My view on the Rapture
First I want to say, believing or not believing in the Rapture does not get you to heaven. It is a sincere repentant heart and a belief that Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary, died on the cross for our sins, rose again and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.
I once also believed that Christians would escape the tribulation and be raptured up into the sky to be with the Lord. That theory came crashing down on me seven years ago when I couldn't get around it no matter how hard I tried on how does Jesus come back 3 times when the scripures says the second coming. In other words He only comes back twice. I watched the left behind videos and embraced the teaching of ministers that we will be raptured. So I started studing the scriptures and searching out the matter on my own with the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Contrary to popular belief, the theory of the rapture began in the early 1830’s According to this belief, in stage one, Christ would be coming for the saints. In stage two, he would be coming with the saints. The stage one would be a pre-tribulation rapture, allowing select people to go to heaven and cool their heels, while the rest of the population suffered through the tribulation. This, strangely enough, is the origin of the very popular rapture theory that has been the message behind the “Left Behind” books and movies
So who invented the Rapture?
It may come as a surprise but the doctrine of the Rapture is not mentioned in any Christian writings, of which we have knowledge, until after the year 1830 C.E. Whether the early writers were Greek or Latin, Armenian or Coptic, Syrian or Ethiopian, English or German, orthodox or heretic, no one mentioned it before 1830 (though a sentence in Pseudo-Dionysius in about 500 C.E. could be so interpreted). Of course, those who feel the origin of the teaching is in the Bible would say that it ceased being taught for some unknown reason at the close of the apostolic age only to reappear in 1830. But if the doctrine were so clearly stated in Scripture, it seems incredible that no one should have referred to it before the 19th century.
This will be the actual events of the Second Coming:
1. Visible (Every eye will see Him) Revelation 1:7 "Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him,
2. Literal: (actural, true to the fact) Acts 1:9 "And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight". ( in other words in like manner you will see him come)
3. Powerful: (Strong) Matthew 24:30 "Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory"
4. Audible: (With a voice) 1 Thessalonians 4:16 "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the sound of the trumpet of God.
5. Inevitable: (Sure to occur, unable to avoid, clear as day) Matthew 24:27 "For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man
6. Joyful: (Happy) Isaiah 25:9 "It shall be said in that day, Behold our God upon Whom we have waited, and hoped, that He might save us! This is the Lord, we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation"
When will it happen- (At the last trumpet). 1 Corinthians 15:52 says "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumphet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed."
How will it happen- (Like the days of Noah were). Luke 17:26 "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man". Read Luke 17:26-37 and Genesis 7:21-24
Who will gather up the elect-(The angels). Matthew 24:31 "And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of heaven to the other".
Where will the wicked be taken- (Destruction). Luke 17:36-37 "Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left, Then they asked Him, Where Lord? He said to them, where ever the dead body is, there will the vultures or eagles be gathered together".
I pray that you reconsider what you have been taught all your life about the rapture and that you understand that we should be preparing for Christ return now. In spite of what you believe, the Church should be teaching the saints how to prepare for persecution and tribulation today. Not after because it is already going on in China, India, muslim countries and other parts of the world that you don't hear about. Even in the early church days they were being persecuted for their faith. Don't be caught unaware, watch and pray, for you don't know when the Son of man will come.