As we look around the world today, we can surely see the signs, predicted by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that would occur just prior to His return to planet earth. Even though the reality of Jesus’ coming has been distorted or lost its appeal to many Christians, the word of God remains steadfast and sure. Rather than abdicating their faith in the Blessed Hope, Christians should instead be encouraged, strengthened in their faith, and rejoice as they see those signs.
Jesus , when asked by His disciples about the signs His second coming and end of the world, warned them that deception will be one of the greatest signs. Deception is believing something to be true when it is indeed false. So Jesus’ first response to their question was, “Take heed that no man deceive you…For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:4-5). He went on to talk about wars and rumors of wars, cultural and regional conflicts, disturbances in nature, incurable diseases, moral declension, and persecution of the faithful. But, it was deception that He once again focused on. He reiterated to His disciples back then and to Christians today, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:11). As though He wanted them and us to be extra careful of the severity of end-time deceptions, He repeated the third time, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24).
Indeed, Jesus looking down the corridor of time, thought it most important and significant to warn His people about strong delusions pertaining to His second coming. Perhaps, the strongest delusions he forewarned about is the popular teaching of the Secret Rapture. This is a human invention which promulgates that at some time in the not too distant future, all Christians will secretly disappear from earth, supposedly going to heaven, with non-Christians left upon the earth. By misquoting, misunderstanding, and manipulating a few passages of Scripture, this theory has been palmed off to God’s people as Bible truth. Neither Jesus nor His apostles taught such a concept. It cannot stand against a plain “thus saith the Lord”. Nevertheless, untold millions of Christians, of both leaders and laity, believe, preach, and teach this heresy.
The Apostle John, in the book of Revelation, poignantly declares, “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7). The Savior Himself foretells, “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: 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. 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” (Matthew 24:29-31). The Gospel writer Luke shares the testimony of the angels, “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:10-11).
The question that must, therefore, be addressed is, ‘where is the idea of the Secret Rapture in the testimony of the angels, the apostles, and Jesus Himself’. Of course, it cannot be found. No wonder Jesus was so intensely focused on the subject of deception when asked by His disciples about His second coming. But then again, by being deceived one does not know that he or she is imbibing error. Happily, God has provided a way to be undeceived. He beckons us through His servant Paul, ” Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). The learned apostle further gives the reason why God’s people must individually study His word for themselves and not be deceived by the philosophies of learned men so-called and the pronouncements of ecclesiastical councils. He concurs with His Master, Jesus Christ, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Both Jesus and Paul, along with others in the early church, must have foresaw a time when false teachings and deceptions would characterize people’s understanding of the word of God with regards to the Blessed Hope. So Paul counsels and comforts the believers, “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 prevent them which are asleep. 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: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words:”
(1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).
The Blessed Hope, the visible, literal, glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is certain. The ancients look forward to it. For example, the patriarch Job, finding himself in the most despicable of the physical human condition, declared, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me” (Job 19:25-27). King David exclaimed, “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him” (Psalms 50:3).
The angels promise it. The early church believed it. But most of all, The Savior assures us of it. Says He, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3). The apostle Paul makes the Blessed Hope his focal point in outlining the plan of human redemption to the young minister, Titus. He writes, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13)
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