No Signs for the Rapture - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
John 14:2-3

No Signs for the Rapture
Everyone who has read the Gospel of John has noticed its distinct character, especially in relationship to the other three Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Someone has gone to the trouble of calculating that 93% of John's Gospel is unique material, with only 3% found in the other Gospels—while we cannot vouch for the strict accuracy of this calculation, the impression it leaves is correct.

This is especially true when it comes to the subject of the second coming of Christ. The other three Gospels record Christ's words on His second coming in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. It was preached publicly; the details were strictly related to Israel, the nations, and the signs leading up to that event.

However, when we turn to John's Gospel we are on altogether different ground. The setting was not the Mount of Olives but in the upper room; Judas was not there, the crowds were not there, and it was a very intimate time between the Lord and His own. He had washed their feet, they were clean, He was preparing their hearts for His departure. His words were, "I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." How they foreshadow Paul's words in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18!

One thing here is important to note: Christ does not mention one sign as transpiring before, or initiating, this event. Why is this? It is simply because it is here His coming for us. At His appearing it will be our coming with Him. Christ is revealing, for the first time, the Rapture—it was left to Paul to give us more details, but plainly this is presented by Christ as our HOPE. No sign is necessary—He may come for us at any time!

Brian Reynolds