rapture and what’s going on in the world today that is pointing to the imminency of the Rapture like never before in world history. Not long ago, I received a rapture-related question from a lady named Peggy, and her question was this: “What about the revival for a billion souls that D.L. Moody talked about before the Rapture?”
Well, I was not particularly aware of that, but apparently Dwight L. Moody—a great evangelist of the faith in the latter 19th century—had predicted a great revival, a salvation of a billion souls, before the Rapture would occur. Does that mean what I’ve been saying about how soon the Rapture could be conflicts with what Moody said? If Dwight L. Moody’s prediction is correct, does that mean the Rapture isn’t as imminent as we’ve been hearing it very well could be?
As I answer that, I want to make three simple points:
1. Preachers’ Opinions Are Not Scripture
We pastors can often feel very strongly about an opinion we have, and it may be something that we feel very convinced about in our own heart, but that is not scripture. As interesting as it might be, you can’t bank on our feelings and what we think may happen. We can only bank on what Scripture says. I have nothing but respect for D.L. Moody and his statement about that billion souls; once again, that was something in his heart that he shared way back then with his people. But that’s not Scripture. That’s not God’s Word; that’s his sense.
2. Scripture Foretells a Falling Away
When you look at Scripture and look at the last days around the time of the Rapture, 2 Thessalonians 2:3 talks about a great apostasy taking place—a falling away:
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
That is in the Christian church in general: a falling away from the basics of Biblical teaching, the Biblical Gospel, standing on the Word of God, and growing in the Word of God. Instead, there’s a shift toward more “feel-good” sermons. I’m afraid that’s exactly what’s going on in our society today. Much of Christian preaching today is feeding cotton candy to the body of Christ rather than solid food from God’s Word, and I see a great apostasy taking place all around us.
3. A Billion Souls May Have Already Been Saved
Dwight L. Moody ministered in the latter part of the 1800s, and in the 150-ish years that have gone by since then, it’s possible that a billion souls truly have come to faith in Jesus Christ in these last days.
I like what Peggy said at the end of her email: “But I’m ready.” That’s the most important thing—being ready.
Be on the Alert! Be Ready!
When Jesus talked about His Second Coming and our preparedness for it in Matthew 24:42, He said:
“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.”
In verse 44 of that chapter, He added:
“For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”
Whenever He comes—and we seem to be on the cusp of it—when it actually happens, it will be a surprise. Even as I sit here telling you it’s getting near, deep down in my heart I don’t think it’s today. We’re going to be feeling that way, and then there it is. So it will be a surprise.
Jesus gave two instructions: “be on the alert” and “be ready.”
* Being on the alert means being aware of what’s going on around you in this world. The Lord in His Word has given us many indicators and signs that the end is getting very near. Being on alert is being aware of that—not putting your head in the sand thinking, I don’t look at stuff like that, or avoiding Revelation, the one book in the Bible that promises a blessing to those who read and listen to it. Take your head out of the sand and stay alert.
* Being ready comes down to three simple things:
* Be absolutely sure of your own salvation. Our salvation is not a hope-so—it’s an absolute know-so. John 1:11–12 notes about Jesus that:
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name
Romans 10:9–10 says:
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
First John 5:13 says:
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, …
* Put your trust and hope 100% in Jesus Christ alone. Not in the circumstances or issues of this life, not in earthly treasures that come and go, and not in your personal hopes for this life—100% in Jesus alone. Whatever comes, keep your trust in Him.
* See yourself as His servant. Whatever station in life you find yourself in, wherever the Lord has planted you, realize you are there to point to Him as Lord with your life, faith, and words. Ask Him: “Lord, let me be an instrument that glorifies You today, however You want to use me.”
When you are sure of your salvation, have your trust 100% in Jesus alone, and realize you are here as His servant, whenever He comes, you are ready.
You have a wonderful hope—not only for this life with His guidance, help, support, and love, but with the wonderful hope of instantly being in His presence. Have a great day in the Lord!
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About Pastor Brian
Pastor Brian Larson ministered in Truckee, California, for more than 40 years, having moved there with his young family from Southern California in the summer of 1975 to pastor a denominational church in the area. He stepped out in faith in 1978 to begin a nondenominational fellowship in North Tahoe. By June of 1981, the small fellowship had moved to the high school auditorium in Truckee, and it was then that they became known as Calvary Chapel of Truckee. For more than 38 years, the emphasis of Pastor Brian’s ministry at Calvary Chapel of Truckee was simply on the building up of the body of Christ through the clear, objective teaching of the Word of God, the praise and worship of His Name, and diligent prayer. He firmly believed that as the body was fed and nourished in His Word, we would grow in His grace and love. In October of 2019, Pastor Brian stepped down as senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Truckee and soon after moved to Connecticut where he has continued ministering to the body of Christ through teaching engagements and through his non-profit ministry True To His Word.
