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BEFORE THE RAPTURE by Julius Agbor

BEFORE THE RAPTURE

The 7 Forms of Deception Each Christian Must Overcome

by Julius Agbor

Publisher: Westbow Press

An instructional manual targets those preparing for the rapture and the second coming of Christ.

According to Agbor (What You Need to Know About Marriage, 2013), the rapture and the second coming of Christ are some of the least understood parts of the Bible, but both are of central significance. In fact, they are often confused with each other, although they are theologically and historically distinct. The rapture—described in the New Testament—actually occurs in five stages, the first of which was Jesus’ Resurrection. The remaining four stages provide an escape from the suffering of the Great Tribulation—the Antichrist’s seven-year reign—for all true believers, including those alive and dead, as well as saints and some Jews. During the rapture, Jesus appears as a man in the clouds but never sets foot on Earth. The second coming, in contrast, is detailed in both the New and Old Testaments: Jesus physically returns to Earth to deliver judgment to unrepentant sinners. The second coming ends the Great Tribulation and establishes Christ’s reign for 1,000 years. While the rapture will be invisible to the faithless, the second coming will be seen by believers and nonbelievers alike. Agbor also offers a historical analysis of the edicts God transmitted through Jesus to the seven churches in Asia Minor, as chronicled in the book of Revelation, and unearths their relevance to present-day Christians. He devotes seven chapters to a discussion of the seven basic deceptions employed by Jesus’ enemies against believers, which culminate in useful advice for the “aspiring Christian” who wants to plan for the end of days. The book is mostly addressed to Christians, and while there is no shortage of references to the Bible, this is a decidedly unscholarly work, written to be easily accessible. Agbor presents his argument with great care, and many of his observations are unconventional: for example, the rapture will not be preceded by a series of signs but will be abrupt and unexpected. Some readers will likely struggle with the author’s confidence and sense of urgency—he is convinced that the rapture is imminent and that Jesus personally commanded Agbor’s own commitment to full-time ministry.

A textually meticulous account of the end of days that should appeal to devoted Christians.