Unfortunately, many Christians believe in a secret rapture, although this viewpoint is not supported by the Bible. It is a false doctrine not supported by even one verse in the Bible. Although the word ‘rapture’ does not appear in the Bible, it does describe the concept of a rapture, meaning that the saved are caught up to meet the Lord in the air. That concept is biblical, but it will not be a secret. Fortunately, the Bible does explain what will happen when Jesus returns.
Here are some Bible scriptures (KJV) that explains what happens at the second coming of Jesus Christ and makes it very clear that when Jesus comes it will not be a secret event. The very popular secret rapture is not biblical and can not be supported by the Bible. [Bold and underline added for emphasis]
2 Peter 3:10, “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.”
Acts 1:9-11, “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “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: 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.”
Revelation 16:18, “And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.”
Revelation 16:20-21, “And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.”
Matthew 25:31, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:…”
That was only six references in the Bible concerning the second coming of Jesus Christ and there are many more. By reading these verses it is obvious that this event will not be a secret. It will be visible, it will be real, it will be loud, and it will be destructive to the earth.
Here are some videos concerning the second coming of Jesus Christ by Pastor Doug Batchelor.
If you want to study this topic in more detail, then go to our Bible Study page, where you will find helpful links to resources that can assist you.