The “secret rapture” notion of J. N. Darby and Edward Irving, the fathers of modern dispensationalism, is very popular today, but it is not scriptural.
Scripture talks about believers being gathered to Christ on judgment day, but not about a secret rapture at an earlier time (Matthew 24, 1 Thessalonians 4).
The being “caught up” that is described and taught in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is an event that will take place on the last day.
Matthew 24:41 needs to be understood in its complete context. Earlier in this chapter Jesus said that at his second coming the world will be destroyed (Matthew 24:29). In Matthew 24:31 he said the angels will gather the elect to be with him. Then Jesus indicated that not everyone is among the elect, so as the elect are gathered, their immediate neighbors who are not the elect will not be taken to be with Jesus (Matthew 24:40,41).
In Matthew 24:51, Matthew 25:10-12, Matthew 25:30, and Matthew 25:31-46 (especially v.46) Jesus explained what will happen to the others who are not gathered with the elect.
God Bless
Well of course it's scriptural...That's why millions of Christians believe it...
The being “caught up” that is described and taught in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is an event that will take place on the last day.
Matthew 24:41 needs to be understood in its complete context. Earlier in this chapter Jesus said that at his second coming the world will be destroyed (Matthew 24:29). In Matthew 24:31 he said the angels will gather the elect to be with him. Then Jesus indicated that not everyone is among the elect, so as the elect are gathered, their immediate neighbors who are not the elect will not be taken to be with Jesus (Matthew 24:40,41).
If one chooses to believe this, then one has to completely ignore what the verses say...YOu have to make something up that is not there and then just keep repeating it like you actually think you know what's going on...You have to reject what God is saying...Here's the verse:
Mat 24:30 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.
Mat 24:31 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.
God says all the tribes of the earth shall mourn...Not just the non elect...
So who are the elect in the verse??? More importantly, where are the elect??? Are they on the earth with the mourning tribes??? NOPE...
Are the elect on the earth??? NOPE...The elect are already in heaven when Jesus returns at the 2nd Coming...How do I know??? The verse says so...God says so...The angels collect the elect from one end of heaven to the other...
Do we have a reading problem here??? Or just a believing problem???
Notice again:
Mat 24:30 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
All those on the earth, (not the elect, they aren't there) shall see Jesus coming in the clouds with power and great glory...EVERY eye on earth shall see Jesus...
Now let's look at 1Thess 4...
1Th 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:
1Th 4:17 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.
In 1Thess 4, ALL the Christians (the ELECT) rise up...Jesus doesn't come to earth...No one sees Jesus...We are then on our way to heaven to the Wedding...To get wed to the Bridegroom as the Bride of Christ...
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
When will those on the earth who didn't go to the Wedding see Jesus again??? Matthew 24...You bet...Here comes Matthew 24, when all eyes on the earth will see Jesus...
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
These are the 'elect' of Matthew 24 and 1 Thess 4 who are gathered from one end of heaven to the other...
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
No Rapture??? You can't be serious... ...