Does the Bible Teach About a Secret Rapture?

“Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.” Matthew 24:40-41 NLT

Many people have used this passage to suggest a secret rapture, where people will suddenly just disappear and be taken to heaven. Growing up, I occasionally saw bumper stickers, warning that in case of rapture, this car will be unmanned. But when you read this passage in context you will see no hint of a secret rapture. * Unlike the secret rapture theory, the Sabbath is found in the Bible and has been taught and observed in the Bible and throughout history. The secret rapture was never taught before 1830 and is not found in the Bible.

Let’s take a look at the entire context of the passage in Matthew 24.

“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. Matthew 24:37-41 NLT

In the days of Noah the people who were swept away or “taken away,” as other versions describe, were the wicked people, not the righteous. Jesus tells us it will be the same when He comes. So the ones taken in the field and at the mill are not the righteous, they are the wicked. They are taken away from the presence of the righteous and destroyed, just like in the days of Noah. So, Jesus is telling us that two men will be in the field; one will be taken and destroyed, just like the tares that are bundled up and destroyed in Matthew 13:30 while the wheat remains in the barn. By saying the other man is left, Jesus means that man is left alive and not destroyed. In Matthew 13:38 Jesus says the field is the world. That tells us that the one who is taken is destroyed while the one who is left inherits the new earth. (See Matthew 5:5 and Revelation 21:1-5.)

Luke makes it even more clear that those who are taken are not taken to heaven, but rather are taken to destruction like those left to be eaten or destroyed by vultures.

I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 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 17:34-37 NKJV

Neither Matthew or Luke give any hint of a secret rapture. After all, when the wicked were swept away in the flood, that was no secret. The whole world at that time saw what was happening. The eight who remained and took over the earth knew what was going on the whole time also. There were no secrets either way.

Far from being a secret the entire world will know.

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. Revelation 1:7 NKJV

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NKJV

mage © Review & Herald Publishing from GoodSalt.com

Yes there will be a rapture when we are taken up, but it will be no secret. Why is it so important that everyone sees Jesus coming instead of the righteous just secretly disappearing? There are many reasons, but I am sure that Satan does not want to have to face the music. He would rather avoid that confrontation when Jesus comes as King of kings and Lord of lords. But there is no avoiding it. One day,

As I live says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God. Romans 14:11 NKJV

When the great controversy is finished, the entire universe will declare that God is love. And that is a truth that Satan would rather cover up and keep secret, but he won’t be able. The whole world will see Jesus coming, and He will take home with Him all those who have accepted His love into their lives. Let’s accept Him into our hearts now so that we will greet His coming with joy.

*By the way the secret rapture rapture was never even taught until the theory was invented by John Darby around 1830. The Sabbath truth was re-discovered around the same time.

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Takae, thank you for your comment and kind words. I am glad you are blessed by what I write, while it is still very likely that I make mistakes sometimes. At the same time we cannot just automatically assume the SDA Bible Commentaries are right either. Please read what the writers of the SDA Bible Commentaries wrote themselves,

"For such errors as may appear in these volumes we plead not only the indulgence of the reader but also his [or her] cooperation, so that future printings may come ever near to perfection. -Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 1 Page 17.

and also,

This commentary is published with no thought of presenting a creed or determining for all time the denominational interpretation of any passage of Scripture. Neither the contributors nor the editors possess either the power or the desire to do so. Let this fact be clearly understood at the outset. -Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 1 Page 18.

While the SDA Bible commentaries are definitely helpful they are not the standard that we test or prove our beliefs with or against. Of course neither is anything I write automatically correct either. That is why we keep studying the Word of God and letting the Holy Spirit lead. I did check the SDA Bible Commentaries to see if the phrase "took them all away" in verse 39 regarding the wicked in Noah's time had the same meaning as when used in verses 40 and 41. The SDA Bible Commentaries had no information on how the word was used in verse 39 compared to verses 40 and 41, And I think that would be helpful.

Either way as the Commentaries point out even if it is the righteous who are taken to heaven it still is no secret as the context of Matthew 24 is all about the widely visible second coming and not a secret rapture.

Meanwhile on a different note, According to 2 Timothy 3:16 we must use Scripture when correcting people and not the notes in the Bible commentaries, as helpful or insightful as they may be. Of course the commentaries are written by several well educated people who know a lot more than me, so we shall keep studying with an open mind. It also seems to me that Luke 17 is consistent with my current understanding of Matthew 24. At the same time your observations are noteworthy so we shall continue studying with an open mind. Thank you again for your thoughts and kind words.

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Comments

Does the Bible Teach About a Secret Rapture? — 14 Comments

Fredrick K Daniels on September 23, 2021 at 12:48 am said:

Thank you for the presentation , William, I have now a better understanding about rapture.

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- Ochieng' Edwin on September 27, 2021 at 4:40 am said:
  
  Oh my goodness. You just changed the way I've been viewing the rapture. I thought the taken are the ones saved but it's the left who are saved! God bless
  
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Takae on September 24, 2021 at 1:42 am said:

I love to read your articles, but I have noticed some discrepancies this time. In SDA Bible Commentary, "shall be taken" in Matthew 24:40, in Greek, paralambano, meaning literally, "to take to oneself", used in the papyri of receiving to oneself articles that belong to him. "Paralambano" (with an accent on "o"), is used of Jesus taking Peter, John, and James and with them ascending the mount of transfiguration. In Col. 4:17, it is used of a Christian minister's receiving the gospel commission. In John 14:3, "paralambano" is used of Jesus receiving to Himself the waiting disciples.
By contrast, "took" in Matthew 24:39 is from "airo" (with an accent on "o"), meaning "to carry off" or "to remove". The "one" of v. 40 is "taken" by the angles as they "gather" the "elect" (see on v. 31). (some lines skipped)
What Jesus meant by being "taken" and by being
"left" is made clear by the context. Those who are left are the evil servants, who instead of continuing their normal pursuits after a supposed secret rapture, are cut asunder and assigned their portion with the hypocrites (see vs. 48-51). This is what I found for reference.

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- William Earnhardt on September 24, 2021 at 6:57 pm said:
  
  Takae, thank you for your comment and kind words. I am glad you are blessed by what I write, while it is still very likely that I make mistakes sometimes. At the same time we cannot just automatically assume the SDA Bible Commentaries are right either. Please read what the writers of the SDA Bible Commentaries wrote themselves,
  
  "For such errors as may appear in these volumes we plead not only the indulgence of the reader but also his [or her] cooperation, so that future printings may come ever near to perfection. -Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 1 Page 17.
  
  and also,
  
  This commentary is published with no thought of presenting a creed or determining for all time the denominational interpretation of any passage of Scripture. Neither the contributors nor the editors possess either the power or the desire to do so. Let this fact be clearly understood at the outset. -Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 1 Page 18.
  
  While the SDA Bible commentaries are definitely helpful they are not the standard that we test or prove our beliefs with or against. Of course neither is anything I write automatically correct either. That is why we keep studying the Word of God and letting the Holy Spirit lead. I did check the SDA Bible Commentaries to see if the phrase "took them all away" in verse 39 regarding the wicked in Noah's time had the same meaning as when used in verses 40 and 41. The SDA Bible Commentaries had no information on how the word was used in verse 39 compared to verses 40 and 41, And I think that would be helpful.
  
  Either way as the Commentaries point out even if it is the righteous who are taken to heaven it still is no secret as the context of Matthew 24 is all about the widely visible second coming and not a secret rapture.
  
  Meanwhile on a different note, According to 2 Timothy 3:16 we must use Scripture when correcting people and not the notes in the Bible commentaries, as helpful or insightful as they may be. Of course the commentaries are written by several well educated people who know a lot more than me, so we shall keep studying with an open mind. It also seems to me that Luke 17 is consistent with my current understanding of Matthew 24. At the same time your observations are noteworthy so we shall continue studying with an open mind. Thank you again for your thoughts and kind words.
  
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  - R. G. White on September 25, 2021 at 2:34 pm said:
    
    Thank you, William, for an excellent article and explanation. I too have been inclined to see the "taken" ones as the wicked who are taken away by the calamity that Christ's second coming would be for them. However, Takae's remarks have made me curious enough to check the question out for myself.
    
    I find that "airo" is not always used in the negative sense of removal. It is used to describe picking up the leftover loaves and fish, picking up the dead Eutychus, and picking up the skiff in Acts 27 -- all of which are cases of picking things (or people) up for their preservation. So this word has a very broad range of applications.
    
    On the other hand, "paralambano" seems always to refer to either receiving a doctrine, a kingdom, a person, etc. or bringing a person or group to a place where you yourself are going, such as Satan bringing Jesus to the top of the temple, for instance.
    
    Since I am, of course, no linguistic expert, the passive voice used in the "one will be taken, and the other left" statements creates a bit of uncertainty in my mind. However, it seems likely that it must be an actual person who is bringing the "taken" ones to a place where he himself is going. This would support the suggestion that the righteous are the ones "taken" to heaven, while the wicked are left to their destruction.
    
    Nevertheless, as you have pointed out, this question is not critical to the truth that this separation of the two classes is carried out in a most visible, audible, and catastrophic fashion, according to the immediate context and the rest of Scripture.
    
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- honorio Sagmayao on November 17, 2022 at 12:22 am said:
  
  Yes, the explanation of the discussion regarding what is to be taken is contrary to What I know as the belief of the SDA Church. Here in this discussion, it was told that those that are taken are the wicked for their destruction and those that are left behind are the righteous to inherit the earth. Looks like the writer or the discusser is from Jehovah's Witnesses congregation. I hope this will be corrected.
  
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Richard Johnson on September 26, 2021 at 9:39 am said:

Thank you Pastor William, because as I have always pictured this, it was the lost who were left, but it clearly does say, just as in the days of Noah the lost were taken away. And so we must let the Bible explain it self. Even if it is the saved that are taken from this world, they were not taken from the presence of Christ with the loss of life.

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- R. G. White on September 26, 2021 at 8:09 pm said:
  
  Indeed, Richard, the "taking" of the redeemed is described in detail in I Thessalonians 4. At the glorious return of Christ, they are caught up (literally raptured) with the risen saints to meet the Lord in the air, and thus to always be with Him! It's no secret affair, and they never die.
  
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William Earnhardt on September 26, 2021 at 8:41 pm said:

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and ideas!

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YVETTE JAMES-BROWN on September 27, 2021 at 5:38 am said:

Thank you for sharing again. However, I find the first part of your discourse re Matthew 13 somewhat confusing. Why would God remove the wicked at this time? At Christ's coming, the wicked who are alive will be slain and will not live again until the thousand years are ended. The only rapture, which is by no means secret, will take place here when the righteous are taken up in the air to be with the Lord.
My understanding is that what Jesus said in Matthew is summarized in 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17.

May God enlighten us as we study his words.

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- William Earnhardt on September 27, 2021 at 7:21 am said:
  
  Thank you for your question Yvette. I did not comment on Matthew 13 at all. Are you referring to the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13? As far as your questions about where the wicked are taken, if my understanding is correct, then the way I understand it is the wicked are taken to destruction at the end of the thousand years. It is the meek who inherit the earth and remain after the wicked are destroyed. Meanwhile I believe Isaiah 24:1 and Jeremiah 25:33 sheds more light on where they are during the thousand years. This study may be helpful. https://inlightofthecross.com/2013/06/20/the-millennium-in-light-of-the-cross-with-new-translation/
  
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Brenda Joseph on September 28, 2021 at 6:23 pm said:

Im no bible scholar at all. However, it does appear that this is open to interpretation. I agree with ms.Brown.

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E. O. Ochieng' on November 18, 2022 at 6:26 am said:

All of us have different understanding and reception of the post, but hey family, with or without bible commentary, let's not forget what is said in Daniel 12:4 ''knowledge shall increase''. Day by day, God gives us light that we can contain.

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Sherry Person on May 2, 2023 at 7:25 am said:

“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)

“In the day of the Lord, just before the coming of Christ, God will send lightnings from Heaven in His wrath, which will unite with fire in the earth. The mountains will burn like a furnace, and will pour forth terrible streams of lava, destroying gardens and fields, villages and cities; and as they pour their melted ore, rocks and heated mud into the rivers, will cause them to boil like a pot, and send forth massive rocks and scatter their broken fragments upon the land with indescribable violence. Whole rivers will be dried up. The earth will be convulsed, and there will be dreadful eruptions and earthquakes everywhere. God will plague the wicked inhabitants of the earth until they are destroyed from off it.” (Spiritual Gifts, Volume 3, page 82, paragraph 3)

“Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Matthew 24:41)

“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.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

I agree with the Sabbath School lesson. When two or more shall be standing together, the wicked shall be taken by fire and the righteous shall be left. Then the righteous shall be taken into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

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