https://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2016/11/insight-into-bible-prophecy-58-jesus.html
INSIGHT INTO BIBLE PROPHECY #58
Jesus' Coming: Loud and Visible
by David Vaughn Elliott
Ever
notice the complete title and subtitle of the initial "Left Behind"
book? "Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days." A novel! Indeed!
Those who know their Bible have known all along that the fantasies
claimed for the "rapture" were just that: a novel.
For
example, they claim it will be secret, that the people supposedly left
behind on earth will have no understanding of how and why so many people
disappeared.
A
leading "proof text" for the rapture theory is I Thessalonians 4:13-18.
What does it say about secret? "For the Lord Himself will descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the
trumpet of God." Shout! Voice of an archangel! Trumpet of God! Hardly
your typical covert operation.
Long
before Paul wrote, Jesus had already specifically warned his disciples
not to believe the false prophets who would claim His return to be a
secret, hidden affair. "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in
the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not
believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the
west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matthew 24:26,27). A
very public event for all to witness.
If
someone tries to explain to you that Jesus was seen by those "with the
eyes of understanding" in 1914, do not believe him. If someone else,
just as falsely, tries to convince you that Jesus will secretly snatch
away the believers without the world knowing what happened, do not
believe him. No TV newsperson will have to tell anybody of the return of
Jesus. It will be like the lightning: visible to all. No explanations
needed. Everyone will know it is the end.
Novels may be captivating best sellers; but we would be wise to reject them in favor of the all-time-best-seller: the Bible.