COULD CHRIST RETURN TONIGHT IN A SECRET RAPTURE?

by

Harold E. Cormany

Most of mainstream religion preaches a "secret rapture" an event where Jesus could very well return "tonight". Is this true? After all, Jesus did warn us to be ready at all times. Jesus also said we will go through much persecution and tribulation. Isn't that what's happening now? Many ministers are telling us so. The Bible provides a guide of what to watch for, events that will let us know when Christ's return in imminent. Jesus gave clues of what would happen just prior to His coming for His saints. Are these clues coming to pass? Should we listen to these ministers and start getting ready? Just to be sure, let's review the scriptural guides and see what they tell us.

  We recently witnessed perhaps the greatest natural calamity of our times, that being the devestation wrought by the massive underground earthquake and resulting tsunami that caused inconceivable damage and a death toll of over 220,000 lives and counting.

When we read history we read of earthquakes and floods, especially in Asia, that killed over 250,000 people in countries such as China, India and Japan. Many of these enormous death tolls were due to the outmoded buildings, many of them constructed centuries ago, that made up much of their inner cities, but nevertheless, the enormity of so much human pain and distress has never failed to move many nations to send help to these suffering people.

With this latest calamity, many ministers are again preaching, “the end of the world is at hand”. And yes, over the past 50 years, it seems that these natural disasters are happening more frequently, and on a greater scale, in large part due to the enormous increase in population of third world countries.

We read in the book of Daniel chapter 12:l- "And at this time shall Michael stand up, the great prince that standeth for the children of thy people, and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time….”

We read Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:6-8 “And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, see that ye be not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. V.7- For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, and pestilences (diseases) and earthquakes in diverse places. V. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

In Matthew 24:21 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. V. 22- And except those days be shortened there should no flesh be saved, but for the elects sake, those days shall be shortened.”

For Jesus to say “not since the beginning of the world’ would also include the “pre-flood earth”. If we read of this time, we see a totally evil world. In Genesis 6:5- “and God saw that the wickedness of man was great in earth, and that every imagination (desire) of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

It is interesting to again read Jesus’ words about the end time, or the latter days, in Matt. 24:36-39 "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. V.37- But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. V.38- For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark. V.39- And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

Actually Jesus is referring not to a secret rapture, but explaining how people would be ignoring any warning of Jesus’ return because so many are wrapped up in the world.

So we see that much of what is happening today is actually prophecy being fulfilled. Many evangelists are going out on a limb, claiming that since these prophecies are coming to pass, that Jesus could come secretly. However, this is not in agreement with what the Bible tells us. It is saying if we aren’t watchful we could be unprepared when He does return.

Let’s turn again to the book of Mathew 24:36 “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” It is then that Jesus tells us there will “be signs” to signify that we are in the last days. If we go back a few verses we read in v. 32- “Now learn the parable of the fig tree; when the branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: v.33- So likewise ye, when ye shall see these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”

So what are these worldwide calamities telling us?

Again, notice Jesus words in Matthew 24:42-45. “Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. V. 43 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. V.44- Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. V. 45- Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” In v. 46- Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” Then Jesus said in v. 50- “The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of.’

What Jesus is telling His followers is to be ready, even if we don’t know the exact time of His return.

One wonders when Jesus gave the parable of the fig tree if He could be hinting that His second coming could be in the late spring-early summer, when some of the crops are getting ready to harvest. Could the harvest seasons portray a part in the plan of man’s salvation? Do they give us clues to future resurrections?

There is an interesting set of scriptures in the Old Testament that relate to the early spring, and the late spring-early summer harvests. The “harvest” is a type of the resurrection and the gathering of the saints unto Jesus.

In Leviticus 23 we read of God’s annual Holy Days that He calls His feast days. The word feast here is “moed”, which means “fixed times” or “seasons”.

Let’s read in Leviticus 23:9-11. “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, v. 10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: v.11- And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.” The Sabbath being the 7th day of the week.

This is a type of Christ, and it is the early barley harvest in Judea (Palestine). This early harvest, and the wave sheaf offering is a type of the resurrection of Christ as the “First-Fruits”. This wave sheaf offering is during the days of Unleavened Bread. (Leviticus 23:5-8). It corresponds to what we read in the New Testament in the book of Corinthians. Paul is telling the church in Corinth about the harvesting of firstfruits of whom Jesus is the firstfruit of many to be harvested.

In I Corinthians 15:12-19, Paul argues with the Jews about the resurrection of the dead. Notice what he says; V.12- "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? V.13- But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: v.14- And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. V.15- Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ; whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. V.16- For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: V.17- And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins. V.18- Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. V.19- If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” And in V. 20- “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”

This would correspond with the resurrection of Christ 3 days and 3 nights after His crucifixion on Passover, the day before the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He was crucified in the midst of the week, and was entombed just before the Feast of Unleavened Bread began. He was resurrected on late Sabbath (Saturday) afternoon just before sunset. We read in I Corinthians 5:7 ‘that Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.’

In the book of John we read about Jesus’ resurrection and His encounter with Mary Magdalene on early Sunday morning. John 20:11-16 “But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping; and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher. V. 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. V. 13- And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. V.14-And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. V.15-Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. V.16-Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”

And in V. 17- “ Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your father, and to my God, and your God.”

Jesus had to appear as the wave sheaf offering of first-fruits to be accepted for us, as in (Leviticus 23:10). Let’s read again I Corinthians 15:23-“But every man in his own order, Christ the first-fruits, afterward they that are Christ’ at His coming.”

Where Do The Saints Fit into The Harvest of Firstfruits?

Let’s go back again to the Old Testament and read in Leviticus 23:15-16. And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete. V.16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meal offering unto the Lord.”

And in v. 17 we read “Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord.” And then in v. 20 we read “And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs; they shall be holy to the Lord for the priest.”

This happens on what we call Pentecost, but was then called the Feast of Firstfruits or the Feast of Weeks. What we have here in Leviticus 23:17 (the 2 wave loaves) is the type of the resurrection that we read about in I Corinthians 15:v.20 and 23.

Christ the firstfruits, to be resurrected as the wave-sheaf offering, and the saints, the two wave loaves, are those who sleep in Christ, and those still alive at His coming. We can identify who these are, as well as when Christ returns in the clouds in I Thessalonians 4:18-20.

Can We Know When He is Coming?

Are there clues to let us know Jesus’ return is eminent ? If so, what are they?

In Revelation 11 we read of the 2 witnesses who preach to the world for 3 ½ years. This appears to be just prior to Christ’s coming for His saints.

Notice in Revelation 11:14-15. “The second woe (6th trumpet) is past; and behold, the third woe (7th trumpet) cometh quickly. V. 15- And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.” However, Christ doesn’t return to the earth immediately.

This is at the time described by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 15:50-54. “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. V. 51-Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. V.52-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. V. 53- For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. V.54-So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Also in I Thessalonians 4:13-18 we read “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. V. 14-For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. V. 15-For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them which are asleep. V.16-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: V.17- 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. V.18- Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” This last trump, the trump of God is the 7th trumpet.

So we see Jesus does not return to pick up the church or the saints prior to the blowing of the 7th trumpet.

However, what is interesting is that the 6 seals must be opened and the 6 trumpets (including the first 2 woes) must be blown before the 7th trumpet is blown.

Let’s notice another interesting scripture in Revelation 10:7 ”But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”

We see much has to happen , perhaps over a period of nearly the entire 7 year tribulation before the 7th trumpet is blown. (Unless conditions are so bad that the days have to be cut short.) Matt. 24:22- “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”

When are the saints “lifted up” to Christ? I would say just before “the wrath of God’, which is in the 7 vial plagues of Revelation 15 and 16.

Revelation 15:1 -“And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. V.2-And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. V.3- And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty;’ just and true are they ways, thou King of Saints. V.4-Who shall not fear thee, O lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only are holy; for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. V. 5- And after that I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened; v.6-And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. V.7-And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. V.8-And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power, and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.”

Then in Revelation 16 we read about what happens to those left on the earth to receive God’s plagues.

Question? Why is the Church (Saints) spared of these 7 plagues? Read the article “What Was in the Cup That Jesus Drank” on this website for the answer to that question. (You will find it is the wrath of God that Jesus drank for us.)

So again I ask, could Jesus come tonight? The Bible tells us of the things that must happen before He returns, and He does not return to the earth immediately. In I Thessalonians 4:17 we read of being caught up into the clouds and that’s where we shall be, on the sea of glass, until the 7 vial plagues are poured out upon the earth. Then Jesus shall return to the earth with His saints. We read of this in Revelation 19. When Jesus returns to the earth, it will be to wage war against the beast and the false prophet.

Jesus does, however, give us clues as to what to watch for to let us know the time of His return is sooner than we think.

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 13:11 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. V. 12-The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. V. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. V. 14- But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”

This would correspond with Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:44-46. “Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. V.45- Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? V. 46-Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”

One of the reasons we need to always be ready for Christ’s return is found in several scriptures. Notice in Romans 9:28 “For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.”

We also read in Matthew 24:22 -“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”

It appears the saints shall live during the 6 seals, and six of the 7 trumpet plagues, but with the blowing of the 7th trumpet, the saints shall go up into the clouds to be on the sea of glass, just prior to the pouring out upon the earth of the 7 vial plagues that are described in Revelation 15 and 16.

There are some who preach “a secret rapture”. There is no scripture that alludes to this, on the contrary notice in Matthew 24:30-31. “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. V. 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.”

Do the Saints Escape The Tribulations?

We read in Revelation 13:7-11 “And it was given unto him [the beast] to make war with the saints, and to overcome them…’ This does not sound like the saints escape the tribulation.

In Daniel 7:21-22 we read:” And I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them. V.22- Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”

We also need to read Revelation 20:4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Also read Revelation 6:9 - “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held; V. 10- And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? V. 11- And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled.”

The question is, are all the saints to be martyred? Probably not, but it appears that some will be, just as they have been down through the ages.

Will Christ return tonight? Is there a secret rapture to heaven for the saints? Not according to the scriptures. This concept of mainstream Christianity fits into their ‘once saved, always saved’ theory. However, if we read the scriptures we find the saints also go through much persecution in order to escape the mark of the beast. The Bible and history tell us that many of the saints were killed for the testimony of Jesus. Jesus Himself and nearly all of His apostles died for this belief.

In summary we can see that the Bible explicitly tells us that Jesus does not come secretly. Let’s review some scriptures that prove this.

In I Corinthians 15:51 -we read: “Behold, I shew you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. V. 52- 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.”

Paul also repeats this to the church in Thessalonica in I Thessalonians 4:16-“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: V.17- 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.”

We also see this in Revelation 11 of the 7th angel sounding in V. 14 -“The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. V. 15- And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever.”

Let’s also notice in Revelation 10:7- “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”

We read this 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 power of the heavens shall be shaken: V. 30- And there 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. V. 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.’ (The Greek word for heaven is ‘ouranos’, which is the sky.)

How can anyone preach a secret rapture in view of all these scriptures?

Although I do not believe in a ‘secret rapture’, I do believe that the saints will be raptured- or lifted up – into the clouds, to the sea of glass at Christ’s coming. We have quoted scriptures that prove the world will know when Christ returns for His saints, those called firstfruits in the scriptures.

Who will be included with those who are with the Lord? In Revelation 11:18 we read “And the nations were angry and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and should destroy them that destroy the earth.”

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