The Secret Rapture!
Greetings Friend!
We'd like you to study this topic with a open mind and heart. In other words, it is recommended that any preconceived knowledge and studies are put aside. We are not looking forward to indoctrinate anyone into believing in any partial traditional doctrines and/or personal views. Rather, we'd like you to study and look at the word of God for what it is and as it was meant to be understood.
The Word of God - tells us – we must study it by cross referencing every word and verse: “Here a little, there a little”.
Isaiah 28:10-16
King James Version
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13 But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. 14 Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
On this lesson we'd like to review the word of God and interpret this relevant topic based on what the bible says. Many movies have been produced concerning “The Secret Rapture”. Sure enough, public knowledge has certainly been mixed up with a bit of truth and fallacious fiction. Hence, creating a lot of confusion and unnecessary dissent concerning this topic. Let us thoroughly overview and analyze the following items according to the bible:
- The one shall be taken, and the other left. Matthew 24:40 KJV
- The Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 KJV
- For God hath not appointed us to wrath.. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 KJV
- Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together.. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV
The one shall be taken, and the other left
First and foremost, this is a very unique topic that must be studied looking at the sacrificial practices concerning the old testament. In addition, in Matthew 25, Jesus himself explains what this is all about. In the old testament, the priest needed two goats; one to be presented to the Lord and the other one to become the scapegoat (released into the wilderness, guaranteed death).
Please note, the wilderness in those areas are deserted, no grass, shrubs, etc. It is mostly comprised of rocky mountains and valleys, which would require the assistance of a shepherd to graze the sheep and goats. Hence:
Leviticus 16:7-10 KJV
And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
The concept behind the two goats is taking one for God and the other for death. In other words, the same construct in the new testament. There are certain individuals, who have decided to follow God's commandments and his Holy Scripture. Therefore, such person is chosen for the Lord. Sadly, whomever would have decided to disobey would be like the second goat.
The concept behind the two goats is to take one for God, the one accepted as worthy to be presented. The other one automatically becomes scapegoat; a scenario no one would like to experience. We can see the same construct in the new testament in relation to Leviticus 16.
By God's grace – there will be individuals, who would decide to follow God's commandments and his Holy Scripture. In effect, they are chosen, they become acceptable to the Lord. On the other end, others would decide to disobey and would automatically become like the scapegoat.
That's exactly what the devil is pushing many to become, the scapegoat!
The devil is not interested in the truth, but rather in creating as many lies as possible mingled with confusion and deceit, for he is the father of lies. He wants the world entertained with the cares of life so God's knowledge and praise is neglected and eventually abandoned. This is why it will be like in Noah's time, most were not paying attention to the end of day and some were the chosen goat and others the scapegoat.
Matthew 24:38-42 KJV
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe 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. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Looking at the context of Matthew 24:38-42, it is clearly stated that people at that period in time were simply going about the pleasures of life until the deluge came and drowned those who were not in the ark. Notice, no one was left behind alive outside the ark. Everyone perished drowned in the depth of the water. Only Noah and his family were saved. He was the one telling the whole world; rain is coming! Rain is coming! Does it sound like, Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming!
So, comparing scripture with scripture – we can tell this is not about anyone being left behind alive nor taken in some secret rapture. But rather, it is telling us many won't be expecting Jesus to return all of a sudden – just like the rain started falling all of a sudden. Just like in Noah's time, today many are incurring in the carnal desires of flesh. Sadly, they will be left like a scapegoat for eternal death. Hence:
Matthew 25:31-46 KJV
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Once again, context is paramount – Jesus himself explains why some will be taken and others left; nothing to do with a secret rapture – in effect he is detailing the reason why the ones taken vs the ones left.
The ones taken will be doing the will of God even as Jesus returns, but the ones, whose lives was all about self – meaning they did not care about anyone else, but self; those will be left and gathered for eternal fire. So, no one will be left down here for 7 years to repent and for Jesus to return one more time.
Right now, today, this very moment is the time to cast off all of the works of darkness, for Jesus will only return once more to get his people onto eternal life! Don't believe in the lies of the enemy, he wants everyone to become a scapegoat just as he already is: the greatest one!
The Lord so cometh as a thief in the night
That is correct! Jesus Christ will return suddenly when not one person least expects it. Will anyone ever tell you when he/she is coming to rob your house? This is simply what our Lord Jesus Christ meant. For example: let's say you leave in a nice neighborhood and you love to leave all of your property doors wide opened. Even as you are at the office the whole day, all doors are opened. Is it plausible anyone will notice? Maybe a thief! Will the thief tell you the day, hour, minute, and second he/she will attempt to rob your house? No, right!!
All of the circumstances are there; house is alone, doors are opened, the thief knows you are at work and you won't be back until later that day, and what not. Nonetheless, you don't know the time nor the hour. Only the thief knows!
So it will be on the day of the Lord's glorious return. He has told us about the circumstances and state of humankind before he returns. He tells in Luke 17, it will be like the days Noah and Lot combined. So we have an idea of the actual season; no the year, month, day, hour, minute, nor second.
Times of Noah and Lot together; this is the season of his mighty return!
Luke 17:24-30 KJV
For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. 25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. 26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Notice, once again, Jesus himself tells us - it would like lightning. Can we tell where and when lightning will strike or come out of? That's exactly what he means by thief in the night! All will be sudden, no time to repent!
1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 KJV
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 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.
Not only it will be
sudden, but also really
noisy with horrible burning
fire and
heat!
Not so secret after all!
2 Peter 3:10 KJV
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.
Yes, no one will be left behind alive since the whole earth will be burned up with everything in it. So, today is the day, the Lord has made for repentance!
For God hath not appointed us to wrath
That is correct, God's people are not appointed to the wrath of God; this has nothing to do with the so called - “secret rapture”. It is simply saying that if you believe in God as creator and maker of heaven and earth and in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior; you won't experience the wrath of God.
This is overlooked when citing one of the most famous verses of the bible. Mostly, we recite John 3:16. Yet, if we look at the following verses we realize Jesus himself tells us, who will receive the wrath of God! Hence:
John 3:16-21 KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
John 3:36 KJV
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Once again, when the bible is compared with itself - we get cross references explaining the context of what Jesus meant. In this case, it's simply touching on those who believe vs the ones that do not believe. Then:
1 Thessalonians 5:7-11 KJV
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
As believers we should be walking in the light and not as blind folded ones, not knowing what the Lord desires for every one of us. We must be sober and not drunk with the wine of Babylon, which deceive and make many drunk with fallacious doctrines. So as children of the day, we walk in the light because Jesus is light and we no longer walk in darkness, but in the light; that is the word of the living God. Therefore, we are not appointed to the wrath of God,but to Salvation in the hands of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
In the following verses, we reach the pinnacle of evidence in which we realize Jesus won't be silently coming back to earth. It will be highly audible, visible, and very tempestuous. Every single dead and living person will see Him in the mighty power and glory of the heavenly father.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV
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.
That same Jesus that was seen ascending to heaven will also be the same one descending in great power and glory!
Acts 1:6-11 KJV
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
And everyone will see Him on that day, even those who killed Him!
Revelation 1:7-8 KJV
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. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Yes, a vast number of believers will be caught up in the air to meet our Lord Jesus Christ, but always remember this: It won't be a Secret!
Brethren, we are all one in Christ and He simply wants us to wait for Him in peace. When in doubt pray and if joyful then sing to the Lord hymns of praise! May the Lord Bless you and Keep You forever!
* God's word, the Holy Scriptures is our daily bread! Manna straight from heaven, which fills our daily life with love, patience, goodness, gentleness, peace, and joy!