Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

My understanding is that, even after the rapture, people will still know how to be saved, and will avail themselves of that salvation (although they may then very well be martyred for their faith). (I interpret Revelation 6:11 and Revelation 20:4 as speaking of these people.)

February 19 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Aurel Gheorghe

According with the Bible, there is not going to be any secret rapture or anyone left behind to remember anything. 

The "dispensationalist" or "futurist" interpretation of prophecy is based on the belief that Christ return will be in two stages: first He will come secretly to take the Church to heaven, and seven years later, He will return with power and glory. In between those two events, the Antichrist supposed to establish his power and the great tribulation take place. But the Bible does not teach that. Actually, the word “rapture” cannot be found anywhere in the Bible. 

The Scriptures say that Christ's coming, the resurrection, and catching up of the saints to meet Jesus in the air, all will take place at the same time, at the end of the world. Please read Matthew 28:20; it makes no sense for Jesus to promise to be with His 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 rapture doctrine also contradicts the Chris’s teachings in Matthew 13 when Jesus said that the wheat and tares would grow together until the end of the world and then would be separated. There is no mention of the righteous separation from the wicked seven years before the end. 

Paul also say that the saints are caught up to meet the Lord at the same time the dead in Christ are raised (1 Thess 4:16,17). At Christ return the wicked will cry out to the rocks and mountains (Rev 6:16, 17), all tribes will morn (Matt 24:30), every eye shall see (Rev 1:7; Matt 24:31) - nothing secret about that! 

For some, the confusion comes from misinterpretation of Matthew 24:37-41. Jesus is drawing a parallel between the second coming and the days of Noah. Those who entered Noah's ark were saved, and those who did not were left outside and taken away, destroyed by the Flood. So it will be when Christ returns at the end of the world. One will be taken to heaven with Jesus, and the other will be left for destruction. 

2 Peter 3:10 is another misunderstood text that cannot suggest a secret rapture. Peter is saying that just like a thief, the last day will be a surprise for many, but the event will be very public. Please note that “heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat” – how can any of these be secret? How can the earth be burned up and people still carry-on for seven more years? That would be impossible! 

The most troubling is the claim that during the tribulation those not raptured will be given another chance to be saved. Nowhere does Scripture speak of a second chance. Actually, the Bible teaches the opposite: Rev 14:14, Matt 13:39, Rev 22:11,12; Jer 8:20 – all these texts plainly indicate there can be no saving after the reaping of earth's harvest at the coming of Christ. 

The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus will come the second time in glory to take His redeemed home. It will be visible and earthshaking event that everyone alive will know about. The righteous will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess 4:17) while the wicked will be slain by the brightness of His coming (2 Thess 2:8).

March 04 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report