Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Rapture" (Blondie)

Hello there!!  Hi!!  Howdy!!! Salutations!!!  Wassssuuuupppp!!!!  Mellow Greetings...Yookie Dookie!!!  Welcome to today's very different Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  Its different in that today's Tuesday's Musical Notes' feature song is one of the most unique #1's in chart history. It is the first #1 chart topper to feature Rap and was the first Rap video featured on MTV.   With Debbie Harry on lead vocals, here's Blondie with their 1979 #1 hit...let's eat some cars!!!

"Rapture" - Blondie from 1981's Autoamerican

With the exception of a break from 1982-1997, Blondie has been making records and touring since 1976.  They have sold 40 million records worldwide and just released their newest album, Ghosts of Download, in May of this year.  The  foundation of Blondie is formed by 3 of its original members, Harry, Chris Stein (guitar and bass), and Clem Burk (percussion, backing vocals) and has built on this foundation with an array of musicians coming through their ranks in the 40 year history of the band.  Stylistically all over the charts, Blondie might be punk rock ("One Way Or Another", 1979) one minute and then step into a reggae jam ("The Tide Is High", 1980), Power Ballad anthem ("Call Me", 1980) or a disco infused beat ("Heart of Glass", 1978).  They received Grammy and Juno (Canadian version of the Grammy Award) nominations in the early 80's and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

When you hear the word "Rapture", two very different ideas can come to mind.  One is the idea that Blondie is trying to get across in their song.  This "rapture" is a feeling of ecstatic joy.  The other ideology conjures up something that perhaps looks like this:

Left Behind (2014)

Left Behind (2014) came out at #3 when it was released on October 3 of this year.  It is a remake/reboot of the movie series (1st in the series debuted in 2000) that starred Kirk Cameron (Fireproof, Mercy Rule) and adapted from the multimillion dollar book series of the same name that was released in December of 1995.  The new movie follows the lives of a family impacted by the filmmakers vision of what the Biblical concept of "THE rapture" might be.  Critics did not care for the movie, which means it has to be good...seriously friends of mine have seen it and recommend it as a good film. 

The notion of being "raptured" or "being taken up" comes from 1 Thessalonians where the Bible says: 

^"And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence—we have the Master’s word on it—that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they’ll be ahead of us. The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God’s trumpet blast! He’ll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise—they’ll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we’ll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words."  - 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18  The Message

This passage refers to only those who believe and follow Jesus.  They will be the ones who are "caught up".   The time line of how this will happen has been a topic of debate since Paul first wrote this letter to the church at Thessalonica.  These discussions are ones that should cause us to read and study for ourselves what the Bible has to say specifically about the time of Jesus' return.  Jesus' earliest disciples where of the mindset that He would return during their time and with each passing generation, the question gets posited...will it be today?  Paul was writing this letter as one who expected these events to occur during his life.  However, Jesus explained that He would not return until all the people of the world had the opportunity to hear the Gospel.  The process of spreading the Gospel looks very different in our world compared to Paul's, but there are some stark similarities.  In Matthew 24: 12-15, Jesus says, 

  ^"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,  but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." 

These scriptures can cause some trepidation among folks.  There is a great deal of uneasiness about things in which we have no frame of reference.  But both of these passages are incredibly encouraging if we get passed the unknown..."So reassure one another with these words..."..."But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved...".  These are words that should cause rapture in the hearts of believers.


According to the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, there are 3,004 unreached people groups in our world.  This means there are over 3000 "nations" that have never heard the Gospel of Jesus.  From this we can conclude 2 things:  1) There is still time left in the world for followers of Jesus to do the good works God has planned for them and see transformed lives as a result of those works, and 2) If we want to go to heaven sooner, our heart should be for those 3,004 people groups to hear the Gospel as soon as possible. 

Regardless of the timeline of eschatological events, the Bible is filled with examples and prophecies that followers of Jesus are in for times of persecution.  All but one of Jesus disciples were martyred for spreading the Gospel and one need only look at what is going on in the lives of Jesus' disciples in places like Egypt, Ukraine, and Houston, Texas (City Of Houston Demands Pastors Turn Over Sermons - Fox News) to see the persecution in today's age.  Bible prophecy says it will be getting more difficult for Christians as the day for Jesus return draws near.  "So reassure one another with these words..."..."But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved...".

I recently read a fascinating and kind of scary article that shows Biblical prophecy being set up to come to pass in the form of what would seem to be very "good" things.  The prophecy involves the "mark of the beast" (again, read and study for yourself as to whether Jesus disciple's will be a part of this).  In Revelation 13:16-17 the Bible says: 

"It (referring to a beast in the end times) forced all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a mark on the right hand or forehead. Without the mark of the name of the Beast or the number of its name, it was impossible to buy or sell anything.

And now...the rest of the story:


Nine Real Technologies That Will Soon Be Inside You - Yahoo News

For those who believe Jesus, (whether you believe the Church will be around during this time or not) this will be of no consequence, as Jesus  has already defeated anything we might possibly face in this world.  He has overcome the world!!! He wears the Victor's Crown!!!  Regardless of the timing, we should be challenged like never before to seek out those around us who are clueless about these things and share with them the Gospel of Jesus.  With the headlines screaming out a myriad of fearful things, the Gospel of Jesus is truly the good news that the world needs to hear.  It is the light in the darkness, it is the calm in the midst of chaos, and for those who believe and call on the name of Jesus it will ultimately be...rapture.

"Victor's Crown" - Darlene Zschech, Kari Jobe, Israel Houghton and the Integrity Singers

'Til Tuesday

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy