Hey, Christians.... Is Matthew 24 in the Bible speaking of the
DrDeanCrosby
Christian Counslor
The "secret" rapture refers only to its unknown date.Jesus' return will be seen and heard by everyone with access to satellite television newscasts but the actual transfer of the saved to heaven may not be caught on television because of its instantaneous and supernatural nature.
Before I answer let me explain three things.
1.
The word Rapture does not appear in the Bible.
Rapture comes from the Latin word Rapio
and is equivalent to the Greek word Harpazo.
Harpazo is used in....
1 Thessalonians 4v17 .... http://biblos.com/1_thessalonians/4-17.htm
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
where *shall be caught up* is the English phrase
for the Greek word Harpazo. Here is what the Strong's
Concordance has to say about the word.....
726. harpazó .... http://concordances.org/greek/726.htm
harpazó: to seize, catch up, snatch away
Original Word: ??????
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: harpazó
Phonetic Spelling: (har-pad'-zo)
Short Definition: I seize, snatch, obtain by robbery
Definition: I seize, snatch, obtain by robbery.
726 harpáz? – properly, seize by force; snatch up, suddenly
and decisively – like someone seizing bounty (spoil, a prize);
to take by an open display of force (i.e. not covertly or secretly).
Notice it says "snatch-up" and "an open display".....the very
meaning of the word reveals that this event is no secret.
2.
The place where this word "Harpazo" is used is when the
believers in Christ will meet Jesus in the Clouds. 1 Thess 4v17
is describing the return of Jesus.....the Second Coming.
3.
Notice the use of the term Trumpet....
Matthew 24v31 .... http://bible.cc/matthew/24-31.htm
And he will send his angels with a loud....*trumpet*.... call,
and they will gather his elect from the four winds,
from one end of the heavens to the other.
1 Corinthians 15v52 .... http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/15-52.htm
in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the ....*trumpet*.... will sound, the dead will be raised
imperishable, and we will be changed.
Matthew Ch 24 is talking about both the Rapture and
the Second Coming because they are the same event.
1.
The word Rapture does not appear in the Bible.
Rapture comes from the Latin word Rapio
and is equivalent to the Greek word Harpazo.
Harpazo is used in....
1 Thessalonians 4v17 .... http://biblos.com/1_thessalonians/4-17.htm
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
where *shall be caught up* is the English phrase
for the Greek word Harpazo. Here is what the Strong's
Concordance has to say about the word.....
726. harpazó .... http://concordances.org/greek/726.htm
harpazó: to seize, catch up, snatch away
Original Word: ??????
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: harpazó
Phonetic Spelling: (har-pad'-zo)
Short Definition: I seize, snatch, obtain by robbery
Definition: I seize, snatch, obtain by robbery.
726 harpáz? – properly, seize by force; snatch up, suddenly
and decisively – like someone seizing bounty (spoil, a prize);
to take by an open display of force (i.e. not covertly or secretly).
Notice it says "snatch-up" and "an open display".....the very
meaning of the word reveals that this event is no secret.
2.
The place where this word "Harpazo" is used is when the
believers in Christ will meet Jesus in the Clouds. 1 Thess 4v17
is describing the return of Jesus.....the Second Coming.
3.
Notice the use of the term Trumpet....
Matthew 24v31 .... http://bible.cc/matthew/24-31.htm
And he will send his angels with a loud....*trumpet*.... call,
and they will gather his elect from the four winds,
from one end of the heavens to the other.
1 Corinthians 15v52 .... http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/15-52.htm
in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the ....*trumpet*.... will sound, the dead will be raised
imperishable, and we will be changed.
Matthew Ch 24 is talking about both the Rapture and
the Second Coming because they are the same event.
1. Christ’s presence would begin a long time after his death. Jesus gave an illustration in which he likened himself to a man who “traveled to a distant land to secure kingly power,” or to “secure a kingdom.” (Luke 19:12; footnote) How was that prophetic illustration fulfilled? Well, Jesus died and was resurrected; then he traveled to the “distant land,” that is, heaven. As Jesus foretold in a similar illustration, his return in kingly power would come only “after a long time.”—Matthew 25:19.
Some years after Jesus ascended to heaven, the apostle Paul wrote: “This man [Jesus] offered one sacrifice for sins perpetually and sat down at the right hand of God, from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet.” (Hebrews 10:12,*13) So a lengthy period of waiting followed Jesus’ arrival in heaven. The wait finally ended when Jehovah God made his Son the King of the long-promised Messianic Kingdom. That was when Christ’s presence began. Would humans on earth see this momentous event?
2. The presence is invisible to human eyes. Remember, Jesus discussed the sign of his presence. (Matthew 24:3) If his presence were visible to human eyes, would a sign be needed? To illustrate: Imagine that you are traveling to see the ocean. You may see road signs directing you along the way, but once you are at the shore, standing at the water’s edge with the vast expanse of water stretching out to the horizon, would you expect to see a sign with a big arrow pointing ahead, emblazoned with the word “Ocean”? Of course not! Why have a sign to point out what you can easily identify with your eyes?
Jesus described the sign of his presence, not to point out something that humans could see with their eyes, but to help them discern something that would occur in heaven. Thus, Jesus said: “The kingdom of God is not coming with striking observableness.” (Luke 17:20) How, then, would the sign show those on earth that Christ’s presence had begun?
3. Jesus’ presence would be marked by a time of profound troubles here on earth. Jesus said that his presence as King in heaven would be marked on earth by wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences, and lawlessness. (Matthew 24:7-12; Luke 21:10,*11) What would cause all this misery? The Bible explains that Satan, “the ruler of this world,” is full of rage because he knows that his time is very short now that Christ’s presence as King has begun. (John 12:31; Revelation 12:9,*12) Such visible evidence of Satan’s rage and of Christ’s presence has been abundant in our time. Especially since 1914, a year that historians acknowledge was a turning point, has this evidence appeared on an unprecedented and global scale.
4. Jesus’ presence is marked by a global preaching work. Jesus said that his presence would be like “the days of Noah.” (Matthew 24:37-39) Noah was more than an ark builder; he was also “a preacher of righteousness.” (2*Peter 2:5) Noah warned people that a judgment from God was on its way. Jesus said that his followers on earth would be doing something similar during his presence. He prophesied: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.”—Matthew 24:14.
Some years after Jesus ascended to heaven, the apostle Paul wrote: “This man [Jesus] offered one sacrifice for sins perpetually and sat down at the right hand of God, from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet.” (Hebrews 10:12,*13) So a lengthy period of waiting followed Jesus’ arrival in heaven. The wait finally ended when Jehovah God made his Son the King of the long-promised Messianic Kingdom. That was when Christ’s presence began. Would humans on earth see this momentous event?
2. The presence is invisible to human eyes. Remember, Jesus discussed the sign of his presence. (Matthew 24:3) If his presence were visible to human eyes, would a sign be needed? To illustrate: Imagine that you are traveling to see the ocean. You may see road signs directing you along the way, but once you are at the shore, standing at the water’s edge with the vast expanse of water stretching out to the horizon, would you expect to see a sign with a big arrow pointing ahead, emblazoned with the word “Ocean”? Of course not! Why have a sign to point out what you can easily identify with your eyes?
Jesus described the sign of his presence, not to point out something that humans could see with their eyes, but to help them discern something that would occur in heaven. Thus, Jesus said: “The kingdom of God is not coming with striking observableness.” (Luke 17:20) How, then, would the sign show those on earth that Christ’s presence had begun?
3. Jesus’ presence would be marked by a time of profound troubles here on earth. Jesus said that his presence as King in heaven would be marked on earth by wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences, and lawlessness. (Matthew 24:7-12; Luke 21:10,*11) What would cause all this misery? The Bible explains that Satan, “the ruler of this world,” is full of rage because he knows that his time is very short now that Christ’s presence as King has begun. (John 12:31; Revelation 12:9,*12) Such visible evidence of Satan’s rage and of Christ’s presence has been abundant in our time. Especially since 1914, a year that historians acknowledge was a turning point, has this evidence appeared on an unprecedented and global scale.
4. Jesus’ presence is marked by a global preaching work. Jesus said that his presence would be like “the days of Noah.” (Matthew 24:37-39) Noah was more than an ark builder; he was also “a preacher of righteousness.” (2*Peter 2:5) Noah warned people that a judgment from God was on its way. Jesus said that his followers on earth would be doing something similar during his presence. He prophesied: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.”—Matthew 24:14.