The Bible and the Rapture

Page 3

    There is one group saying that Jesus will come for his people, and that he will do it secretly. Remember, in Revelation 1:7 we are told that every eye shall see him, even to those who pierced him. There is no secret about that. As a matter of fact, there is not one scripture in the Bible that says anything at all about a secret coming. It does say that he will return as "a thief in the night", or when he is least expected. If then, as Revelation states, there is no "secret" coming, then what really happens when Jesus returns? We see one picture in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 21, verse...

25. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26. Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

    Many say that the things mentioned in verses 25 and 26 have already been fulfilled. We will cover that subject thoroughly, beginning later in this study.

28. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

    When did these things take place? Even back in the seventeen or eighteen-hundreds, and early nineteen-hundreds, who, among us remember seeing them? Some people will say that verse 28 is too vague, that it doesn't specify any particular amount of time. Well then, let us look at some of the parallel scriptures, like in Matthew 24.

29. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30. 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.
31. 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.
32. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

    Yes, Jesus was talking to his disciples at the time, but did their generation see everything take place right before their eyes? Did they see or hear all of the following?

1.. Many coming in Christ's name, deceiving many?
2...Wars and rumors of wars?
3. ...Nation rise up against nation?
4. ...Kingdom rise up against kingdom?
5. ...Famines, pestilence and earthquakes in divers (many) places?
6. ...Brother being delivered up to be afflicted and killed?
7. ... Many offended, betraying one another and hating one another?
8. ... False prophets coming and deceiving many?
9. ...The love of many waxing cold, because of iniquity?
10. ...The Gospel preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations?
11. ...The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet?
12. ...The great tribulation, such as was not, no, nor ever shall be?
13. ...The arising of false Christs?
14. ...The sun darkened and the moon not giving her light?
15. ...The stars falling from heaven and the powers of heaven shaken?
16. ...The sign of the son of man coming in the clouds?
17. ...Were they hated of all nations for Christ's name's sake?

    Ask yourself the question again... did the disciples see all of these things?

Matt. 24:33. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

    Now, the question again...did the Disciples see all these things? If the answer is yes, then Christ has already come again. If the answer is no, then Jesus was speaking of a generation in the future that would see all these things during its lifetime. One of the key verses here is the following:
Matthew 24:8. ...All these are the beginning of sorrows.