Left Behind?

Many in the world today believe that this Earth in which we now live in will end with “the saved” disappearing or being raptured away to heaven with God, while those “left behind” will have to face 7 years of tribulation from the beast power of Revelation. Then Jesus will come back again for those who didn’t make it in the first time. While this is an intriguing, and even encouraging way to believe, is it really the truth? Let’s see what the Bible says about the second coming of Jesus:

Matthew 24: 27 “For as the lightening cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be”.

The fact that Jesus even uses this comparison, strongly suggests that His coming will be visible to all people. Both the saved & the lost will witness the coming of our Lord.

Revelation 1:7 “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”.

Think about it this way: Jesus strongly warned us in the Bible to keep watch because we do not know the hour in which He is coming. If Jesus planned to sweep us all away in secret to be with heaven with Him, why would He tell us to watch for His coming? Furthermore, if that were so, would He be coming to us as the Bible says, or would we be going to Him?

Matthew 24:43-44 “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. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh”.

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be a visible event! The entire world will witness the Second Coming of Jesus when He arrives to reign as King of Kings!

One Taken, the Other Left?

Many who claim that the Second Coming of Christ will be a secret rapturing away of the Church primarily use Matthew 24:37-41 & Luke 17: 34-37 as their Scriptural back-up. If you read both passages closely though, you’ll realize that Jesus isn’t taking about a secret coming at all. Let’s focus on Luke 17:

Luke 17: 34-37 “I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed: one will be taken and the other left.”

“Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left”.

“Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left”.

“Where Lord?” they asked. He replied, “Where there is a dead body, the vultures will gather”.

Some may claim that these verses totally support the secret rapture theory. If you look closely though, you would realize that these verses did not state that those persons are left behind alive. Actually, the Bible in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 tells us that at the Second Coming of Christ, the forces of evil and wickedness, He shall “destroy with the brightness of His coming”. Luke 17 gives us a detailed description of the two classes alive at the return of our Lord. Noah’s & Lot’s day had two classes: the saved and the lost. Both times, those “left behind” were not alive. Jesus makes it too plain to be misunderstood when He says, “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed” in verse 30. The issue in Luke 17 is not one being whisked away to heaven and the other here on earth for another 7 years, it is weather to save or lose your life. Take a good look at verse 37 where the disciples ask “Where Lord?” when asking about the ones that are left. Jesus plainly states, “Where there is a dead body, the vultures will gather”. Revelation 19:21 tells us that those left behind are slain and birds eat their flesh. After Jesus comes, there will be no second bus to catch. Your fate would have been decided, there will be no second chances at that time.

What Difference Does It Make?

Some may pose the question: What does it matter if I believe in the secret rapture or not? The answer is simple this: If you believe that Jesus will rapture those away who are right with Him, and then wait 7 years to come back again for those who weren’t ready the first time, then it might cause you to delay your decision to follow Christ because you would be under the impression that when the rapture happens, you would still have a chance to accept Him. On top of that, the Bible doesn’t teach such a thing and as Christians, we only want to believe what God’s Word teaches. The Bible teaches that if you aren’t ready for Jesus when He returns and you haven’t accepted Him as your Lord & Savior, you will be lost forever- no second chances. The devil wants men & women to believe that they will have a second chance at heaven after the rapture, so they can delay their acceptance of Christ now. By doing this he will deceive many and when the time comes and there is no rapture, it would then be too late to change your heart. Jesus Himself said:

Matthew 24:24 “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”.

Do NOT be deceived today! This is the ultimate plan of the devil: to deceive the whole world. The only way to know truth & be able to realize error when it presents itself is to study the Word of God & have a personal relationship with Him. The harm in believing the rapture theory is that it is playing with your eternal destiny. It is teaching men to be relaxed and laid back when Christ Himself taught us to be watchful and ready for His coming.

Do you really want to take chances with your own personal destiny?

How Christ’s Coming Will Be

Friends, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be a visible, loud, audible event. Nothing about it will be a secret. Let’s ponder this passage of Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “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”.

The Bible clearly reads the Lord will descend with a shout! Have you ever heard a quiet shout? I imagine that if the Bible states that Jesus is returning with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God that this will NOT be a quiet event. There will be no disappearance of folk and the rest of us here wondering what happened. Shouting? Voice of the Archangel? The trump of God? I would like to suggest to you that this event just may be the loudest thing this planet has ever witnessed! Every eye will see Jesus, there will be no privileged first class that gets to see Him first, everyone will at the same time! It then says that we will be caught up- those who have died in Christ & the faithful who have lived until He comes- to meet Him in the air. He will come down & we will see Him and we all will be caught up in the air. There will be no disappearance… this thing is visible!

In conclusion, we have seen how the Bible teaches that Jesus will return the second time. There is not one Scripture in the Word of God to support a secret coming where people disappear & go to heaven with God, and those “left behind” have 7 years with the anti-Christ to accept Jesus and catch the second bus. There is no second bus. Revelation 13:3-9 plainly tell us that the beast power will demand worship from all who live on the earth. We will have to go through the time of trouble BEFORE Jesus comes back, not after he has “raptured away” the Church. Read Revelation 2:10, we all must go through the time of trouble, not just those who haven’t accepted Christ. Let us heed the warnings of Christ and be ready for His glorious return. Think about it: In Matthew 24:42 Jesus tells us to watch. If the secret rapture theory is true & the coming of Christ isn’t visible, what would we be watching for? Jesus doesn’t make mistakes, friends!

Matthew 24:44 “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh”

Are you ready for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

God bless you!