Many modern Christian Pastors preach a coming "Rapture" that goes something like this: Before tribulation comes, Jesus Christ Returns again (But Secretly) "raptures up his church" so that a giant population of the world is missing, and then there are people "Left Behind" to deal with the devil and go through tribulation. And then, at a later time, Jesus comes back visibly (Which makes it a Third Return) and only at this time does he destroys the devil and the wicked.
The belief is that the church is "raptured" up to heaven and doesn't have to face the trying times that are to come on the earth, but truth is, we have been in tribulation, are currently in tribulation and will continue to be in tribulation until Christ returns (A Second Time Only)
John 16:33
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Matthew 24: 29-30
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ 30 At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory
Commentary: This notion of a pre-trib rapture is a fairly new notion in church history. It's a 19 century notion popularized by John Nelson Darby which means it's a new idea that has been imposed onto the Scriptures. It's not actually found in the scriptures but for some reason people like the imposition and run with it. What we're going to do is have a look at what the Scriptures actually say about the coming of Christ.
Old Testament: Isaiah 13:9-11 See, the day of the LORD is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.
New Testament: Revelation 19:11-16 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
Commentary: We can see from both the old and new testament Prophecies that God is coming in wrath to destroy the wicked regardless of their status. and to make the earth desolate Let's take a look at more Scripture.
Old Testament: Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.
New Testament: Luke 21:36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.
Commentary: We're told to seek the Lord and do what he commands, to be humble and pray that we might be able to escape this day of disaster and to be sheltered by God. Now let's go over the Scriptures that people misinterpret about being "Left Behind" and explain what it really means by simply reading straight through the Scriptures in context. Let's read carefully.
Matthew 24:37-42 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Commentary Pause: Now who did the flood come and take away? The sinners right? It goes on to say that is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man) Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
Commentary: So we see this parallel between the days of Noah and the coming of Christ. the coming of Christ is compared to the coming of the flood that was in Noah's day which took away all the sinners who were not ready, and who were not even expecting a flood. Just as many people today are not ready or even expecting the coming of Christ. The Matt. 24 passage gives different scenarios where one is being taken and the other is left. If the parallel is to the days of Noah, that can only mean that the taken are those taken in judgement, not raptured up to heaven. We're told to watch and be ready for we do not know at which hour the Lord will come.
It says in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
Commentary: The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night in the fact that just as no one knows when a thief will show up, so no one will know the day that the Lord will show up. This is in no way saying that Christ will Come and go in secret, but it's saying that no one knows the day of his return. But when he does return, it will be very visible and in Power and Great Glory.
Matthew 24:36
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Matthew 24:27
27 For as the lightning that shines from the east is also visible from the west, so will the coming of the Son of man be
Revelation 1:7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.