I know! Many of you are probably thinking to yourself, “What is this dude talking about?” Well, yes, I am speaking about the phenomenon that many of us know as the Secret Rapture.
There are many books, series, sermons, lectures, and even movies presenting this idea to us. The most notable of these, however, is the book series, turned movie, written by Tim LaHaye known as Left Behind.
I wanted to take a quick moment to dig deeper into the scriptures on this topic, and I plead that all my brothers and sisters would do the same on the various doctrinal beliefs of the day.
Now, there are a few scriptures that the book uses to back their claims of the Secret Rapture, but I just want to search a couple dealing with the notion of being taken and left behind. This is spoken of in Matthew 24 and in Luke 17.
In Matthew 24:37-42, Jesus states, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 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, And knew not until the flood came, and TOOK THEM all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be TAKEN, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be TAKEN, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
Okay, so looking back over this short passage, the first thing I recognize is that Noe speaks of Noah, his wife, his sons, and their wives, while THEY speak of the rest of the world. We know this because Noah didn’t enter the ark by himself, but was accompanied by his wife, his three sons, and their three wives (eight people in all).
We know that THEY represent the rest of the human world, because only the eight survived the flood – that is established.
In the preceding passage, we also recognize that the flood took THEM all away. Then Jesus says that when He comes it shall be similar. Two in the field, one TAKEN and one LEFT.
Well, in context, who knew not until the flood came? Who were taken by the flood? Who will be taken and who will be left?
Also, Luke 17:27 says “THEY did eat, THEY drank, THEY married wives, THEY were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and DESTROYED THEM all.”
Here we see the scriptures use the same example, but now the taken or took is replaced with destroyed. Of course, we do know that THEY were destroyed, or killed, because only Noah and his seed were left on earth.
Lastly, let us visit Genesis to see what actually happened in the time of Noah.
Gen 7:23 states, “And every living substance was DESTROYED which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and THEY were DESTROYED from the earth: and Noah only REMAINED alive, and they that were with him in the ark.”
THEY were DESTROYED from the earth and NOAH only REMAINED!
I’m not saying there isn’t a Rapture, or a taking away of the Saints, but I am saying that it isn’t coming before the Great Tribulation.
I am saying that it won’t be a secret. I am saying that people won’t have seven years (where does this come from?) to get their act together after it.
I know this will be refuted, and I encourage it, but please pray and read through the whole passage of verses before you respond.
Let’s use scripture (I Timothy 3:16) as the basis for our doctrine and arguments.
This was written in love so if you want, you can email me at lmosby@pvamu.edu to chop it up about the above verses.
Remember, It’s better to be……LEFT BEHIND!
Lionel Mosby