Essays » The Secret Rapture

What is the secret rapture all about and where did it originate?

1. Different views of prophetic interpretation.

Preterist view (orginated by a Jesuit priest - Alcazar) The preterist view, which views the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation as primarily fulfilled in the past - Daniel in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes and Revelation in the time of the Romans - there fore none of the prophecies have much value for us today.

Futurist view (orignated by a Jesuit priest - Christopher Ribera and adopted by John Darby of the Scofield Bible) The futurist view, which places all prophecy in the future, hence most of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation have not yet been fulfilled. The secret rapture theory is a futurists view. According to their view, Revelation 1-3 is historical, but in Revelation 4:1 where John is told "come up hither", the rapture occurs. Subsequently everything else in the book of Revelation occurs after the rapture. Obviously, Rev. 4:1 is merely a statement in which John in vision is told to come up to heaven and see what's coming. There is nothing in that text whatsoever about a rapture.

Historist view (this view was held by the early protestant reformers i.e. Martin Luther) This method of interpretation sees the prophecies beginning in the prophet's day, expanding down through history, and climaxing in the time of the end. Adventists hold this as the correct biblical approach. This view was commonly believed amonst the the early protestant reformers as well.

2. The 70 week (490 years) time prophecy of Dan. 9:24 - 27 in context of the futurist and the historist views.

Secret Rapture Theory (Futurist view) This theory was originated by the Catholic church and Jesuit priest Christopher Ribera, (1580 AD), in an effort to remove the accusations of the early Protestant reformers (Luther, Knox and others), that the Pope was identified as the antichrist of Revelation 13 and the little horn power of Daniel 7. Ribera want to set aside the obvious application of these prophecies to the papal power by bringing out a system of interpretation which asserts that these prophecies refer to some future supernatural individual who is yet to appear and continue in power for three and a half years. Other scriptures that are used are Luke 17:34-37 and Matt. 24:37-41.

Illustration: Futurist view of the 70 week time prophecy in Daniel 9









Events:

1. 27 AD - Christ's baptism
2. After 27 AD, there is a gap of time that reaches into the future until the last prophetic week occurs.
3. At the beginning of the last 7 years of the prophetic time, the first "rapture" occurs in which God's people are secretly raptured away: "One shall be taken, and the other shall be left" (Luke 17:34-37).
4. Temple is rebuilt and sacrifices will be reinstated.
5. Left on the earth are the remaining people including the Jews. In the midst of the this last prophetic week, the Antichrist is revealed and will make some sort of agreement with the Jews. Then he breaks the agreement, which marks the beginning of the of the Great Tribulation.
6. 144,000 Jews are converted and act as missionaries to the world and millions are converted.
7. At the end of that last prophetic week, Christ comes and sets up His kingdom in Jerusalem (on this earth) for 1000 years of peace.



Illustration: Historist view of the 70 week time prophecy in Daniel 9










Events:

1. 27 AD - Christ's baptism and the beginning of His ministry.
2. 31 AD - Christ was crucified - "The messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself" and the sacrifices were no longer be necessary. See Dan. 9:25-27.
3. 34 AD - Steven was stoned (Act 7), the nation of Israel did not "finish their transgression and make an end of sin" (Dan.9:24), after killing Steven and crucifying Christ, their probationary time had ended which began at 457 BC. "Seventy years are determined upon thy people". The gospel was then given to the gentiles.
4. *Israel - The promises made to Israel in Ezekiel 36:24, 33-35 were conditional promises - conditioned on obedience to God (as they are to us today). If Jews obeyed, they would receive the blessings of God, but if they disobeyed, they would receive His cursings (Deuteronomy 28 and 11:26-28). Jeremiah 19:10-11 tells us that God would never again claim the Jews (as a nation), as His people. See Romans 11:1-21 also.

*We (Christians) are spiritual Jews and of the seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:28, 29). Today, Jews can be saved the same way as Gentiles: they must be grafted into the vine - which is accepting Jesus as their savior.


3. Biblical Conflicts with Futurism (Ribera's Secret Rapture)


1. If the last week is broken away from the prophecy, why can't the first week be done the same way?
2. The Futurist's theory detracts from the Biblical evidence that demonstrates that Christ died on the cross (on time) as the prophets had predicted, as well as showing that He is the Messiah; inserts Antichrist in the place of Christ.
3. Jesus second coming will be very visible and audible "every eye shall see Him" (Matthew 24:27-30). There is nothing secret about His coming (Matthew 24:26).
4. This theory proposes a second chance. If you don't make it in the first rapture, you can make it in the second. The Bible tells us, "It shall be as in the days of Noah." Once the door of the ark has closed, there will be no second chance.
5. Daniel 12:1 (the Book of Daniel is a message for God's people in the time of the end, Dan. 12:9) says God's people will be delivered after the time of trouble, not before.
6. Paul says, in 2 Thessalonians 2:2, 3, that we are not gathered until after the "man of sin is revealed" (the Antichrist).
7. The judgment will end all at one time and there will be only ONE harvest of Gods people - the wheat and the tares shall grow together until the harvest (Matthew 13:24-30).
8. If one believes this theory, then he or she doesn't have to worry about the Mark of Beast and who the Antichrist is, because the Rapture will have occured before the Tribulation (he or she will be unprepared).
9. The earth will be desolate for the 1000 years, with only Satan and his angels being chained (restricted to this earth). When Christ comes, the living righteous meet the resurrected (righteous) dead in the air, to go with Christ to the heavenly kingdom that he has prepared for them. The wicked dead are destroyed by the brightness of His coming (See Revelation 20:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; 2 Thessalonians 2:8). No people will be on this earth during the 1000 years.
10. If Protestants of today continue to hold and advocate Futurism as a prophetic interpretation, they are really playing into the hands of Rome and helping screen the Papacy from detection as the Antichrist.

"Watch therefore...be ye ready." May we be as the five virgins that kept their lamps trimmed and full of oil (Matthew 24:42, 44; Matthew 25:1-10).

Please send your comments or questions to Scott Shelton. Thank you!