I have talked about how the second coming of Jesus will be. The Bible presents this great event as something that will be visible and audible throughout the world. Every eye will see it. Now I want to clarify a little more the fact that there will not be a secret rapture before the tribulation. There are really no scriptural passages that can support this teaching. Let's look at some texts that can be misinterpreted.
Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Matthew 24:40, 41
These two texts, if separated from the rest of the chapter, seem to confirm a secret rapture. But what happens when we look at these two verses in their context? That is, what interpretation do we give these verses when we consider the rest of the chapter? In the first part, I compared the final destruction with The Flood. This implies that we all must pass through a time of trouble. In this chapter Jesus Christ also references to the times of Noah when he refers to his second coming.
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:37-51
Now as we read the rest of the chapter we find that the objective is to establish that no one knows when Jesus will come and therefore, we must be vigilant and pray. As in the days of Noah, the Lord's coming will take people by surprise and this is why only one of two women and one of two fieldworkers will be taken. The other two are not watching and praying so the Lord will surprise them.
If we join Matthew 24 chapter and chapter 25 we find the same concept. The ten virgins were waiting for the husband but only 5 of them were found among the wedding party. At the end of the parable the goal of these two chapters is repeated,
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Matthew 25:13
The apostle Peter also mentions,
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up 2 Peter 3:10
Again if we just take this verse on its own, apparently there will be a secret rapture because the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Now I want to emphasize something, the Bible is God's word and never contradicts itself. What happens when you put this verse in context?
knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:3-14
Again we find a reference to the days of Noah, (the earth destroyed by water). Then we find that the purpose of this chapter is to give us hope for the speedy return of Christ. Apparently he has delayed his coming but will soon return. This same verse that tells us that the Lord is coming like a thief in the night concludes that on that day when the Lord comes like a thief the heavens will disappear with a roar and the elements will be burning debris, and the earth and the works that are therein will be burned. We understand then that the Lord will come like a thief in the night not because no one will see him but like a thief no one will know when He will come. This is why the apostle invites us to live on a holy and godly way in order to be found by Him without spot and blameless in peace. I'm excited about studying the Word of God and seeing how everything is complemented so perfectly, there are no contradictions.
Finally let’s go back to Chapter 24 of Matthew,
And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:31
Could this verse then point to a rapture?
Yes, but not a secret rapture. First, the Lord will send his angels with a loud trumpet! Where do we find the verses that complement this?
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, 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 we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 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 together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
How extraordinary! The Lord will not descend in a secret way but with a loud shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trump of God he shall descend from heaven. It will be so powerful that the dead in Christ shall rise.
Do you think that no one will know when the dead in Christ rise out of their graves? Then the just will be caught up together with them in the clouds. There is no second opportunity after this. This is the end! If we go back to 2 Peter in the great day of the Lord, the earth will be destroyed as it was in Noah's time.
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1:7
This is why I emphasize the importance of preparing for this day now! Time is running out and Christ’s coming is at hand. He says,
Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Matthew 24:32, 33
JESUS IS COMING SOON, AMEN, COME LORD JESUS!
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