Rejecting The Secret Rapture

The Revival Fellowship

Delivered By Pastor Brad Smith on 13th October 2024. Before we disprove the "secret rapture", let us look at the teaching... 1. The rapture takes place when Jesus suddenly and secretly comes to the earth to gather all "born again" Christians to heaven. Importantly, this occurs without warning or sign -- and literally happen any day now. 2. According to most proponents, the rapture includes both living Christians and those "dead in Christ". A minor view holds that the rapture is only for those Christians alive in the last days. 3. The rapture occurs before the onset of "the" Great Tribulation -- hence, it is often called the pre-Tribulation rapture. Thus, Christians are spared the horrors of the Great Tribulation (this seems to be the motive behind the teaching). 4. Depending on the particular school of thought, "the" Great Tribulation -- described as a time of unprecedented trouble on the entire world -- lasts either three and one half years, or seven years. 5. After "the" Great Tribulation, Jesus will "officially" and visibly return to fight in the great Battle of Armageddon. Factual points to consider... The word 'rapture' {secret or otherwise} is not used in the scripture... the rising of the overcomers at Christ's return is the reference. "Great Tribulation"... there is no such thing as 'THE' Great Tribulation... the word 'the' is not used. "Antichrist"... neither is 'THE' Antichrist a specific person... 'the Antichrist' is not used in Revelations. 'Antichrist' (antichristos) as a word has a simple meaning... 'anti-' (against or instead of) & -christ (the anointed or anointing). It is not a person, but rather a doctrinal attitude towards the anointed or the anointing. A PDF copy of the talk notes is available at: https://www.brf.org.au/articles/articles.jsp?category=9