I’m driving down the freeway and I notice a bumper sticker. It says: “In case of the Rapture, this car will be unmanned!”

Then I look at Facebook and there’s three memes that tell people to be ready for the Rapture. I’ve been studying about this all of my Christian life. In 2001 a friend of mine gave me a book to read about this so-called secret Rapture. This book claimed that the secret pre-trib rapture would not happen.

1 Corinthians 15:52 (KJV) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (KJV) Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

There is no doubt that what we believers call the Rapture will occur. Both of these scriptures say exactly that. The Second Coming is our Blessed hope. When Christ returns we who are alive will meet Him in the air. I have no doubt about that and I look forward to Christ’s Return daily.

I watched a movie once when I was very young. The movie was about this secret Rapture. It started with the event. People just disappeared. Planes crashed because the pilot disappeared. People driving disappeared. Teachers teaching classes. Certain people just disappeared. Then there was this guy who remembered his Christian friend telling him about this. He remembered hearing the words, ”Don’t be Left Behind!” But this dude was and he was sad. Then a lady sang a dreadful song about it. He’d been Left Behind. OH MY!!!

Is this how the Rapture will happen? Will Jesus sneak in and steal all of the believers? Will He move in unseen get us quickly and invisibly? Will His appearance only be seen by believers? Will it be a secret until we are taken and then all the world will know. Is this how it’s going to happen? Is this even scriptural?

1 Thessalonians 4:16 (KJV) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

I can’t help but notice that this verse doesn’t read like some sort of quiet event. It says Christ is going to shout. It says He will shout with the voice of an Archangel. It says the Trump of God is going to sound. It says the dead will rise. Not sure if the dead people awakening will be noisy but I doubt it. This verse does not describe a quiet event. Shouting and secrecy do not go hand in hand.

Matthew 24:43-44 (KJV) But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

I know someone reading this article is saying what about Matthew 24? It says there He’s coming like a thief. So much end times prophecy is taught out of context. These verses are about being prepared; about being ready! Christ could come at any minute. Are you prepared? Are you ready? Believe me if you aren’t a believer in Christ you won’t be prepared for His return.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 (KJV) But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Here’s another part of scripture that people use to describe this secret rapture. Here again I see a problem. This chapter is addressing “THE DAY OF THE LORD”. The Day of the Lord is an event. There are too many scriptures indicating that this day will not happen in secret.

 

Here’s another part of scripture that people use to describe this secret rapture. Here again I see a problem. This chapter is addressing “THE DAY OF THE LORD”. The Day of the Lord is an event. There are too many scriptures indicating that this day will not happen in secret.

Isaiah 13:6 (KJV) Howl ye; for the day of the LORD [is] at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

Isaiah 13:9 (KJV) Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

Jeremiah 46:10 (KJV) For this [is] the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.

Joel 2:1 (KJV) Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for [it is] nigh at hand;

There’s tons of verses about THE DAY OF THE LORD. He’s not sneaking in and taking us. He’s not coming in quietly. He’s not even coming in peace. It will be then that we will be “raptured”! Are you ready?

If you haven’t noticed; we are living in the last days. I can show you timelines proving that the last days started in 1948. Since that year things have slowly gotten worse. Actually it started slowly and has gotten worse exponentially.

I continue to hear people saying: “I’m so glad 2020 is over. Things will get better.” I hear others say: “Just relax we are feeling the birth pains of the Great Tribulation. Jesus is going to rescue us.” Folks we are going to see more tribulations than just one 7 year one. Between now and the Return of Christ and/or the Day of the Lord it’s going to get awful. There’s going to be wars, famines, attacks on Christians for faithing in Christ, earthquakes, moral decline, and even a decrease in Bible believing Churches. All of this will happen and more.

John 17:15 (KJV) I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

We all need to be prepared. We all need to be prepared so we can live without fear. Have you noticed? The message of the world is one of fear. We don’t need to fear anything. We need to be prepared. Are you prepared to face tribulations? Are you prepared for hard times?

The reason I speak out against the pre-trib rapture is because this expectation of being removed when things get tough prevents the sense of urgency needed to be prepared for Christ’s return. Because of this teaching many will lose their faith when they experience tribulations.

ARE YOU READY FOR OUR LORD’S RETURN? ARE YOU READY FOR THE TRIBULATIONS LEADING UP TO THAT DAY? If not; GET READY! It’s not about being LEFT BEHIND; it’s about not being LEFT OUT!

DON’T LOSE YOUR FAITH!!!