How many times is Jesus supposed to come? The bible speaks of 2 times, but a rapture would mean 3 times.?

Question

I see that the bible speaks of a second coming, but if the rapture theory is right then obviously we are talking three times, be Him on the air or not. So I would have to figure that this whole rapture thing has credibility problems. Besides, why should Christians be spared and not stand out for the Lord on the toughest of times? It seems that this taking away is very contrary to what Jesus did and what He would expect us to undergo. Flying away like chickens? I don't think so. Should not we make the ultimate sacrife for Him? This is a unique american phenomena as I can't find historical evidence for it either from Catholicism or historical protestantism. Escapism is not the way to offer ourselves as true Christians, rapture is a very comfortable solution for our very comfortable lives. Literalism has taken fundamentalism and exposed it as light Christianity suited for our lifestyle.

Answer 1

There is no Secret Rapture

Where in the Bible does it say 7 yrs of tribulation?
No where

What does the Bible say about the Secret Rapture?

“No single verse specifically states Christ will come before the Tribulation.”
Tim LaHaye (author of “Left Behind”)

Friends the belief in the SECRET RAPTURE is a dangerous doctrine because it is not Biblical. Please read with an open mind. Nowhere in the scriptures does it make any reference of a “SECRET RAPTURE”. Many people reference I Thessalonians 4 but they don’t actually read the whole chapter read verse 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.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last Trump: for the TRUMPET shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. I Corinthians 15:52

These are some of the nosiest verses in the Bible how can it be a secret?


Where is the scripture that says “7 years of Tribulation”?

It cannot be found, because it is not in the Bible

Did God save Noah from the flood or through it

Did God save Israel from the plagues or through them

Did God save Daniel from the lions den or through it


But doesn’t the Bible say that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night?

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which THE HEAVENS SHALL PASS AWAY with a GREAT NOISE, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be BURNED up. II Peter 3:10

He comes as thief because it catches people by surprise.


What does the Bible say will happen when Jesus comes back

For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matt 24:27

Everyone will see it you can’t miss it


Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; A fire shall devour before Him, And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, And to the earth, that He may judge His people: “Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
Psalms 50:3

I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form, and void; And the heavens, they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and indeed they trembled, And all the hills moved back and forth. I beheld, and indeed there was no man, And all the birds of the heavens had fled. I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land was a wilderness, And all its cities were broken down At the presence of the LORD, By His fierce anger. Jeremiah 4:26

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. 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. Matthew 24:30,31
since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. II Thessalonians 1:6-8

1 angel rolled away the stone and 100 Roman soldiers collapsed in fear like dead men.

1 angel killed almost 200,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night

Jesus is coming with all his angels who will take flaming fire vengeance how can this be a secret?


But doesn’t the Bible say 1 shall be taken and 1 shall be left?


Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. Matt 24:28

Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?”
So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” Luke 17:36, 37


Notice how Jesus answers where the body and the vultures are gathered. The vultures devouring the flesh because those “Left Behind” will be dead.

The secret Rapture was created by a Catholic monk named Ribera. It was supposed to be used in the Counter Reformation, but no one believed it.

There is no Secret Rapture when Jesus comes he comes in glory the world does not go on for 7 years. When Jesus comes probation for sinners is over. We need to be ready now. Life does not continue on Earth after Jesus comes.

This video explains the subject well
http://prophecycode.org/Resources/Video/PCVideo/ProphecyCode_2.asx


This is a list of other topics dealing with the end. The seminar was held last year.
http://prophecycode.org/meeting-list.asp

Answer 2

Jesus will only come a "second" time as stated in Heb 9:28. The word rapture is not a biblical term but it is used to describe a biblical event, the gathering of the saints, Mat 24:31. The first 44 verses of Matt 24 tell us plainly in chronological order that "after" the great tribulation Jesus (the Son of Man) will come and have angels "gather His elect ". Nowhere in the Bible does it state that the rapture happens before the great tribulation because it would contradict the plain Word of God just stated. Only people's interpretations of scripture that tell us of a rapture before the Great tribulation (pretrib view). The "elect" refers to Christian believers 1Pet 1:1-2, Col 3:10-13. Jesus is coming to both gather and save His believers and to punish the wicked on the same day-The Day of the Lord (Luke 17:22-37 parallels Mat 24 but notice that after Noah entered the ark (saved) those outside of it were "destroyed" and after Lot was went out from Sodom (saved) the rest were "destroyed". God's wrath will destroy sinners while His saints are protected during the Great tribulation. For precedents; The Lord protected Israel in Egypt from the plagues and read Psalm 91 (note the angels bear up or lift up the saints and Ezekiel 9:4-5. The rapture is not a secret to those who walk in the light 1Thessalonians 5:1-11.

More could be written on this subject but the above is the main grasp of the subject for me. For anyone who has dificulty understanding when the Lord is to return, the main thing is to always be ready to meet the Lord and that takes care of that. I don't think that this subject should be allowed to divide Christians because it has no direct bearing on if a person has a right relationship with Christ or not. Unfortunately some churches have had splits over this issue or even keep people from joining them if you have a different view than them on this as with other doctrines that do not affect one's salvation.

Answer 3

Jesus comes twice....once already happened, the second time is the instant the world ends.

There is no rapture. What is meant by the term in modern times is a lie and it comes out of the works of a 19th century American named John Darby (look him up and you will find that he was into occult practices). The doctrine of a secret rapture was first conceived by John Darby of the Plymouth Brethren in 1827 It has nothing to do with how Paul and his followers understood what he wrote. Even a loose understanding of "rapture" is virtually unheard of in the writings of the Church Fathers.

If the tribulation comes during our life times, the idea of the rapture is going to have many Christians turn away and apostatize. Christians will suffer greatly before the end, and if you think you are going to get raptured, but end up suffering, you will assume that Christianity is wrong.

the book "The Rapture Trap" among many many others.

Answer 4

Though I do understand what you're saying, Here's what I believe-
I don't believe that the rapture is running away from the tribulation-our time to shine for Christ is while we're here on earth- NOW! And I don't think that the rapture is "a comfortable solution for our comfortable lives". It's in the Bible- which I believe to be very true. Therefore, it couldn't be our solution- it was God's. It was in his plan from the beginning. Since he knows all, he know what's going on with the whole thing, and he knows what's best for us. He wants us to shine for him. you have a valid point- this would be a good time to shine for him, so God would only bring us home and out of this world if he had bigger plans. I'd love to talk to you more about this, but I'm not sure if it'd be safe to post my email here. I hope you get the answer God's intended for you to hear. And I recommend you pray about this- he'll tell you what's goin on!

Answer 5

You are correct. There is no 'rapture' as people sometimes say. Jesus came as a baby and lived on this earth to show us how to live and redeem us. And He will come again to resurrect the people who are 'asleep in Him' (have died) and the ones who are not going to be saved for eternity. Then He will take everyone who loves Him most of all to Heaven and the new earth, where perfect peace will reign forever. The others will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming, because sin cannot exist in the presence of a Holy God.

Answer 6

The second coming is at the end of the world - Armageddon.

Supposedly we go up to meet him in the sky. (He will not come down so it wouldnt be called coming whether the 2nd 3rd or 4th) Also, people back in the day used words like the sky and the heavens interchangeably, so maybe he won't be floating in the air but waiting in heaven. (just a thought)

I do have to say that the rapture theory is questionable and I would count it an honor to stay and fight the good fight in the last days.

Answer 7

You're right, 3 comings......IF you're talking about a pre-tribulation "rapture." The word RAPTURE is never said in the Bible. All the words that have been transalted to mean RAPTURE really mean "coming." I do believe he will come only twice. He's already come once, so I'm looking forward to His second coming at the end of a seven year tribulation. NOT before, but afterwards. Look into post-tribulationists views (sounds like you already have!)

Answer 8

Actually the whole idea of a pre-tribulation rapture is fairly new in the history of Christianity, it began in the early 1900's.

The ancient Christian teachings say only that the Lord would return at the final hour to defeat the Antichrist and to save the last true Christians left surviving the tribulation.

In essence, once the Antichrist begins his open persecution of Christians, they will have to either hide or else be martyred for their faith in Christ. But that time will be cut short for their sake.

So, it's my belief that we are called to await and expect the Lord to return at the *end* of the great tribulation to save us from the hands of the Antichrist and to save us from the wrath which He will bring to devour the Antichrist and his followers.

Answer 9

Rapture theory is not correct. Ezekiel 13 (more specifically Ez 13:20 - read the whole chapter.. read the whole book for that matter.) talks about how God is not happy about those that teach his children to fly away. (Take it back to the original language.) You are very discerning on this topic. You are on the right track. Keep it up and also keep doing your homework. Great question! As far as Jesus' coming... he is our friend.. he is always with those that love him. "Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I will be also." Think about it. :) Have a great day! :)

Answer 10

Twice; that's all!

When he was here, (1Cor.15:3)he died for our sins and went back to God's Throne in heaven.(Mark 16:19; John 3:13)

NO RAPTURE!
(Rapture means caught unexpectedly; no warning)

Sequence of events--
Before Jesus comes back; this will be happening: MATT.24:15-22
Desolation in Jerusalem,
2THESS.2:4 Pope in Holy Place,
REV.15 & 16 (7 last Plagues),
REV.11:3-7 (2 Witnesses = 1260 days),
REV.12:6 (woman-church fled in wilderness = 1260 days),
EZEKIEL 37:12; REV.17:14 (make war with Jesus)

When Jesus Returns--
MATT.24:27; 26:64; 1THESS.4:16-17(shout); MATT.24:37-44; 1THESS.5:2,4,8; MATT.25:31-34; 13:36-43; 24:30-31; ZECHARIAH 14:1-5; 8:1-18; EZEKIEL 36:10,33; ISAIAH 61:4; 24:1,21,22; ZECH.12:8-9; ISAIAH 65:8-12; 66:15-16; REV.6:11-17; DAN.7:27; REV.1:6-7; 5:10; 11:15; MATT.5:3,5,10; 2CHRON.2:6; 6:18; PSALM 37:9-11; 115:16; 1COR.15:51-53; ISAIAH 63:7; 11:4-10; JER.4:16-27; 25:9-31; REV.20:9; ISAIAH 2:2-4; REVELATION 2:26; 16:14-21; ISAIAH 65:17-25; 2COR.5:1-10 (JUDGEMENT), REV.20:10-15; JOEL 2:30-32; 3:2,12,14,16,18; ISAIAH 66:1,22; HEB.12:22; REV.3:12; 21 & 22; MATT.12:32; 2PETER 3:7-13 (HEAVENS WILL PASS WITH GREAT NOISE; NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH), ISAIAH 25:8 (WIPE AWAY TEARS); REV.7:14-17 (GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS, LIVING FOUNDATIONS OF WATER). end.