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The Secret Rapture
by Henry Bechthold The "Secret Rapture" doctrine has gained worldwide attention through the phenomenal success of the, "Left Behind", Christian novel series. Millions have been told that they will truly have a "second chance" to be saved after Jesus has raptured His Church. This, of course, reduces the urgency to surrender your life to Jesus now, because you can catch Him on the rebound. And, unfortunately, many other church leaders also teach this "second chance" version of the secret rapture doctrine. According to all of these teachers, this secret rapture of the Church, which they say will be an inaudible, invisible and mysterious event to the rest of the unsaved world, could literally happen any day. However, when Jesus returns to take His faithful followers home, it will be anything but secret, inaudible or invisible. The Bible states that He will return in the same manner in which He ascended to Heaven, which was visibly in the clouds; furthermore, it says that "all the tribes" of the earth, and "every eye" will see Him return (Acts 1:9-11; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7). The Bible also declares that His return will be quite audible. It says there will be the "great sound of a trumpet", a shout and great noise (Matthew 24:29-31; 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2nd Peter 3:9-10). It is interesting to note that Jesus said that His return will be as visible as lightning flashing from the east to west, whereas the "false christs" will appear secretly in the desert or "inner rooms" (Matthew 24:24-27). Therefore, according to Scripture, proponents of the secret rapture theory are unwittingly describing and anticipating the appearance of false christs. Advocates of the secret rapture will hasten to point out that they espouse "two" returns of Jesus. They teach that His first return will be the quiet, invisible, secret one to rapture His saints, but that His second return will be the loud and visible one in which He will destroy the wicked. Unfortunately, their teachings are in direct contradiction of Scripture. The Bible proclaims that Jesus came to earth "once" to bear our sins, and that He will return a "second time" to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him (Hebrews 9:27-28). However, based on the contemporary secret rapture doctrine, Jesus comes to earth "three" times, because He came the first time to bear our sins, and will yet return two more times; His return for the secret rapture, and His final, audible, visible return when He destroys the wicked. There is no biblical support for this "triple coming" of Jesus. The Bible speaks of His second coming, but not a third. Secret rapture proponents also contradict the Bible when they teach that the rapture of the saints and the destruction of the wicked occur during two separate returns of Jesus. The Bible clearly states that the same return of Jesus, which makes all the wicked tribes of the earth mourn by bringing destruction upon them, also gathers the "elect saints" to Jesus and gives them rest as they are caught up to meet the Lord in the air (Matthew 24:29-31; 2nd Thessalonians 1:6-10; 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 and 5:1-4). Also, in Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus makes it clear that He will "simultaneously" separate the wicked from the righteous and give them their rewards when He returns with His angels. Once again, the same return of Jesus that punishes the wicked also brings the inheritance of the kingdom to the saints. In fact, even the assertion made by secret rapture proponents that the saints are raptured before the appearance of the antichrist and the great tribulation period, is yet another contradiction of Scripture. The Bible clearly declares that we will not be gathered together to Jesus until "after" the antichrist arises with all power, signs and lying wonders (2nd Thessalonians 2:1-10). And, Jesus plainly stated that the sounding of the great trumpet gathering the saints from the earth, happens "after" the great tribulation events, such as the sun being darkened, the moon not giving light, the stars falling from heaven, the powers of the heavens being shaken, the sea and waves roaring, the distress of nations and men's hearts failing for fear (Matthew 24:29-33; Luke 21:25-31). So, once again, Scripture exposes the fallacy and error being taught by modern preachers regarding the secret rapture. For a complete discussion of this doctrine, as well as a complete list of the scriptures which clearly contradict it, read my article titled, "The Secret Rapture", at my website address below. I am an evangelical, non-denominational, Christian pastor. You can research other interesting and provocative topics at my website: http://www.godormen.com. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |