Original Documents
The Secret Rapture Re-Examined
A careful account of the subject requiring careful reading.
The Tribulation
Last day events
The Second Coming and the Final Tribulation
The Prophecies concerning the antichrist which were fulfilled Before the Second Coming
The Second Coming Marks the Beginning of the Millenium
New Testament Expressions Used by Rapturists
Notes & References

When Jesus returns he does not come alone.

Celestial beings constitute the triumphal train that returns with Him. Jesus said:

"The Son of Man shall come ... with His angels", Matthew 16:27
Mark refers to them as "holy angels" Mark 8:38 Paul refers to them as "his mighty angels" 2.Thess. 1:7 and Matthew, quoting Jesus, says, "all the holy angels" will accompany His return, Matt. 25:31.

Therefore, Jesus returns with an entire galaxy of celestial glory, not merely of the hosts of holy angels, but Jesus Christ Himself is coming in "his own glory" and in "his Father's" glory, Luke 9:26.

His pageant of unparalleled majesty includes ten thousands of ten thousands and "thousands of thousands", Rev. 5:11, of these heavenly messengers of glory.[020]

There is a striking similarity between the events as described in different parallel accounts of the Second Coming, particularly in relation to the resurrection of the dead and the translation of the living righteous.

Paul wrote,

"The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the Trump of God." 1.Thess. 4:16
And He will catch up His own into the air to meet Him. This language obviously speaks about the gathering up of the saints from the earth that is described in similar terms by Jesus Himself when he said,

"They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 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." Matth. 24:30-31
Every eye shall see the Son of Man coming, that includes you and me, all the living Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, worshippers of man made gods, evolutionists, atheists, communists, clergy and God's faithful people, all of these around the globe shall see Him come. We notice that it is the sounding of "the trumpet" that calls forth "the dead", 1.Cor. 15:52, when "they that are Christ's" are "made alive" "at his coming", Verses 22-23.

This selection of the righteous from among the vast multitudes on earth is on an individual basis. Christ Himself described this dividing of earth's inhabitants into two distinct classes by the simple declaration, "one shall be taken, and the other left", Matt. 24:40.

Conclusion: In the light of these considerations, we find no place for a secret rapture as taught by many Protestants. [100]


The Second Coming and the Final Tribulation

The "gathering" of the church to Jesus Christ in relation to the time of the antichrist power and the tribulation is discussed in literal and explicit language in Paul's Book of 2.Thessalonians, which was written to correct the misunderstanding of what he had said in his first letter about the coming of Jesus to raise the dead and translate the living righteous.

In his second epistle Paul tells the Thessalonian Christians that God will recompense their persecutors with tribulation, and the victims of persecution with rest,

"when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel", 2.Thess. 1:7-8
Again we find the two classes:

  • The church finds rest

    at the time when Christ comes with blazing vengeance on His (and her) enemies.

    Further, Paul instructed them in regard to

    "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ", and "our gathering together unto him", 2.Thess. 2:1, not by, or in the name of, the coming and the gathering, but concerning it, as the RSV Bible translation correctly renders the Greek word huper.

    What else could he have meant by "our gathering together unto him" but the same gathering of the saints that he had described in his former letter and that they had evidently misunderstood - the coming when "we ... shall be caught up" to Christ, that is, the "rapture" of 1.Thessalonians 4:16-17? [150]

    In regard to this matter he beseeches his readers not to be "shaken in mind, or be troubled" about the imminence of the day of Christ, "for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition", 2.Thess. 2:1-3.

    Paul, then, is telling the Thessalonian Christians that the day of Christ's coming to gather the saints [200] - the coming about which they were worried because they had misunderstood Paul - was not to come until after

  • the revealing of the man of sin.

    This much is explained clearly here, but Paul goes on.

    This man of sin, further, is to sit "in the temple of God" and claim to be worshipped as God - the same power we believe that is to wear out the saints and bring the great tribulation of 1260 days - and he is to be destroyed "with the brighteness of his coming", 2.Thess. 2:4,8. It is obvious that, whatever "he who now letteth" might be, the taking away that will permit the revealing of antichrist cannot be equated with the gathering of Christ's church to Himself, which Paul here refers to as coming after the "falling away" and the revealing of the man of sin.

    And it is equally obvious that antichrist must precede, not follow, the gathering of the saints to Christ at His Second Coming.

    To state this understanding another way:

    If the coming of Christ that destroys the antichrist follows the revealing of the man of sin, and if the gathering of the Christian saints at His coming also follows the revealing of the man of sin, then there is no conceivable reason, in the absence of an explicit statement of Scripture, why these are not the same coming.

    This agrees with Paul's statement that the coming to bring rest to the church is the coming to bring vengeance to the enemies of God; with John's description of the coming of the King that includes the judgments on the beast, the false prophet, and the dragon, and the first resurrection as well; and with Jesus' statement that His coming with trumpet blast to gather His elect follows the tribulation. We notice, that all the passages harmonize with Jesus' repeated references to His coming (always in the singular).[300]

    Conclusion: Therefore the Bible teaches that there will be one visible, personal, glorious Second Coming of Jesus Christ.


    The Prophecies concerning the antichrist which were fulfilled
    Before the Second Coming

    The historical record is rich on those who recognized the papal power as the great antichrist of the centuries because it meets the specifications of the "little horn" of Daniel 7 and the "beast" of Revelation 13 [320]. Over the centuries all early Protestant Reformers held this view.

    Those who take either the preterist or futurist position are unable to recognize the actual antichrist power as it carries on its work. When no one is on the alert to his nefarious scheming, it will seek to deceive the whole world, so much so, that ultimately men will declare, "Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" and "all the world" will wonder "after the beast." Rev. 13:4,3.

    The work of antichrist will be brought to an end by the Second Advent of our Lord. We read in 2.Thessalonians 2:3 of one who is called the "man of sin." We read of his blasphemous claims in verse 4, of his signs and lying wonder in verse 9. But God's Word declares unmistakably that he will be consumed by "the brightness of his [Christ's] coming" (2.Thess. 2:8). Though all the organizations of apostasy, with all their wicked works, should combine, their activities will come to an end at the same time as the beast/ horn power ends, when the Lord returns from heaven, Rev. 19:19-20.


    The Second Coming Marks the Beginning of the Millenium

    The 1000 year period (millenium) is mentioned definitely in Revelation 20 under the expression "thousand years." Rev. 20:4-6 speaks of the first resurrection. "They came to life again, and reigned with Christ a thousand years", Rev. 20:4, RSV. Those who are raised at that time are called "blessed and holy." Further, "they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him, a thousand years." The resurrection of the saints, taught in 1.Corinthians 15 and in 1.Thessalonians 4, takes place at the coming of our Lord. Inasmuch as those who are then raised reign "with Christ a thousand years," it is clear that this resurrection marks the beginning of the millenium period. Seeing that the rest of the dead (the wicked) "did not come to life again until the thousand years were ended" (Rev. 20:4), it likewise seems clear that this second resurrection marks the close of the millenial period.


    New Testament Expressions Used by Rapturists

    Among these expressions are these:

    1. "The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night" 1.Thess. 5:2, and
    2. "The one shall be taken, and the other left", Matthew 24:40.

    Comparing the Second Coming of Christ to the coming of a thief in the night must be understood with some limitations of interpretation. One would surely not wish to push this illustration too far or even to the extreme. We should hardly think of the Saviour's coming like a thief who prowls around, working in the dark, afraid of being discovered. That could never be the likeness of our Redeemer. Does the rapture theory encourage such thoughts?

    The context of 1.Thessalonians 5:2 clearly indicates what the apostle meant by describing the second coming of Christ as a thief. He is talking about the unexpectedness of Christ's coming. No one expects a thief: therefore he is able to do his nefarious work undetected. The apostle describes the heedless at that day as expecting peace and safety when sudden destruction is an immediate prospect, Verse 3. But they are not expecting it. He cautions the faithful not to fall asleep, lest the second advent overtake them as a thief, Verses 4-5. He urges them "to watch and be sober", Verse 6, in expectation of the Second Coming of Christ.

    The idea, therefore, is of unexpectedness rather than of secrecy. Of course, the Second Advent or Coming of Jesus will catch some professing Christians asleep, but that will be their own fault, and not part of God's plan. They should be alert and watching for His appearing. But even those who are awake, unless they are fully surrendered to God, will be caught unawares. The coming of the Lord will also be unexpected for them. In other words, they are not actually looking for Him to return; they are not waiting for Him. Hence, Christ's coming will, to them, be as a thief in the night.

    As to the other passage, "The one shall be taken, and the other left" there are two schools of interpretation among commentators. Some feel that those "taken" are taken in destruction; others, that they are taken to be with the Lord. But whatever the correct interpretation, one point stands out clearly: No concept of secrecy is involved in the words used. It is the fact of being "taken" or of being "left" that is stressed. There is no indication in the words themselves as to just how the one is taken and the other left.

    The passage indicates clearly that this will be a day of separation. To introduce the idea of secrecy into the text is, we believe, wholly unwarranted. Nowhere in the Bible is there any indication that when the one is taken and the other left, certain persons will awaken the next morning to find loved ones "missing." The thief-in-the-night illustration was obviously given by our Lord to indicate the suddenness of His appearing and the danger that faces not only the world but even the church of being unprepared and so being taken Unawares.[400]

    Advocates of the "rapture" theory also advance the case of Enoch in support of their concept. As to Enoch the Scripture declares, "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him", Heb. 11:5. It is maintained that the expression he "was not found" indicates that a search was made, and so implies secrecy in his being translated. But in this connection it must be remembered that the term "ascension" itself surely does not connote secrecy. Elijah also was translated, but in full view of Elisha, and with chariot and whirlwind. Again, when our blessed Lord "was taken up" (Acts 1:9), it was in full, open view of His disciples.

    Furthermore, why should the expression "was not found" be thought to indicate secrecy? Similar expressions are found in other connections and they could not mean secrecy, or refer to something done in a corner. Thus we read that in the last days "the mountains were not found", Rev. 16:20; of Babylon, that it "shall be found no more at all", Rev. 18:21; and of its inhabitants, that none "shall be found any more in thee", verse 22. On what linguistic or exegetical authority, then, can one introduce the idea of something happening secretly?


    The Second Coming is the "Blessed Hope" for the Church

    In summation: Seventh-day Adventists believe that Christ's second advent will be personal, visible, audible, bodily, glorious, and premillennial, and will mark the completion of our redemption. And we believe that our Lord's return is imminent, at a time that is near but not disclosed. Adventists' joy, hope, and expectation over the prospect are well expressed in these passages:

    "One of the most solemn and yet most glorious truths revealed in the Bible is that of Christ's second coming." [500]

    "The coming of Christ to usher in the reign of righteousness has inspired the most sublime and impassioned utterances of the sacred writers." [600]

    "The proclamation of Christ's coming should now be, as when made by the angels to the shepherds of Bethlehem, good tidings of great joy. Those who really love the Saviour cannot but hail with gladness the announcement founded upon the word of God, that He in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered is coming again, not to be insulted, despised, and rejected, as at His first advent, but in power and glory, to redeem His people." [700]

    Conclusion: In other words, all people find themselves doing openly their daily chores and only those who by faith believe in the Second Coming will be ready for being with God. To the unready person, the Coming of Jesus in the clouds will be unexpected, a surprise, he or she never thought this would really ever happen, they were unconcerned over it and did not seek forgiveness for their sins. To them it was so unexpected as it is for those who live in a house unready for the event of a burglary. The believing person differs from the unbeliever in that they put their trust in the Holy Bible and at last they will be vindicated. They know, just like Jesus came the first time, ministered to His people, was crucifed, died and rose the third day, so the rest of His book will come true too.

    The Bible states that the wicked, unrepentend souls will be taken first. That means that they will be slain by the brightness of His Coming just like the wicked at the time of the Noachian Flood perished first. As the wicked perish all around the world, not to exist until their resurrection (the second resurrection) for judgment after 1000 years [800], the righteous' gaze is directed toward the so long awaited arrival of their Saviour in Might and Power.

    The salvation of God's people has been accomplished, "he will beautify the meek with salvation." Psalms 149:4. The same message we learn from the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5, the mercy and grace of God has fruited, is now fulfilled.

    Conclusion: The idea of the rapture makes the great day of the resurrection anti-climactic. It is like inviting someone to the Super Bowl and he says, `Oh, I've been there already.' We must also remember what Jesus said, "Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, there ye cannot come." John 7:33,34.


    Notes & References

    [0020] Those holding the view of the rapture try to find evidence that the Second Coming occurs in two distinct and separate events. First the secret rapture and then, seven years later the Lord's coming in glory. Why the Almighty God, according to rapturists, would do anything in secret is rather strange and the following scriptures defeat that view. The Bible teaches that Christ's coming, the resurrection, and catching up of the saints to meet Jesus in the air, all take place at the same time, at the end of the world. This is why Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Mat. 28:20. The secret rapture theory also contradicts the words of Jesus when He says in Mat. 13 that the wheat and tares will grow together until the "end of the world", and then would be separated. According to the two stage coming they would not grow together until the end of the world. The righteous would be separated from the wicked 7 years before the end. The promise of the resurrection teaches that Christ will raise the righteous up saying, "... I will raise him up at the last day." Jh. 6:40. No one denies that this means the last day of the world. Yet the Apostle Paul states 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). The rapture theory would have to believe that the graves open and the dead are raised in secret seven years before the final coming and that the sound of the trumpet would be too still to be heard by anyone else but the dead. What rapturists do not consider sufficiently is that their famous 1.Thess. 4 chapter talks about the parousia ("coming") of our Lord and how the `man of sin', the Antichrist, "whom the Lord shall ... destroy with the brightness of his coming." Verse 8, clearly describes the coming (`parousia') of Christ to take place after the reign of the man of sin, and not as an escape rapture before the reign of the Antichrist begins. The Bible also teaches that the "parousia" and the "apokalupsis" are the same event. We read: "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming (`parousia') of the Son of man be." Mat. 24:37. In the Gospel of Luke we read about the same event, "As it was in the days of Noe ... Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed (apokalupsis)." Luke 17:26,30. These verses show that the "coming" (`parousia') and the "revelation" (`apokalupsis') are the same event. Therefore, there is quite correctly no basis for inserting 7 years in between here.
    Continuing in Luke 17, we read,

    "Two men shall be in a field; the one shall be taken, and the other left."
    The righteous and the wicked are to be associated together in the work of life. But the Lord reads the character; He discerns who are his obedient children, who respect and love His commandments.

    "And they (the pharisees, verse 20) answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, hither will the eagles be gathered together." Luke 17:36-37; Cmp. Matth. 24:40.
    What is the meaning of these words? Matthew Henry wrote: "(1) Wherever the wicked are, they shall be found out by the judgments of God; as wherever a dead carcase is, the birds make a prey of it. The judgments of God shall fasten upon them, as the eagles do upon the prey. (2) Wherever the godly are, who are marked for preservation, they shall be found happy in the enjoyment of Christ. Wherever Christ is, the believers will flock to him, and meet in him, as eagles about the prey, by the instinct of the new nature. Wherever the body is, wherever the gospel is preached, thither will pious souls resort, there they will find Christ. Wherever Christ records his name he will meet his people, and bless them." [TBPC]

    In today's language we may say, just like human `eye of the sky machines', or satelites, can see things on earth quite perfectly, so God's view of earth is perfect vision. No one can hide from God. God sees all his faithful people and when it is according to his plan, he can help those who need him, wherever they may be.

    Part of the problem of erroneous interpretations of the Bible results when people use verses with veiled inferences. Luke 21:36 is an example. Jesus said to his disciples, "Pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass ..." How? By a secret rapture to take them to heaven 7 years before the end of the world? Definitely not, for in the prayer of Jesus we read, "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." When Jesus told them to "pray ... to escape," He must have meant the same as when He prayed, "I pray not .. take them out of the world but ... keep them." This rules out a secret rapture entirely.
    [0100] The Greek word for "caught up" (1.Thess. 4:17) is `arpagesomeda', a future passive word form meaning `caught up'. Is the meaning of `rapture' similar to the word `caught up'? Perhaps, but the Greek was translated as `caught up', not as `rapture'. More importantly, the word `rapture' alone is not entirely extra biblical, but the idea that the saints will be secretly `spirited' away from among the world's population is a misunderstanding and misapplication of a few Bible verses. Therefore, a `rapture' in the sense of the resurrection is biblical but a pre tribulation rapture is not biblical.
    How are we to understand Matthew 24:40-41? Matthew meets the needs of a certain people, the Israelites, rapturists state, the rapture is not the 2nd coming they say. In the course of the latter we meet him in the air, they explain. Therefore, they may say, Matthew 24:40,41 does not apply to the rapture, neither does the experience of Noah apply to the rapture. They say these verses are not talking about the rapture. Why? Because, dear rapturist, there is no rapture apart from that on the day of the Second Coming and that is why these verses are not using that word, but, these verses apply to last days events, just then when Jesus comes again.
    You see, Mark Twain was asked once, `Do you have trouble understanding parts of the Bible?' His reply was, `No! It's the parts I understand that give me trouble.'
    [0150] The rapture, being caught up, is the amount of time it takes for the redeemed and resurrected to be taken up by the power of God to meet Christ in the air on the day of the Second Coming. This time of rapture is hardly to be understood to extent over a period of years.
    [0200] To believe that "that day", "the day of Christ", refers to the visible coming after the revealing of antichrist, while the "coming" and "gathering" of the church is the "rapture", preceding the revealing of antichrist, is to make Paul say: "Now I beseech you, in regard to event A, not to be troubled about event B, which will come seven years later." That would reduce the explanation to nonesense.
    [0300] On the meaning of the blowing of the trumpet a well known Rapturist, J. Vernon McGee, wrote: " What is the significance of the blowing of the trumpet? Back in the Book of Numbers we learn that when the children of Israel started through the wilderness, God commanded them to make two silver trumpets. ... Now when we come to Revelation, the final book of the Bible, we find the blowing of the trumpets again. Although some expositors feel that this is in relation to the church, there is no blowing of the trumpet for the church. The sound of the trumpet at the time of the Rapture (1 Thes. 4:16) will be the shout of Christ Himself: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God … ". His voice will be like a trumpet. [J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, © 1981 by J. Vernon McGee.]
    Is that true that the sound of the trumpet will be the voice of God Himself? The little conjunction "and" seems to preclude that idea. There will be the voice of God and the sound of the trumpet. The text states plainly that the "voice" will be like that of the archangel and there will also be a loud sound like that of a trumpet. We ought not to minimize God's capabilities and the grandeur of His Second Coming, only the least of all the activities we are probably told in the Bible, just to fit a pet theory.
    [320] The specifications are:

  • The characteristics of the little horn in Daniel chapter 7. The characteristics of the little horn in Revelation 13. How the Organized Papacy fulfills the specifications.
    (1.) 3 horns are plucked up by the roots; (1.) It arises from the seven headed beast with 10 horns and 10 crowns. The beast arose subsequent to the pagan Roman Empire among 10 European kings/nations, three of which were uprooted early on.
    (2.) It was wounded to death and the wound healed, the world wondered after the beast; it had eyes like the eyes of man; (2.) the beast has the support of the dragon and is being worshipped; The wounding of the beast may have a double fulfilling: a) the head of the papacy was taken prisoner by the French in 1798; b) the head of the papacy was almost killed by an assassin in 1981.
    (3.) it had a mouth speaking great things, great words against the Most High; (3.) he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies against God and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven for 42 months; Blasphemies includes saying, he can forgive sins when he can't, only Almighty God can.
    (4.) it looked more stout than its fellows; (4.) Who is like unto the beast, who is able to make war with him?; The political power of this beast was mighty for a long time, i.e. 1260 years.
    (5.) it made war with the saints, wear them out, and prevailed against them; (5.) beast makes war against the saints and overcomes them, achieves power over all peoples, languages and nations; - the `lamb' with the two horns begins to support the `horn' beast; makes fire fall down in the sight of man and deceives; The `horn' beast persecutes God's people; The `lamb' turns its allegiance from innocent to supporting the `horn' beast by making fire fall down from heaven - in how many ways? Unconventional suppositions may include the mighty use of electricity in radio, television, movies, autos, aircraft, computers, satellites, atomic and related weapons.
    (6.) it shall think to change times and laws; (6.) the lamb beast compells those on earth to make an image to the beast; The beast's image is represented by it consecrating `time', the first day of the week to replace the Seventh Day Sabbath of the week thereby changing God's Law.
    (7.) saints of the Most High given in his hands for 3 ½ times (3 ½ prophetical years). (7.) The 3 ½ years, 1260 days and 42 months are all of the same length, namely 1260 prophetic days or year/days, that is 1260 years reaching from 538 to 1798 A.D.
    Are the saints the Jews?
    No. They lost their special nation status, their people of God status after they crucified Christ and did not repent.
    What did the Jews do to fulfill the listed characteristics?
    Their influence on history bears no comparison to that of the Christian Church.
    Who are the Bible saints?
    They keep the Ten Commandments including the law which proclaims God as the creator of the whole universe, Rev. 12:17; 14:12; 19:10 and they have the `Spirit of Prophecy'.

    [0400] J. Vernon McGee also states that since after Rev. chapter 3, the word "churches" or "church" does not occur again, it is because the church was raptured. We would like to point out that he is even incorrect on that, the word "churches" does occur again (Rev. 22:16), but his reasoning is faulty because in later chapters the `church' or `churches' is referred to by different appellations, i.e. the saints (Rev. 8:3-4; 11:18; 13:7,10; 14:12; 15:3; 16:6; 17:6; 18:24; 19:8; 20:9), the remnants (Rev. 11:13; 12:17; 19:21) and also as a woman, the woman dressed in white.
    [0500] E.G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 299.
    [0600] Ibid., p. 300.
    [0700] Ibid., pp. 339, 340.
    [0800] The theme of the `Judgment', in the Bible, is represented as coming in two parts. 1. The investigative judgment at the end of the 2300 prophetic day/years which, according to 1.Peter 4:17 considers only the cases of the professed people of God (Rev. 20:12; Lk. 10:20; Phil. 4:3; Dan. 12:1; Rev. 21:27; Mal. 3:16; Neh. 13:14; Ps. 56:8; Eccl. 12:14; Mt. 12:36-37; 1.Cor. 4:5; Is. 65:6-7; 1.Jh. 2:1; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Ex. 32:33; Ez. 18:24; Is. 43:25; Rev. 3:5;Mt. 10:32-33; Ps. 51:17; Zech. 3:2; Eph. 5:27; Rev. 3:4; Jer. 31:34; 50:20; Is. 4:2-3; Acts 3:19-20; Hebr. 9:28; Lev. 16:22; Prov. 28:13; 2.Cor. 12:9; Mt. 11:29-30; Mk. 13:33; Rev. 3:3; 22:11-12; Mt. 24:39; Mk. 13:35-36), while the wicked will be judged at the end of the millenial 1000 year period.

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