Get Right or Get Left

by David Gibson

The bumper sticker said, “Get Right or Get Left.” It had a Scripture reference to a verse which says, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:17 NASB).

According to this theory

The premillennial view of the Rapture is that Christ will first come only for His own. The righteous dead will be raised, and they, along with the righteous living, will be caught up to meet Christ in the air.

The Latin translation of “caught up” in this passage is rapiemur, and it is from this word that the term "rapture" comes.

Many believe that when Christ comes, those who are unprepared will be left wondering what happened to all those who suddenly vanished into thin air! In other words, the bumper sticker means: Get right with God, or you will miss the Rapture and be left here on earth.

According to the Scriptures

“Get Right or Get Left” is clever, but is it scriptural? Indeed, Jesus is coming to claim His own, but on that same occasion, He will deal with the unrighteous. All the dead will be raised on the same day (John 5:28-29; 6:39-40; 12:48; Acts 24:15). The text referred to on the bumper sticker focuses only on the righteous at His coming. In other passages, Paul discusses the end of the wicked (I Thessalonians 5:1-10; II Thessalonians 1:6-10).

The Rapture has captured the interest of millions through dramatic novels and movies. Let’s make sure what we believe about His coming is really what His word actually says.

And above all, be ready!