Does the Bible teach a secret rapture?

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Does the Bible teach a secret rapture?

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Millions have read the Left Behind books, which are based on a secret rapture. According to the most common version of the rapture theory, Christ will approach the earth (but not return all the way down to it), to secretly seize believers seven years before His actual return. Does the Bible teach this? The basis of the teaching is 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 where Paul says Christians "shall be caught up...to meet the Lord in the air."

Let's consider the context. The apostle Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 after the unexpected deaths of some brethren to remind the Thessalonians of the hope of the resurrection. Nothing in this passage justifies an understanding other than that it is referring to Christ's second coming. The "shout," "voice of an archangel" and "the trumpet of God" are anything but secret (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Let's also consider some related passages. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul wrote that the resurrection would occur "at His coming" (1 Corinthians 15:23) and at "the last trumpet" (1 Corinthians 1552). This is the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15-18, which announces Christ's second coming, the establishment of His Kingdom on earth.

Where will Christ be after meeting the saints in the clouds? "In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives" (Zechariah 14:4; compare Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 11:15; Daniel 7:13-14; Daniel 7:27).

Matthew 24:36-44 does talk of some being prepared for Christ's coming, and others left unprepared, but it doesn't say God's people will be taken to heaven. The Bible shows that the place where God protects His people is on the earth during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 12:13-17).

In spite of its popularity in some circles, the rapture theory is not supported by God's Word.

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Comments

  • Burger
    Praise GOD for your teaching on the rapture!!! Many have been taught this false doctrine for years!!
  • Ricky4

    The see the word (we) that is us, because the dead is all real deal with.
    The word ( changed) become something new. Some say this is a our new body like Jesus

    1 Corinthians 15:53 Notes on words.
    The words ( perishable and corruptible) it meet this old body of flesh.
    The words (imperishable and incorruption) that the body like Christ..
    The word ( mortal) this all live things on this earth.
    The word (immortality) this in our eyes is some things that never dead.

    1 Corinthians 15:54 Notes on words.
    The words ( perishable and corruptible) it meet this old body of flesh.
    The words (imperishable and incorruption) that the body like Christ..
    The word ( mortal) this all live things on this earth.
    The word (immortality) this in our eyes is some things that never dead.

    1 Corinthians 15:51 My View
    This mystery that Paul is write about is something new, we should not all dead but have a new body . If we do not all dead how can we meet the Lord in the air. I can see a Rapture better than all the Christians on earth dead at one time.

    1 Corinthians 15:52 My View
    We will not know the time, the Lord should call us to him. The dead in Christ will be first to see the Lord. Then we that are alive should see Him We will have bodies like Christ.

    1 Corinthians 15:53-54 My View
    This preach at fumes.
    .This is all about our new bodies in Christ..

    1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (KJV)
    13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
    14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
    15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
    16 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.
    18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

    1 Thessalonians 4-13-18 (ASV)
    13But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.
    14For if we belie

  • Ricky4

    What is the Rapture?
    It is a mean in the air. Not on earth.

    1 Corinthians 15: 51-54 (KJV)
    51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
    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. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
    54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

    1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (ASV)
    51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed,
    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.
    53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
    54But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

    1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (ESV)
    51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
    52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
    53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
    54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

    1 Corinthians 15:51 Notes on words.
    The words (shew or tell) it is the same mean in this verse.
    The word (mystery) is something new .
    The word (sleep) meet dead.
    The word ( changed) become something new. Some say this is a our new body like Jesus.

    1 Corinthians 15:52 Notes on words.
    The words ( moment, and twinkling of a eye) it is time that is so little that it can be missed.
    At the last trumpet: In the Old Testament this how God raise the dead.
    The word (dead) is all those that dead in the Lord Jesus.
    The word (incorruptible) meet never paarticle of sin.

  • ashqelon

    There is no secret about Yeshua appearence or removing saints as those who are not saved will notice it in several ways. Whether they hear the trump of God or not is irrelavent, they will notice it so there is no secret in any capacity. To utter it will be a secret that implies a secret is deceptive as the left behind movie that confuses people of the facts and biblical truth of continuity. That is so wicked to mioslead people and turn Gods' precious Holy word into a uncertain unclear psycological question is nothing short of the attributes of satans' touch. Daniel 9:26 speaks of the Messiah (Jesus Christ) that fulfilled V27 where he was cut off and gave us that covenant it speaks of then told about in Hebrews chpt 7-10.

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