Secret Rapture?

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Until lately, I believed in a secret rapture where Christ will come and take us to Heaven while the world will be misled by Anti-Christ for 7 years.  And soon afterward, we will descend with Him and He will judge the world (pretty much like the left behind series). 

Now I heard another doctrine regarding the secret rapture and that it might not be true. 

For more Info http://truthleftbehind.tripod.com/

Other than the site, I also received a video tape from a brother.  In it there's a sermon given by our brother Doug Batchelor from Adventist Church.  In it he uses scriptures to back up his idea of "no secret rapture."

In any case, my faith has not weakened.  To me, it doesn't matter if His next coming is a secret rapture or His final coming (the judgment), as a Christian...I need to be ready for Him anyway and fulfill my role in Him. 

I hope through this thread I can share with you on this "news."  It is not my intention to start another quarrel among ourselves regarding "who's right and who's wrong."  Please feel free to comment...but remember...we are brothers and sisters in Christ, not politicians :)
 
I personally believe the Rapture takes place before the 7-year tribulation. I am not so sure if it will be absolutely secret. The important thing we all as Christians should remember, it doesn't matter when and how we believe JESUS returns, just as long as we believe that HE will return. Peace, but not yet.
 
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rollinTHUNDER

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Was that a 7th Day Adventist Church?? Hmmmmmm?? Kinda makes you wonder why they call that church a cult, huh?? Hmmmmn. Let me guess, they also believe that the second coming already took place and we all missed it, right??
 
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postrib

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...a secret rapture...
I believe the rapture will in no way be secret, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God" (1 Thessalonians 4:16), "and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven... with a great sound of a trumpet" (Matthew 24:30-31); "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him" (Revelation 1:7), "For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day... Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed... Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left" (Luke 17:24-36); "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13).

...Christ will come and take us to Heaven...
Note that no verse says that the rapture will take anyone any higher than the clouds.

...the Rapture takes place before the 7-year tribulation...
Note that no scripture promises us a rapture before the tribulation. Jesus says he will come to gather us together "immediately after the tribulation" (Matthew 24:29-31), and Paul says Jesus' coming to gather us together must "destroy" the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8). We Christians must go through the coming tribulation (Revelation 13:7-10, 14:12-13).

...it doesn't matter when and how we believe JESUS returns...
I believe knowing the rapture's timing matters because Jesus said it's possible for those who believe to subsequently "be offended" by tribulation and fall away:

"The same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended" (Matthew 13:20-21).

"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matthew 24:9-12).

"They, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation [peirasmos] fall away" (Luke 8:13).

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try [peirasmos] you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" (1 Peter 4:12-13).

I don't believe someone necessarily will fall away because they believe in a pre-trib rapture, or won't fall away because they believe in a post-trib rapture, but true believers -- whether pre-trib or post-trib -- can fall away in tribulation.

And I believe Jesus told us everything we'd have to face beforehand for a good reason, so that we'd be less likely to be offended and fall away: "Take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things" (Mark 13:23). "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). To be forewarned is to be forearmed: mentally, emotionally, and spiritually (and possibly even physically, if the Lord so leads).
 
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Rollin Thunder,

Seventh Day Adventists are NOT a cult!!!!

Walter Martin, who wrote the book, "Kingdom of the Cults", orginally named them as a cult.  Years later, he declassified them believing they indeed are true believers.  Adventists believe that salvation is by grace through faith ALONE.

Please be informed before you make ignorant statements like that.

Ken



 
 
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Andrew

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Can someone tell me what the big deal is with the rapture being secret or open?

What are the implications/quarells if its either?

Does it really matter whether the world will 'see' it? Of course, they'll realise millions have suddenly disappeared -- sooner or later. so how secret can it be? also, we'll be outta here, so does it matter?
 
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