2 Timothy 3:1-5 warns us about what the last days will look like (NLT)…

1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

The Last Days started at the time Of Jesus’ Cross and Resurrection,

In Matthew 24:36-39 we read that even Jesus did not know the day or the hour…

36 …no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.”

Jesus warned us to be ready, our hearts devoted to Him because we do not know the day or the hour.. We are like flowers that come one day and are gone the next through the individual rapture through illness or an accident or old age that leads to death or through the global rapture of the church…

In verse 38, we see that in Noah’s day people were free to choose what they wanted to do and what they wanted to believe, up until the flood the unbelievers were under God’s grace, but then, “suddenly”… today we are under God’s grace until the “suddenly” of God’s wrath, and it will not be because God hates those people, God’s wrath will be motivated by His love and frustration that those people, despite all His goodness towards them (earthly blessings) are taken for granted and they do not want to know the Giver.

Jesus specifically asked us to be ready, to be prepared, any time. He illustrates this with the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1-13 NLT)…

1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’

7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’

9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’

13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

The oil represents the Holy Spirit. We have to invite the Holy Spirit into our hearts personally, we cannot do this for anyone else… But God sent us a way out…

God sent His Son Jesus, He said:…

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” (John 14:6-7 NLT)

And Jesus had to die on the Cross for the Holy Spirit to come…

“And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.” (John 16:8, 10-11 NLT)

We cannot have righteousness through our works because Jesus is the only person who lived a pure and righteous life, we all failed and need a Saviour. The only sin that will be counted against anyone is the sin of rejecting Jesus and the righteousness He purchased for us… and the Devil is already condemned to the fire of hell. If we are born again believers we can stand strong in Him, resist the Devil, and he will have no choice but to flee from us because greater is Christ in us than the Devil who is in the world

This is the conviction that needs to take place personally in our hearts…

11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. (Titus 2:11-14)

At this point, about the rapture, I honestly believe we do not know whether it will be pre-tribulation , mid-tribulation or post-tribulation , but whichever one it is, God has never abandoned His righteous children (Psalm 37:25), either we won’t be here, or if we are, we will be hidden under His protection and He will provide for us. In the past He protected the children of Israel in Egypt and when there was no food in the desert, He provided for every need for all His children (a multitude) for 40 years, and He is the same yesterday, today and forever.