Will believers in Christ be raptured up before Christ returns.?

Answer 1

“Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, ‘Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares?’ He said unto them, ‘An enemy hath done this.’ The servants said unto him, ‘Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.’’” (Matthew 13:24 – 29 KJV)

Now that is an interesting story, and it can be a little confusing; fortunately, because the disciples found this story a little confusing they also and asked Jesus to explain if further. Because our God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), Jesus explained what this parable meant.

“Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, ‘Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.’ He answered and said unto them, ‘He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.’” (Matthew 13:36 – 42 KJV)

A closer study of this parable would seem to completely disprove the theory of a secret rapture of the church. Let’s take a look at what Jesus had to say about the time of the end through this parable. There are two groups on the earth represented by the wheat (the good or the church) and the tares (the evil). The workers of the field (probably representing angels) are troubled by the tares that the evil one (the devil) has planted. They ask the farmer (Jesus) if they should gather the weeds now and purify the field (the world). The farmer (Jesus) said that it should not happen that way because some of the wheat may come up with the tares. He then declares, “Let both grow together until the harvest (the end of the world): and in the time of harvest (the end of the world) I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” I find it hard to be a proponent of a secret rapture for the church when Jesus said that both the good and the evil will grow together until the harvest (the end of the world). How can the church be raptured, leaving the evil on the earth, when Jesus said they will be together until the very end?

There is another issue raised by this parable. Many well intentioned Christians use the story in Matthew 24:40 & 41 and Luke 17:34 – 36 as key proof of a secret rapture for the church, but if we examine this story about the end times with the earlier story Jesus told about the end times in Matthew 13, we get a completely different picture from what most Christians interpret this story to mean. Let’s look at what Jesus said in these verses.

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:40 – 42 KJV)

“I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Luke 17:34 – 36 KJV)

Now I do not think that I am wrong in thinking that most Christians interpret these stories to mean that the man taken from the field, the woman that is taken while grinding, and the man taken in his sleep are the ones that belong to the group that is the church and are ruptured. This does not seem to be a plausible explanation however. Jesus gives an order for things to happen back in Matthew 13. “Gather ye together first the tares (the evil), and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat (the good or the church) into my barn.” Jesus clearly says that the evil will be gathered first. If we take this understanding and apply it to Matthew 24 and Luke 17, we get a very different understanding. The ones that are taken are not in the group we want to be in. The ones who are taken are the tares (the evil) that are being gathered to be burned, but the ones that are left are the wheat (the good) that are saved.

There is another metaphor that many well intentioned Christians use to support a secret rapture for the church; I feel that this too is an invalid interpretation of a story.

“But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:43 & 44 KJV)

“And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” (Luke 12:39 & 40 KJV)

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2 KJV)

“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.” (2 Peter 3:10 KJV)

“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” (Revelation 16:15 KJV)

Here again, most Christians would attempt to say that this metaphor of a thief in the night is depicting a secret rapture for the church. I believe that most Christians have misinterpreted this too. First, Jesus explains what this metaphor means. He says that the meaning is not that the second coming is a secret but we do not know when it will occur. If we knew what day the Lord was to come, we would get ready the day before it, but since we do not know the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36), we must be ever ready! Just examine what Peter had to say of this metaphor in 2 Peter 3:10; he says that when the Lord comes as a thief,” the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therine shall be burned up.” Now I am not sure how all that could be kept a secret from anyone or how people would be able to live on the earth when it has passed away, burned up, and all the elements in it have melted.

Answer 2

I think we will be here for part of the " tribulation" we will see ALL the signs & I do believe that we will be here when the 7 year peace treaty is signed between Israel & the other nations... I also believe we WILL know who the Anti Christ is or atleast have a very very good idea..We will endure part of the famines, plagues, & disasters... I think we are already living in part of it...
But Honestly I am not God.. I do not know for sure... only God knows the day, & the hour..
However the things that have happened in the world in the last 5 years & current lead me to believe we are living in the End times..
From my understanding we will be taken in the clouds to be with the Lord before things get REALLY ugly.
Christ won't return in the flesh until the final war is waged between Satan & his people
That is only MY OPINION & my understanding of what I have studied
God Bless you & Spread the truth to those who need to find the Lord before it is too late for their souls.

Answer 3

No, Christ will return in the air, and call believers to him with the sound of the trumpet. Thus the rapture.

Answer 4

NOO not at all he's coming like a theif in the night to get them and if your not one of those being raptured have mercy on your sould. I pray that your not driving while the rapture is taking place because if your not saved the person riding past you probably is and that could cause you to reck caue there no longer in the car. Or be sleep while a saved person is cooking, the house may be burned up when you wake up....if you wake up in time you feel me.

Answer 5

Greetings, buddy i'm a muslim, and as such i beleive in all Prophets of Allah (pbut) which comprise Prophet Isa pbuh, additionally generic as Prophet Jesus. So i assume i will say something :D i will say that i went on a internet site that advised me the indications that the international is ending, i wont say what it stated in case it is misguided, and the final subject i decide to do is supply fake counsel. Erm, i think of like each and every thing else, it is in the hand of Allah. I dont comprehend. yet i comprehend that human beings are companies to inventing rumours from an relatively youthful age, i does not enable it worry you, the least we are able to do is pray, repent for our sins and desire that we've led an entire life of stable. Inshahallah each and every of the beleivers will bypass to heaven :) and persons will convert to the genuine faith. i'm scared approximately it, i'm hoping i'm prime a sturdy life so some distance. I basically desire that I even have responded your question :) Have a sturdy day!

Answer 6

Yes. The bible is clear that the believers will be called up, the tribulation will occur for 7 years and then Jesus will return at the battle of Armagedon with all who were saved on white horses and will defeat His enemies.

Answer 7

the Bible leaves us guessing on this one....however there are some clues here:

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.

and I, personally believe in a pre-tribulation rapture.►◄●►

Answer 8

I am a premillinialist, so I believe that believers will be taken before... but instead of pondering what will happen, you should focus on what you are doing now. Try getting other people to make it to that point on the right side! I don't think we need to worry about it, becasue we win (we've already won, and you don't have a chance. this is for glo-ry)

Answer 9

Christians have debated over that for years. It is not clear from the Bible whether we will be raptured before or after the Tribulation. Jesus will come after the Tribulation, so, because I am a pre-Tribulationist, I would say no.

Answer 10

NO. The word "rapture" is not in the Bible. The Bible does have a parable about some will be "taken" and some "left behind" but as usual, the parable is not interpreted.