The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A Adeboye, has shared a personal experience he described as a “rapture scare,” using the incident to advise couples against going to bed with unresolved misunderstandings.
The cleric spoke during the May 2026 Holy Ghost Service at Redemption City, where he reminded Christians that nobody knows when the rapture will happen.
“I Woke Up and My Wife Wasn’t There”
While addressing members of the congregation, Adeboye recounted how he once became frightened during a trip to the United States after waking up in the middle of the night and not finding his wife, Pastor Folu Adeboye, beside him.
According to him, the incident began with what seemed like an ordinary situation.
“I woke up, looked to my side, and my wife wasn’t there. I thought she had gone to the toilet,” he said.
The pastor explained that after waiting for a while, he decided to check around the apartment but could not find her anywhere.
“I went to the sitting room because there’s another toilet there. The toilet there was empty, so I used it. Then I came back, and my wife was still not in bed. Ah, what is she doing? So I went to the toilet in the bedroom, and she was not there.
“I went back to the living room, and I checked the door. The door was locked from the inside. Ah.”
“I Sat on the Bed Trembling”
Pastor Adeboye said fear immediately gripped him after realising he could not explain her disappearance.
“I sat on the bed, and I was trembling,” the cleric said. In the cold air-conditioned room, I was sweating. Oh, God, you mean she’s gone, and I’m left behind. Almighty God, what have I done? Why have you left me behind?”
He disclosed that the fear continued until he suddenly remembered something important.
“Thank God for the Holy Spirit. When all of a sudden I remember on that particular trip, she didn’t come with me,” he said, drawing laughter from the congregation.
Adeboye Speaks on Marriage and Reconciliation
Using the experience to teach an important lesson, Adeboye urged married couples not to allow anger or unresolved disagreements remain overnight.
Referring to the biblical teaching about the rapture, he said:
“That is one of the reasons why I don’t go to bed with any unresolved issue between my wife and me. I don’t want God to come and take her away and leave me on the bed.”
The cleric, who has been married since 1967, added that peace and reconciliation have remained part of his marriage over the years.
“Under no circumstance will I go to bed without settling with my wife,” he stated.
“The sun must not go down on your wrath.”
He further revealed the prayer he says every night before sleeping.
“Ask members of my family,” he said. “They will tell you the last prayer I pray every night is: ‘Lord, if you return before tomorrow morning, don’t leave us behind.’”
