The Secret Rapture:

Scripture or Myth?

Secret Rapture: Scripture or Myth?? John 5:28-29 – “the hour is coming” righteous and wicked raised

John 6:38-40 – righteous raised “in the last day”

1Cor 15:22-28 – resurrection of righteous “then comes the end”

1Thess 4:15-18 – Resurrection heralded by a trumpet and the voice of an archangel

Secret Rapture: Scripture or Myth?? John 5:28-29 – “the hour is coming” righteous and wicked raised

John 6:38-40 – righteous raised “in the last day”

1Cor 15:22-28 – resurrection of righteous “then comes the end”

1Thess 4:15-18 – Resurrection heralded by a trumpet and the voice of an archangel

Two stages – Secret coming for Saints, Return with saints to establish kingdom

Seven years of rapture during seven years of tribulation

The Second Resurrection – Seven years after first

Secret and quiet coming of the Lord

Secret Rapture: Scripture or Myth??

Matt 24? “this generation will not pass away until all these things come to pass” vs. 34

Vs. 15-16 – “abomination of desolation” = Destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 21:20-24)

Vs. 19-22 – Why tell the elect to run?

Seven years??

Secret Rapture: Scripture or Myth??

The Book of Revelation?

The Book never mentions the concept of rapture

Requires a literal understanding of the figures in the book

Must ignore plain language in other passages = poor exegesis

Secret Rapture: 1Thess 4 Proof text??Context deals with

misconceptions regarding judgment day

“concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others…”

“that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep”

Thessalonians feared the righteous dead would be left out of the blessings of heaven

Secret Rapture: 1Thess 4 Proof text??

“Coming” in vs. 15 is the Greek word parousia

Pre-Millennialist view this term as distinct from epiphaneia also translated as “coming” in certain passages

Parousia – coming to get the Saints (seen only by Saints)

Epiphaneia – appearing with the saints (seen by all)

Parousia

Secret Rapture: 1Thess 4 Proof text??

"1I charge thee therefore before God,

and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall

judge the quick and the dead at his

appearing and his kingdom;"

2 Timothy 4:1

parousia

Secret Rapture: 1Thess 4 Proof text??

"13To the end he may establish your hearts

unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our

Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."

1 Thessalonians 3:13

parousia

Secret Rapture: 1Thess 4 Proof text??

"8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth,

and shall destroy with the brightness of his

coming:"2 Thessalonians 2:8

parousia”

epiphaneia

The Secret Rapture:

Scripture or Myth?