ARTICLE ON ONE TAKEN ONE LEFT

      The common theory is, there will be a Secret Rapture of Christians in the  middle of, or at the end of the great tribulation.  The time of the great tribulation is spoken of in the last book of the New Testament Revelation.  Depending on which Christian scholar you are talking to at the time, they can't even determine when this will happen.  According to these scholars, they say Jesus will come in the air, catch up the Church from the earth and return to Heaven with them.  So they will not go through the time of the great tribulation.  This theory cannot be found in scripture.  The word rapture used in this theory, is not found anywhere in the Bible!  According to those scholars, we are given a clear description of a secret rapture.  They say the key verse for this theory is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 "the dead in Christ will rise from their graves to meet him in the air, then we which are alive and remain on the earth, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord."  This is when scholars say the righteous will be whisked (raptured) up to Heaven to be with the Lord and be kept from the great tribulation.  If this is talking about a secret rapture, what happens to those righteous still in their graves at this time?  Scholars say that when the righteous die they go to heaven.  Who will come and meet him in the clouds?  If the righteous are already dead in their graves, not in heaven, what will happen to them during this secret rapture? Do they come out of their graves to meet him in the air?  Scriptures tell us the dead in Christ will rise out of their graves first, then those who are still alive will be changed.  If they are already in heaven, how can they come out of their graves to meet the Lord in the air?  Scriptures do not speak of a secret rapture.  
     The largest problem about this theory is these verses in 1 Thess-alonians 4 are not talking about a "secret rapture".  When properly studying the bible, three of the most important rules is context, context, context.  Don't just read one verse.  Read above and below to see what is truly being talked about.  In 1 Thessalonians 4:17  "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them them also which "sleep in Jesus", will God bring with him.  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 (who come out of their graves) in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (it doesn't say we will be with him in heaven. The meek shall inherit the "Earth".)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words".  We also must, must, must know that every word in the Holy Scriptures was given by God.  Therefore every word is accurate and true, and should be understood (interpreted) within the context it is found.  This scripture says, "we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them".  Who are "them"? They are those who were dead in Christ in their graves and who will be raised from the dead at Christ's return.  

more to come at a later date.

*Starlight*

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