I am talking with my son and his girlfriend this weekend about the rapture

[FaithInChrist]

I really feel that our (believers) opportunity to share the Word of God with others is quickly coming to an end.

My son is a very busy young man, he is 20 years old and has his own life with his girlfriend. He is also my only child who has not accepted Christ as his savior.

He and his girlfriend are supposed to come over Sunday afternoon for dinner and I have to share Christ with them.

I just don't even know where to start. I know my son believes that death is not the end of life. I just need him to understand what has to be done to have eternal life with God, not burning in the lake of fire. I have no idea what his girlfriend's beliefs are.

I need scripture that supports that Christ is coming again soon, I am also going to use this website as a guide.

I have been praying that God is softening their hearts so they are receptive to the message. Please pray with me, I truly believe that God hears our prayers. My son's name is Ryan and his girlfriend is Hanna.

God bless you all,

Dianne

[Bay]

Diane

You are in my prayers as well as Ryan and Hanna.

Love in Christ

Bay

[micah719]

Why the focus on the Rapture? Not wanting to alarm you, but your son is not guaranteed the next bit of air he breathes, let alone weeks, months or years, just like any of us.

My concern is that he, as an unbeliever, is not able to receive such spiritually perceived things as the Rapture and Parousia.

In my opinion it would be wiser to focus on the Holiness of God, the violated perfect Law, the certainty of judgement, the sufficiency of Christ's righteousness and atoning sacrifice on our behalf, and the guarantee that He receives all that come to Him and call on Him alone as Saviour, and promises to keep them eternally. Eschatology might work for awakening interest in some, but there is no getting past the fact that he needs to understand his desperate need for The Saviour.

The 6th commandment might be a good place to start, and the "romans road".

Praise and thanks be to God for Godly mothers with a heart for the spiritual welfare of their children!

[acceptedinthebeloved]

I will be praying for you, as you prepare to present the gospel to your son and his girlfriend, this weekend.

Sometimes I like to start out with talking about "fulfilled prophecy," and how that only God can foretell the future consistently and perfectly, and has shown us this in His Word, so we will know who He is and that what He says is true.

"To whom will ye liken Me, and make Me equal, and compare Me, that we may be like?
...
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying,
My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure" - Isaiah 46:5, 9-10


I like to use this quote by Britt Gillette:

"God branded His Word with a unique watermark, one impervious to counterfeiters. What is this watermark that identifies the true Word of God?
It is fulfilled prophecy."

- Britt Gillette

Also, the study of how Israel became a nation again in 1948, precisely 2520 "biblical" years from 537BC, and how Jerusalem was recaptured in 1967, precisely 2520 "biblical" years from 518BC, tells us that God views "time" as being an important thing for us to know, in relation to His "fulfillments" of prophecy (esp. with regard to Israel; see also, Ezekiel 37:1-8 - the "dry bones" prophecy regarding the "first-of-several stages" of Israel's end-time restoration, in preparation for their prophesied/promised earthly Millennial Kingdom).

Our Lord wants us to be aware of these things, and this is why He has recorded what He wants us to know, in His Word. Israel's becoming a nation again, in fulfillment of precise "time-related prophecies" is evidence which He desires for us to know. Since these have been literally fulfilled, then we can expect the remaining ones to be literally fulfilled, as well.



Here's a couple of articles on that subject:

"Prophecy Fulfilled: Israel Becomes A Nation In 1948" by Britt Gillette

Prophecy Fulfilled: Israel Becomes A Nation In 1948

"The Bible: Proofs of Its Supernatural Origin" (scroll down about 1/3 of the page)

The Bible: Proofs of Its Supernatural Origin



I also like this brief video (made for Josh McDowell):

"Evidence" (4:24 mins)

Evidence - YouTube


I hope this helps. God bless you as you minister and convey Truth to your son and his girlfriend.


ETA: I mention "fulfilled prophecy" because young people have a tendency to not see how the Bible (even if they profess a belief in God) has anything to do with their lives "here and now," and are also notorious for the tendency to believe they "have their whole lives ahead of them" and therefore will think about "eternal things" later. So this topic seems to at least get their attention.

[daygo]

Just be yourself, the rest will follow, little story. I was walking behind a friend when she met a gypsy who said buy some heather and get some luck, she motioned to me and the gypsy woman repeated herself and I said do not beleive in luck, she then said you must believe in the lord then. So just be yourself.

[FaithInChrist]

Thank you all so very much. I very much like the prophecy talk, that is something he will find very interesting.

I agree 100% that he is not guaranteed another breath, but he is 20 years old and in his mind that means he is invincible. That frame of mind allows him to think he has years before he even needs to consider his afterlife. The rapture presents something that according to prophecy appears to be very near. I know that may not make much sense to some, but some young adults really do not consider death an option in their lives. Nevertheless, the rapture is something that could save even him from death, if he chooses to accept Jesus, ask forgiveness and believe. Then if no rapture happens in his lifetime, his belief in Christ will save him then too.

My plan is to present him with scripture on the birth of Christ, Christ's mission on Earth, the crucifixion of Christ for our sins, his ressurection and then the prophecy in the bible about tribulation and the second coming. I will most defintely bring up the nation of Isreal being united again in 1948, and other current events that tells us the bride of Christ will soon be gone from this Earth and how much I want him to be part of that number.

[daygo]

Will pray for you, just be yourself and be a good role model.