As I listened to one of your teachings on the Rapture and Great Tribulation, a curious question that had come to mind a few months ago, came back again. Do you think there is anyone living today that may be someone like Simeon (who was promised he would not die until he saw the Messiah) regarding the Rapture of the Church? The person who has come to mind both times is the Rev. Billy Graham. I’m sure this question had an obvious answer such as yes, but I was wondering what your thoughts are about this.
Just a word of thanks, your God-inspired insight regarding the book of Revelation has re-ignited the fire of longing for His return I haven’t felt since I put a prayer in a crevice of the Western Wall in Israel in 1985. The prayer was the chorus of a song, “Oh Lord Jesus how long, how long, ere we shout the glad song, Christ returneth, Hallelujah, Amen.”
While I’m not discounting the fact that there may be some modern day Simeons around, I’m not personally aware of anyone who has specifically been told that he or she would live to see the Rapture. But as you say, something like this has happened before. Enoch was told that in the year his son Methuselah died the flood would come. (Loosely translated, Methuselah means “his death shall bring”). Simeon was told he’d live to see the Messiah.
Long before I was born again I became convinced that I’d never die. Years later, when I met the Lord and learned about the Rapture, I assumed that this is how my belief would become reality. But I’ve never heard the Voice of the Lord say that. I’m sure there are many like me.
If you look at it logically, if some famous believer publicly stated that the Lord told him he’d live to see the Rapture, it would take some of the mystery out of the event and render it less of a secret. I’m not sure that’s what God wants.