Awesome Truths and Amazing Facts
Richard Vaughn

Today: Left Behind. The Secret Rapture?
I find it truly amazing, to witness all the Christians that have embraced the fiction of the Left Behind series of best seller books by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, as if they were based on gospel truth. Even more amazing is the doctrine of the so called rapture of the church, which is supposed to take place prior to a seven year tribulation period, that those left behind will have to endure. Then, it is said, that those left behind are given a second chance.
I stand on God’s Word when I declare the following. When Jesus comes for the second time, it will be after the church has gone through a great tribulation period and that His coming will not be secret, rather a very audible and very visible event. And finally there will be no second chance.
You will not find the word rapture in the entire King James Bible. On that basis I believe it is inappropriate for me to add to God’s Word what is not there. Forget what best sellers say, what does it say in God’s Word? Will Jesus come again and how? 
Hebrews 9:28 “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”  Jesus Himself promised He would return again in John 14:3 “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.”
At the ascension of Jesus, he was taken up in clouds and two angels told the disciples He would come in like manner. You can read that in Acts 1:9-11. Let’s establish the fact that Jesus’ second coming will be a visible event. Revelation 1:7 “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him,” Matthew 24:30 “…they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven…” Matthew 24:27 “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” When Jesus comes, every man, woman and child in the world will see His coming as the threefold brightness of the glory of Jesus, God the Father and all of the angels will charge the atmosphere with brilliant glory like lightning, stretching from horizon to horizon. See Luke 9:26.
Jesus’ second coming will not only be visible to all who are alive when He comes, it will be a most noisy event. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  “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.” The same Jesus who called Lazarus forth from his grave when he was dead four days, will call forth from the graves with a shout, all the redeemed of all the ages. And the trumpet of God shall sound throughout the world readying God’s people for the event that all heaven and God’s people on earth have waited so long. Then the living saved will be translated into the bodies they will have for eternity and join those ascending redeemed to meet Jesus in the air. Have you ever heard a silent trumpet?
When Jesus is coming it is visible and audible. His coming is not secret. I Thessalonians 5:2,3 “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” A thief comes unexpectedly.  Jesus’ second coming will be unexpected and it will be sudden. Jesus warned about deception. Matthew 24:4 “Take heed that no man deceive you.” Then Jesus even warned against the false prophets who would deceive even the elect, with a strange “secret” doctrine. Matthew 24:26 “Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.”
He urged us to be prepared. Matthew 24:44 “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Why does Jesus tell us to be ready when the deceivers say there will be a second chance? Because when Jesus comes, judgment is over. Every case has been decided. Revelation 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Those who did not despise the Ten Commandments, but rather in love to God, faithfully kept them will be called blessed. Revelation 22:14. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
No dear reader, there is no secret rapture and there is no second chance. When Adam sinned, that is when the human race got a second chance. It is now, in this lifetime, and before probation ends for the world once again, that we must get it right. Who were left behind? All of those unsaved who were destroyed when Jesus came for His redeemed.
Next Week:  How soon will Jesus come?