2 Thessalonians 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2 Thessalonians 2:2 (AMPC) Not to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed, whether it be by some [pretended] revelation of [the] Spirit or by word or by letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] arrived and is here.
I believe the AMPC has a better translation which matches up well with Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24 about false prophets. Even more to the point is this issue of anxiety over mysteries that you cannot solve and perhaps never will.
The rapture is one of the most talked about events in prophecy in which I have found no clear link between any prophetic event that shows us when we will be called up to be with our Lord.
So, in line with Paul’s encouragement to not get all shook up, let me speak to one more verse about the bride’s reappearance, not her rapture.
Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
The bride was prepared. Are you prepared to meet your Lord?
That is not a question of salvation, this is about growing in Christ, becoming one who is worthy of standing beside Christ. This life we live right now is a proving grounds, a test track, or perhaps a training facility, to prove to ourselves that we are truly changed and ever growing to be more and more conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.
We are God’s chosen helpmates for His Son. If we chase after questions upon which hundreds of scholars over thousands of years cannot answer, we waste precious time that could be better used getting prepared.
I couldn’t help but to reflect back on a “hit” by Elvis, with the same title. There are portions of the lyrics, if altered, could describe how our passion for God should be.
All Shook Up
Elvis Presley
A well’a bless my soul
What’sa wrong with me?
I’m itchin’ like a man in a fuzzy tree
My friends say I’m actin’ wild as a bug
I’m in love
I’m all shook up
Mm mm mm, mm, yay, yay, yay
Well, my hands are shaky and my knees are weak
I can’t seem to stand on my own two feet
Who do you think of when you have such luck?
I’m in love
I’m all shook up
Mm mm mm, mm, yay, yay, yay
Well, please don’t ask me what’sa on my mind
I’m a little mixed up, but I’m feelin’ fine
When I’m near that girl that I love best
My heart beats so it scares me to death!
Well she touched my hand what a chill I got
Her lips are like a volcano when it’s hot
I’m proud to say that she’s my buttercup
I’m in love
I’m all shook up
Mm mm mm, mm, yay, yay, yay
My tongue gets tied when I try to speak
My insides shake like a leaf on a tree
There’s only one cure for this body of mine
That’s to have that girl that I love so fine!
She touched my hand what a chill I got
Her lips are like a volcano that’s hot
I’m proud to say that she’s my buttercup
I’m in love
I’m all shook up
Mm mm mm, mm, yay, yay, yay
Mm mm mm, mm, yay, yay
I’m all shook up
Songwriters: Elvis Presley / Otis Blackwell
All Shook Up lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Raleigh Music Publishing