Rapture Safe

Q. We have a family member who was brought to Christ as a child, but when she became an adult, turned away largely because of the legalistic teaching she lived under. Now, as an adult, she tends to embrace new age teachings and says that she no longer believes in the same God we do. In other words, she prefers the god she has adopted for herself.

The Lord assures me that she is His and that her salvation is secure. I take this to mean that she is still a part of His bride and will be raptured along with the rest of the church. If this is so, then it also holds true that someone such as Oprah, who passes on some very abhorrent teachings, is also rapture safe.

What would be your observations on this matter?

A. What it takes to be “rapture safe” is to be a born again believer. In the gospels, especially John, the model of shepherd and his sheep is frequently used to describe the relationship between the Lord and the Church. Sheep are prone to wander and when they do it’s the shepherd’s responsibility to go after them and bring them back. The parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7) describes this relationship.
In John 6:37-40 Jesus promised never to lose even one of those who have been given to Him. I interpret this to mean that prior to taking His Church in the Rapture Jesus will have returned all His lost sheep to the flock. In other words, all true believers will be brought back to faith, even those who have wandered off and are now following false shepherds.