Kirk Cameron, best known for his role on Growing Pains, acted as the lead role in the Left Behind movie series released in 2000. The Left Behind series, that were based on the novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, showed how the supposed secret rapture of the saints will catch the world by a total surprise.
According to the “secret rapture” view, the coming of Jesus will be in two separate events. First, He will come secretly to take the church to heaven, and then, seven years later, He will come openly in power and glory. In between those two events, the Antichrist is supposed to come into power and the great tribulation period takes place. And there will be a second chance for salvation for those that did not make it the first time.
But, the Bible nowhere speaks of these two separate comings of Jesus. And there is no second stage of His coming that occurs seven years after the so-called “rapture.” Interestingly, the word “rapture” is not even found in the Bible. It is a word coined for the second advent of Jesus.
Here is what we find in the Scriptures:
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.
“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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
This is why Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” Matthew 28:20. Why would Jesus promise to be with the church until the end of the world if He intended to come seven years before the end to take them out of the world?
The Bible clearly shows that the second coming will not be a secret nor a silent event:
“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him” Revelation 1:7.
“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be…And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 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” Matthew 24:27, 30,31.
“For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised” 1 Corinthians 15:52.
“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence” Psalm 50:3.
” For the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” Luke 21:26, 27.
It is clear from these verses, and many others, that the second coming of Christ will not be secret.
At Christ’s return, each person’s decision will have already been made so there will be no second chance to convert.
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12.
Now is the time for preparation!
