In these extraordinary days, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome calls us to hold fast and be spiritually alert. Echoing the apostle John’s counsel, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming” (1 John 2:28), he reminds us that Christ’s return isn’t a distant event but a present reality beckoning our attention and deepest devotion.
Pastor Chris: A Time Like No Other
Pastor Chris firmly declares, “The rapture of the Church is closer than ever. We’re in the closing moments or final ‘times of the signs’ before the Lord’s appearing.” This sober yet hopeful proclamation stirs the hearts of believers to live each day with eternity’s urgency in view.
Such teaching isn’t new, but it carries renewed power in our age. His recent addresses; be it during global prayer gatherings or through social media platforms, stress the immediacy of the rapture. For instance, in one global broadcast, he urged, “Jesus is coming sooner than many people think,” calling the Church into heightened vigilance and passionate soul-winning.
The Biblical Foundation of Hope from Pastor Chris
Pastor Chris unpacks Scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17: the dead “in Christ” shall rise first, and those who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. He brings that passage to life, reminding his listeners that the rapture is more than theological—it is imminent and personal.
He underscores the question: Are you in Christ? For those who are, they will certainly be taken “unto Himself.” And for those who aren’t, the call to surrender is urgent and hopeful: confess His Lordship over your life. He leans on Hebrews 9:28: “…Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
Acts 1:9–11 is another powerful lens Pastor Chris uses: “This same Jesus, who has been received from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” This imagery—his ascension mirrored by our gathering unto Him—fuels the gospel’s urgency: the whole world must hear that the rapture is imminent.
Living with Rapture in Focus
“Have the rapture in focus. Live every day as one expecting the Master; carry that consciousness in your heart at all times. Walk in love. Walk in righteousness.” These stirring instructions are not mere platitudes, they’re a lifestyle. Pastor Chris encourages believers to be spiritually awake and to let that expectation shape their speech, actions, and priorities.
He invites believers to declaim:
“I’m awake and alert in the spirit, fervent in good works, being propelled by the Master’s love, His Word, and my expectation of His soon return. I’m fully convinced that the Gospel is God’s saving power to everyone who believes; I’m resolute in my pursuit for the souls of men. Today, as this glorious Gospel is preached around the world, many are snatched out of the kingdom of darkness into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
This is not just personal affirmations, it’s a movement. In line with Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come,” Pastor Chris envisions a global harvest, fueled by the expectation of Christ’s return.
Romans 13:11–14 provides that biblical foundation of urgency: “…now [is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed… let us put on the armour of light… put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Pastor Chris frequently points believers back to these verses, urging a life of purity, alertness, and purposeful obedience.
Past Teachings from Pastor Chris That Resonated
Pastor Chris’s words on the rapture run deep and consistent. In a past Bible study, he carefully distinguished between the rapture and the second coming—highlighting that at the rapture we are “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air, while the second coming sees Christ return visibly to earth bringing His Church with Him.
He also emphasized that the rapture is before the tribulation, using the examples of Noah (who entered the ark before the flood) and Lot (who was rescued before Sodom’s destruction) as biblical precedents that God never leaves His faithful untaken in wrath’s arrival.
A Joyful Expectation
Above all, Pastor Chris wants believers to regard the rapture not with fear but with joyful anticipation. It’s our blessed hope, our assurance. It means seeing Jesus face to face, experiencing final freedom, and beginning our eternal journey with Him.
He calls us not to passive waiting but active faith: live in love, preach boldly, and keep your focus fixed on heaven’s horizon. Be alert, be ready, and live with the certainty that “our salvation is nearer than when we believed.”
The message is clear: the rapture is near—and it’s a clarion call to readiness, holiness, and evangelistic passion. Pastor Chris’ words, grounded in Scripture and delivered with urgency, invite us into the highest adventure of faith.
Let us “have the rapture in focus.” Let us live as those who truly believe He could appear at any moment—and let that belief transform how we love, how we serve, and how we carry the Gospel to every corner of the earth.