Secret Rapture

Secret Rapture Theory

Below are frequently asked questions on the secret rapture.

Secret rapture FAQ 1: 1 Thessalonians states that Jesus Christ comes with all His saints. Doesn’t that mean there must be a secret rapture for this to be the case?

No. The misunderstanding that occurs here is in the translation of the word “saints.” It more accurately should have been translated as “most holy ones” but saints was apparently easier to write.

1 Thessalonians 3:13 “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”

Have a close look at the Strong's and Thayer dictionary for the definition of the Greek word used for “saints” in the above verse.

Strong's Definition:
G40 άγιος
hagios
Pronounced “hag'-ee-os”
From άγος hagos (an awful thing) compare G53, [H2282]; sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated): - (most) holy (one, thing), saint.

Thayer Definition:
G40 άγιος
hagios
1) most holy thing, a saint
Part of Speech: adjective
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from hagos (an awful thing) [compare G53, G2282]
Citing in TDNT: 1:88, 14

Albert Barnes notes on the Bible also sheds some light on who these saints are described in 1 Thessalonians 3:13.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible Albert Barnes (1798-1870)
With all his saints - With all his “holy ones” - των αγίων ton hagion. The word includes his “angels,” who will come with him Matthew 25:31.

So we find the Bible informs us who these saints are that come with Jesus and thus the Bible does not contradict itself. So read for yourself in Matthew 25:31 below and find out who these most holy things are that come with Jesus Christ that were misleadingly translated as saints.

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:”

As a result, we also find that there is silence in heaven for half an hour when Jesus Christ returns as described in the verse below.

Revelation 8:1 “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.”

Why is there silence in heaven for half an hour? Because there is no one there! Chapter seven tells us who will be able to stand when He comes but does not give an account of His personal appearing the second time. Thus we find here that the seventh seal is the second coming of Christ.

You also find in Revelation 4, 5, and 6 that there is continual praise in heaven and hence no silence. So the reason there is silence at this time is because there is no one there accept for the Father. When Jesus Christ comes the second time all the most holy angels are with Him. (Matthew 25:31) All the angelic host accompanies Christ to earth and so there is silence in heaven.

When looking at the passages in regards to the second coming, we find that they are in reference to Jesus Christ and not the Father. God the Father is never described as coming with Christ to the earth at the second coming. Hence we can only conclude that our Father awaits in heaven for the return of Jesus Christ and all the redeemed.

In Bible prophecy, symbols extend to the second coming of Christ. This means that the day for a year principle is still in use and so a day still equals a year. So how long would half an hour be then?

There are 24 hours in a day, so half an hour would be 1/48 of a day. There are 360 days in a Biblical year and thus 24 hours/1 day = 360 days/1 year. Thus 1 hour = 15 days (360 ÷ 24), and ½ hour = 7½ days (15 ÷ 2).

So the length of time for the silence in heaven is 7½ days. Half a day is taken for Jesus Christ and all the most holy angels to come from heaven to earth, to resurrect the righteous dead, translate the living righteous, and destroy the wicked that are living at that time by the brightness of His coming. It then takes seven days for the righteous, the angelic host, and Christ to get back to heaven. See also Revelation Bible Prophecy on chapter 8.

Please feel free to add a question to the most frequently asked questions on the so called secret rapture.