Explain the secret rapture and the Bible references for it.

Scripture: Matthew 24:23-31
Explain the secret rapture and the Bible references for it. It is true that we will be carried away by Christ, but it is not true that it will happen secretly. The Bible gives us a clear picture that every eye will see Him when He comes.
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Co-Host:  We want to talk to Ken in Yakima Washington.  Hi Ken.

Caller:  Hi!

Pastor Doug:  How are you doing?

Caller:  Pretty good.  I have a question.  I have a good friend of mine at work we talk Bible subjects and about the secret rapture.

Pastor Doug:  Ok.

Caller:  And I can't find it in the Bible about secret rapture.  And maybe you can give me a little info on that.  Maybe you've heard about that before.

Pastor Doug:  Oh yes.  I've heard about it.  I belonged to a denomination at one time that very enthusiastically taught and embraced that teaching.

First of all, you may have heard of scenarios on the radio or TV or in books where people would be walking down the street and suddenly their spouses disappear the pilots of planes disappear and the planes crash or the babies in the hospital all disappear.

Now the word 'rapture' is Biblical.  The word isn't in the Bible, but the word means to be carried away with power.

Caller:  Ok.

Pastor Doug:  You've heard of a person who is rapt.  It means they're caught away.  Jesus will come to catch us away, that's true.  The idea that He's coming secretly to catch us away, it's just absolutely opposed to the teaching of Jesus regarding the Second Coming.

Christ said, 'If they say unto you he is in secret chambers believe it not.'  Christ said, 'It will be like lightening shining from the East even to the West' - I'm quoting Matthew 24 now.

Jesus said that the mounds are going to be moved out of place.  He's coming with a Trumpet, with a Shout.  The earth is going to be shaking.  There'll be a Resurrection.  Every eye will see Him.

Every single one of our senses will be screaming, 'Jesus has come!'  So the idea that someone will have to tap you on the shoulder and say - 'I guess you haven't heard the latest. Jesus came yesterday' - is really just the peak of being ludicrous!

Co-Host:  Yes.

Caller:  Yeah because the only places I find in the Bible about Jesus coming are when He first comes, and after a thousand years He comes again?

Pastor Doug:  Right.  He comes at the end of the millennium and when His feet touch the Mount of Olives to the earth.   When He comes next time, we're caught up to meet Him in the air - that's the rapture.  When He comes at the end of the 1,000 years, He comes to establish the New Jerusalem here on earth.

But the idea that it's a secret, and that life will continue to go on for another seven years after He raptures the saints, that comes from people who believe in what they call a 'pre-trib rapture' or a 'pre-tribulation rapture'.

I believe the tribulation takes place before the rapture because the Bible tells us that we are saved through tribulation, not from it.  God's people are going to shine their lights in the darkness.  Jesus says he that endures to the end will be saved.

And so, I could give you Scripture after Scripture.  Matter of fact - I think, Pastor Dick, we have a lesson on, It's Headed Straight For You And You Can't Outrun It.

Co-Host:  That's right.

Pastor Doug:  Ask for that when you call the number there  - 800-835-6747.  Tell them you'd like the lesson that deals with the Second Coming and it explains that.

You'll want the study guide on I think it's called, It's Headed Straight For You And You Can't Outrun It.

Co-Host:  It's Headed Straight For You And You Can't Outrun It.

Pastor Doug:  That's the Second Coming - nothing secret about it.  Good question though.

Caller:  Yeah it's been kind of - I'm kind of stumped with it and I've got this recorded so I'm going to play it back to him.

Pastor Doug:  Ok good deal.  And look at that lesson and you'll have lots of information.

Caller:  Yeah I sure will.  Thank you very much Doug!

Pastor Doug:  God bless.

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