http://www.secret-rapture.com/
Only read if you are interested as it is a wee bit long.
Well if I were you I would read about the argument being brought
against rapture and if you find other interpretation which you
disagree on well ... but the man brought the case against rapture
well enough to be worth reading. . . . if you are interested.
A source from wiki about the tribulation period:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulation
Cautionary note before reading:
Of course as a Christian we each have the obligation to read the
bible ourselves so not to let anyone fool us into believing
man made lies. Digest what you need. READ THE BIBLE.
I intend to write some of the things I've learned from the bible
some time in the future. Perhaps including rapture argument. I know
i'm nobody but still I just would like to share some interesting
points I've found 'buried' in the bible. Still I don't claim to
know everything and the truth that I may know now is just a little
fraction of the wider picture. You could be right yet I could be
right as well though we may differ and we all could be a little
wrong. That's why we need each other to correct one another.
If you found any interesting link on rapture and the revelation
please share them with me and us.
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Is there really a Secret Rapture with a second chance of
salvation? Regardless of the topic when it is associated with
salvation, Satan has deceptions in every area in an attempt to
steal as many people as possible from God’s kingdom. It is a grave
error to underestimate the enemy. It does not matter how many
people believe a lie, it will never make it truth. Mark Twain once
said, “A lie can travel halfway around the world, while truth
puts on its shoes.” The only way to avoid the enemy’s
deception and find truth is to study the scriptures diligently.
Multitudes of people have been exposed to this “dispensationalist”
or “futurist” interpretation of prophecy and have been utterly
confused. So what is the real truth about this so-called secret
rapture?
According to those teaching the secret rapture theory, the
coming of Jesus will be in two separate stages. The first will be a
secret rapture of the Church at the beginning of a seven year
tribulation period followed by a glorious, triumphant return of
Christ to the Earth accompanied by the Church at the end of the
seven year period. They believe that during this seven year period
the Antichrist is going to come into power and God will select and
seal 144,000 literal Jews who will take the Gospel to the whole
world converting immeasurable souls to Christ. They also believe
the
battle of Armageddon is a literal national war against literal
Israel, which occurs near the end of the seven years and is brought
to a halt by Christ’s return with His Church. Then literal Israel
accepts the Lord as the Messiah and enters with Him as His covenant
people into the 1,000 year (millennial) reign on earth known as the
Kingdom Age. Christ will rule directly over the earth from the
throne of David in Jerusalem, where the typical temple services
function again. Those who ultimately reject Christ’s rule are
eventually judged and destroyed at the end of the Millennium. The
new believers will then receive immortality and eternity will
begin.
However, the Bible nowhere speaks of these two separate comings
and the word “rapture” is also an invention of theologians and
occurs nowhere in the Bible. The deception does not stop there,
Christians also debate whether we will be taken before the
tribulation or in the middle of the seven years or at the
completion of the seven year tribulation. These are called
pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation and post tribulation. Now for the
most amazing part of these views in regards to the seven year
tribulation period; are you ready for this? It was manufactured by
a Jesuit Priest who was commissioned to come up with this false
interpretation of Bible Prophecy. This raises many questions, such
as why was this done and how could so many be drawn into this lie.
I hope you will read on as we cover all aspects of this topic and
reveal the Bible truth.
This is a brief point by point account of the order of events
according to Scripture; there is Christ’s second coming, the
resurrection, the catching up of the saints to meet Jesus in the
air which all take place at the same time and at the end of the
world. This is why Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 “…and, lo, I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Why would
Jesus promise to be with the Church until the end of the world if
He intended to come seven years before the end to take them out of
the world? The promise would then have no meaning.
This false doctrine on the secret rapture is contradictory to
the words of Jesus in Matthew 13 when He said the wheat and tares
would grow together until the “end of the world” and then
would be separated. According to this dual coming secret rapture
theory, both groups would not grow together until the end of the
world. The righteous would be separated from the wicked seven years
before the end. And what about the promise of the resurrection?
Christ said, concerning the righteous, John 6:40 “…and I will
raise him up at the last day.” No one denies
that this means the last day of the world. Paul declares
the saints are caught up to meet the Lord at the “same time” the
dead in Christ are raised. He says, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the
dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet
the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Did you note that Jesus called this resurrection the “last
day?” But how could it be the “last day” if this
gathering of the saints takes place seven years before the end of
the world? And how could the “last trump” (see 1
Corinthians 15:52 below) sound if it really wasn’t the very last
moment of time? Imagine the graves opening and the righteous rising
and no one knowing that it had occurred? Consider also the added
testimony from God’s Word;
Matthew 24:27 “For as the lightning cometh out of the east,
and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son
of man be.”
Matthew 24:30 “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of
man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn,
and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory.”
Matthew 24:31 “And he shall send his angels with a great
sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (This is
clearly the time when Christ comes to gather His saints.)
1 Corinthians 15:52 “In a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead
shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
Revelation 1:7 “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye
shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of
the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”
Revelation 6:16-17 “And said to the mountains and rocks,
Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the
throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his
wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”
There is no understood scripture that says the second coming of
Christ to gather His saints will be a secret rapture. All these
verses show it will be a very loud and very visible event that
every eye shall see. There is nothing secret about any aspect of
His coming. Those believing in the secret rapture sometimes quote
Matthew 24:40-41 out of context. The entire passage reads;
Matthew 24:37-41 “But as the days of Noah were, so shall
also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that
were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and
giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so
shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in
the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women
shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the
other left.”
Jesus is demonstrating the parallels between the days of Noah
and the second coming of Christ. The eight that entered Noah’s Ark
were saved and those that scoffed perished as the flood “took
them all away.” Many have been taught that the ones taken are
the ones saved but note it is actually the ones taken that are
destroyed. There was no second chance. Jesus said and “so shall
also the coming of the Son of man be.” The last verse of this
chapter tells us what will happen to those who are taken to
destruction. Matthew 24:51 “And shall cut him asunder, and
appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.”
Those believing in the secret rapture also quote Jesus in saying
He will come as a thief in the night, meaning it will be a secret
rapture. Jesus said in Matthew 24:43-44 “But know this, that if
the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would
come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house
to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour
as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Jesus is not talking
about coming secretly but coming unexpectedly when we least expect
Him and so the wicked will be taken by surprise. This is why Jesus
tells us to be ready as we know not the hour of His return. Those
who are not right with Christ and living wickedly when Jesus
returns we will be taken to destruction as in the days of Noah. See
Matthew 24:37-41 above. See also 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 is also quoted which reads, “For
yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a
thief in the night.” Same message as before be ready for
Christ’s unexpected return. And what happens after His return? 1
Thessalonians 5:3 “For when they shall say, Peace and safety;
then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman
with child; and they shall not escape.” How secret is sudden
destruction? Those that are left after Jesus’ return encounter
“sudden destruction.” Again, just like in the days of
Noah.
These two “thief texts” are also used to teach a secret rapture.
Revelation 3:3 “Remember therefore how thou hast received and
heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not
watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what
hour I will come upon thee.” Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I
come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his
garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” In both
these instances just quoted, the secrecy is also in connection with
the timing not the nature of the event, and is exactly the same as
the other “thief texts.” Notice the phrase in chapter 3:3 which
says “hold fast, and repent” and the last part of verse 15
which says “lest he walk naked, and they see his
shame.”
This is once again a warning to be not caught living in sin,
because we know not the hour which Jesus will return. He will come
unexpectedly when you least expect it as does a thief. It would be
no good for the thief if you knew when he was coming as you would
be ready for him and he could not rob you. In the same way we need
to be ready and living in righteousness now and not just when we
think Jesus is coming or we will be “caught naked and our shame
seen.” Those who love and obey Jesus will be ready for His
return. This is the meaning of the phrase “to come as a
thief” that is used several times in the Bible to warn us so
we will not be left behind.
And still one more. 2 Peter 3:10 says “But the day of the
Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens
shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt
with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein
shall be burned up.”
Again, absolutely nothing secret. To the contrary, it could not
be more obvious. It states after Jesus comes unexpectedly as does a
thief, “the heavens shall pass away with a great
noise” and “the elements shall melt with
fervent heat, the earth … shall be burned
up.” So when Jesus returns the very next thing is the
end i.e. the last day. If coming “as a thief” is a secret
rapture which takes place seven years before the end of the world,
how can the heavens and earth “pass away” as Peter
describes it? Three of these “thief texts” are all followed by the
same unmistakable catastrophic sudden destruction. Coming as a
thief is unexpected, NOT a secret!
Those who believe in a “secret rapture” say that the Greek word
“parousia” refers to the secret “coming” of Jesus in His presence
and that the Greek word “apokalupsis” refers to the visible
glorious “coming” of Jesus in power seven years later. They also
teach in middle of this seven year period, (3.5 years) the
antichrist will reign. But “parousia” and “apokalupsis” are BOTH
used to describe the second coming as we will soon show by its
parallel in the “days of Noah.”
Paul uses the word “parousia” in the well known so called
“rapture chapter” of 1 Thessalonians 4 when speaking of the coming
of Christ and our gathering together unto Him. Paul then shows that
this “parousia” will destroy the man of sin; the Antichrist. Paul
says, “whom the Lord shall...destroy with the brightness of his
coming [parousia].” 2 Thessalonians 2:8. These scriptures
unmistakably describe the coming [parousia] of Christ as taking
place after the reign of the man of sin, not as a secret rapture
before the Antichrist’s reign begins.
The other Greek word “apokalupsis” [revelation] is used in a way
that indicates it is not a separate second coming from the time the
believers are gathered up. Peter said in 1 Peter 1:13 to “… be
sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto
you at the revelation [apokalupsis] of Jesus Christ;” Why
would Christians be exhorted to continue hoping to the end of the
world for the grace brought through the revelation of Jesus Christ
if their real hope was a secret rapture seven years before the
revelation?
These following verses showing Matthew and Luke’s account of the
same event prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the words
“parousia” and “apokalupsis” do refer to the same event. In Matthew
24:37 we read, “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the
coming [parousia] of the Son of man be.” And the same account
in Luke 17:26, 30; “As it was in the days of Noah...Even thus
shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed
[apokalupsis].”
This shows that the coming [parousia] of Christ and the
revelation [apokalupsis] of Christ are the same event. There is
absolutely no basis for placing seven years in between. This whole
counterfeit secret rapture is built upon a constant repetition of
words and ideas that have been repeated so often that millions have
assumed that they must be biblically sound.
. . . . . . . .
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