The Secret Rapture?

The Secret Rapture and Why the “Secret Rapture” Label Is a Straw Man

Have you ever heard of the secret rapture if you ever hear someone talking about that. Just be on guard if you believe in the rapture of the church. There will be people who try to scoff and say that that's unbiblical and usually when they do that they argue.

And say well this this is absurd these people who believe in the secret rapture and you're like wait a second I believe in the rapture, but I've never heard of the secret rapture. Listen. I know a lot of people who believe in the rapture of the church and most of the time when people use the term rapture.

They're speaking of a pre-tribulational rapture. Pre-trib right pre means before Trib refers to the tribulation period seven years so a pre-trib rapture Jesus comes back before the seven-year tribulation.

So most people when they talk about a rapture That's what they're referring to pre-trib rapture, but there's all these people who say oh, that's ridiculous. That's not biblical and It's ridiculous because the Bible nowhere teaches a secret rapture, and they laugh and they say you know you Christians.

You know you Baptists and non-denominational pre-millennial types. You think that all these millions and millions of people are just going to disappear in the secret rapture. Ha ha ha that's gonna Be the worst-kept secret of all time list.

The Pre-Tribulational Rapture and Dispensational Language

Okay first of all I Know a lot of people who believe in the pre-trib rapture not a single one Refers to it as the secret rapture. Matter of fact if you use the term secret rapture most people have no earthly idea.

What you're talking about apparently that term was used by some old-school dispensationalist you know maybe John Nelson Darby or Clarence Larkin used the term to refer to the fact that at the rapture people on earth the unsaved Living on earth are not going to see Jesus, but they are going to notice people gone obviously, but the term secret rapture.

Yeah, yeah, they're straw manning people who go on YouTube and Teach against the so-called secret rapture. They're basically straw manning our position. They are presenting our position in such a way to intentionally make it look absurd and they're saying we believe something that we don't really believe and They they build up our argument just to tear it down and make us seem foolish.

First Thessalonians 4 and the Rapture of the Church

Well Here's the thing you know and you can debate and argue about the rapture being Pre-trib or mid-trib, I think mid-trib could Work, I think. I mean, I'm not dogmatic. I am pre-trib. Mid-trib. I can see that post-trib.

I don't agree with you would have to change a lot of Interpretation of the church in Israel, so I believe in the preacher of rapture. I believe it's taught in Scripture. I know for a fact the rapture is taught in Scripture the timing is really the question.

But let me just prove it to you, but as far as the secret rapture. Again, if you hear someone use that term, they're probably straw manning our position if somebody's talking about the secret rapture.

They're probably not arguing in good faith, so just be aware of that again nobody even uses that term. But we do believe in the rapture because it's thoroughly biblical. Let me read the main passage. I mean, it's more than just this but the main passage would be first Thessalonians 4.

And I'm gonna prove that this is not only Paul the Apostle Paul teaching the rapture. He's teaching a pre-tribulational rapture. First Thessalonians 4 starting in verse 13 he says but I do not want you to be ignorant brethren.

Concerning those who have fallen asleep that is those who have passed away trusting in Jesus. So I don't want you to be ignorant or unaware concerning those who have died in Christ lest you sorrow as Others who have no hope for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again.

Even so God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord that those who are alive and remain Until the coming of the Lord will by no means Precede those who are asleep, so this is the rapture.

This is Jesus coming for his church. The second advent happened seven years later. So when Revelation 1 says, you know when Jesus comes back every eye will see him. That's the second advent. Okay, Jesus fights the Battle of Armageddon.

Revelation 19 sets up his millennial kingdom pre millennialism. I did a revelation series. You can go and listen to those videos, but this is what Paul is talking about. Or that's not what Paul is talking about here.

He's talking about not the second advent when Jesus comes back to earth. He's talking about when Jesus comes in the clouds to take his church Back to heaven because in Revelation chapter 3 the Apostle John is talking about the church.

It's on earth and Revelation 3 in Revelation 4 and 5 the church all of a sudden is in heaven you know John is caught up in the spirit which could be Symbolic of the rapture, but the church is in heaven symbolized by the 24 elders in Revelation 4 and 5 and then Revelation 6 the tribulation starts, so I think Revelation is consistent with the pre-trip position as well, but I digress first first Thessalonians 4 16 for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout With the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise First then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up.

This is the word rapture that's what rapture means we are caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and Thus we shall always be with the Lord. That's the rapture. Okay. Harpozzo in Greek goes through the languages rapturo.

So rapture simply means to be caught up and this is what the Bible is teaching very clear. Jesus comes back those who are alive and remain are caught up those who have died in Christ. They actually are resurrected and caught up first.

We are then caught up and based on Paul's words and first Corinthians 15 51 through 58. Our body is translated. We are given a new glorified body at that moment when we meet Christ in the air and Then Paul ends first Thessalonians 4 with these words 4 18 he says therefore comfort one another.

The Day of the Lord, Imminence, and the Tribulation

With these things and you know, the big basic question is okay Paul is telling the church about the rapture. The obvious question is when is this going to happen? Well Paul tells us that's the very next thing he says in chapter 5 verse 1 remember there are no chapter divisions in the original Letter to the Thessalonians.

So Paul immediately goes into the timing of it. Oh, I'm telling you about the rapture. You want to know when here's what Paul says concerning the time? You don't need that I tell you about that because you already know when Paul was there he taught them these things.

You know, what does he say? He says you already know That the day of the Lord so comes as the thief in the night. What's he saying that the rapture triggers the day of the Lord it happens suddenly. This is the doctrine of imminence.

It could happen at any time. But you know that it's going to happen suddenly. Like a thief in the night so the rapture happens that is the beginning of the day of the Lord for when they say peace this is chapter 5 verse 3 for when they say peace and safety then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman and of course Jesus talked about the Great Tribulation as What in Matthew 24 labor pains so this is what Paul is teaching the tribulation.

Okay, it happens After the rapture so the rapture therefore is pre Before the tribulation very clear. We are caught up to meet the Lord in the air. You know, it's not a secret I mean do unbelievers see it.

No, it's it's a spiritual event. I mean they notice people are gone. I assume they're gonna notice right and they're gonna know that the tribulation Is happening they're gonna wake up to that fact because Revelation says people they know what's going on and they're cursing God.

They hate God. And they're gonna follow the Antichrist and all the rest. But again, you know if you're watching YouTube, there's going to be these pastors who? Laugh and mock and scoff at the rapture of the church and they usually do it by Saying it calling it the secret rapture and how is this a secret and so nobody's calling it a secret.

That's a term you guys are using not us, but the rapture is thoroughly biblical and you know what it could happen At any moment because it happens as a thief in the night. Thanks for listening until next time if the Lord be with you.

Have a great day.