Secret Rapture: Event #1
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Event #1: Jesus comes secretly at the beginning of this 7 year period.
The bible verse that the "secret rapture" group uses for this event is:
I Thes 5 (v. 1) But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. (v. 2) For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
Whereas, a thief in the night can come secretly, they can also come unexpectedly!! Which way does the bible really teach about this? Comparing this verse with other verses, gives us a clue to what was actually meant!!
Matt 24 (v. 42) Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. (v. 43) But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. (v. 44) Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
And another verse about whether the "thief" comes secretly or unexpectedly:
II Pet 3 (v. 10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
It doesn't sound like the thief in the night will come secretly here or anywhere else in the bible!!
Some Christians teach that, in one moment of time, millions of people around the world suddenly disappear leaving their clothes, shoes, and eye glasses in a pile on the floor. ( Just like in the movie )
Well, is that the example left for us by Christ, when he was taken-up (raptured)?
Acts 1 (v. 9) Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Did He disappear without a trace, leaving His sandals and robe behind?
Acts 1 (v. 10) And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, (v. 11) who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
This “in like manner” means: that He will not be invisible, but rather, you will see Him when He comes back.
Another point that is not mentioned by this popular theory is how Jesus comes back.
Psm 50 (v. 3) Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.
Webster's Dictionary defines Tempestuous: violent wind, turbulent, stormy, uproar
Sounds too noisy to miss, can't see how they could cover this up secretly. Let's look at another verse:
Rev 1 (v. 7) Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him....
Well, if every eye will see Him, how can it be a secret?
Here is another verse used to support the secret rapture:
I Thes 4 (v. 17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
The word “then” means that this happens right after something in verse 16. ( the NIV uses the word “After that” we…shall be caught up ) What just happened in verse 16?
Then we….shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.... ( I Thes 4:17 )
I Thes 4 (v. 16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
....the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout and the trumpet of God.... ( I Thes 4:16 )
Does that sound like “silent & secret” or “loud & visible”?
In addition, some Christians teach that the Apostle John, was also taken and raptured up into heaven. They use the following verse:
Rev 4 (v. 1) After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard....speaking with me, saying, “Come up here....”
Where did the Apostle John go? This event happened during chapter 4; so let's look at where he was, at the beginning of the book of Revelation and where he was, at the end of the book.
Rev 1 (v. 9) I, John....was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (v. 10) I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.
So, the bible tells us that he was on the island of Patmos, and "in the Spirit" refers to being in a vision, like the prophet Daniel was in a vision hearing from the Lord.
We see in chapter 21 of Revelation the following verse:
Rev 21 (v. 2) Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Apparently, he was still in vision on the earth, if he saw the "New Jerusalem" city coming down from God out of heaven. In fact, the whole book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John, while in vision; He was just recording everything that he was permitted to see. He was never raptured anywhere, as he died of old age on the earth!!
On the next webpage, we will look at events #2 and #3, as the secret rapture group describes it.
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