The "Rapture"

This chapter is not meant to be an attack on Evangelical Christians or anyone who believes in the "Rapture". The term Rapture is not mentioned in the Bible, not even once.

The Bible states in Luke 17: 36 that there are "two in the field one shall be taken." This is where this belief comes from and it is true at one point there will be "one in the field will be taken and the other left." The Bible does not state this will be before the white horse of the apocalypse shows up.

It is wishful thinking by Christians that this "Rapture" will take place before the Apocalypse so they will not have to go through the Tribulation that is coming.
When reading Bible prophecies it is understandable that people would want to avoid the events talked about in Revelation. I have heard this stated many times by many different people.

Jesus states that his Elect will have to endure the Apocalypse in Matthew 24:22 "...but for mine Elect's sake those days shall be shortened." Who is going to be "Raptured" if not God's Elect?

Again this is not meant to attack anyone's belief. It is my concern for those who believe this and then when the Apocalypse begins and these people have not been "Raptured" what is going to happen to their faith in God or their belief system at that point. Even if they do not lose their faith, they will not be mentally, physically or spiritually prepared for the difficult times ahead.

If God is going to "Rapture" all of his elect, then why would the Ancient Prophets spend so much time writing about the events leading up to the Second Coming? They also admonish us to watch for the signs and to be prepared for them.

Why would they do that if everyone who believes them will be Raptured before the events even take place? They have done this so that we can be prepared for the tribulation and events that follow when they take place. We need to be prepared for these events so that we will be able to endure them.

Jesus also states in Matthew 24: 15 that when we "see the Abomination of Deselation, spoken by Daniel the Prophet stand ye in a holy place". Why would Jesus tell us this if we were all going to be raptured before this event takes place.

Wishing to be Raptured before these events take place will only leave people unprepared for them when the "Mark of the Beast" law is passed. It will also leave people unprepared when the Tribulation takes place. It is better to be prepared for the worst than to sit around hoping that somehow you will not have to endure the Apocalypse.

Look at it this way: If you are prepared for the Second Coming and you are correct and you end up being "Raptured" then you have not lost anything. If you sit around waiting to be taken up to heaven and the "Rapture" does not take place when you expect it to then you will be unprepared and it could end up costing you your life and/or the lives of your loved ones.

In Jude 1:14, it states that the Lord "cometh with ten thousands of his saints." So the Rapture will take place just before the Second Coming and this is when there will be "two in the field and one shall be taken."
Those who are living are to be taken up with those who are dead in Christ to meet The Lord when he will descend from heaven.
We read in 1 Thessalonians 4: 14 - 17:
"14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say until you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 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."

This verse in Thessalonians clearly states that the "Rapture" will take place at the time of the Second Coming because the Lord will be descending from heaven and we will meet him in the air with those who are dead in Christ.