SECRET RAPTURE
Back to Alphabetical Index | Back to Chapter IndexThe false teaching of a secret coming of Christ is known to most as the Secret Rapture, and it is believed almost universally by professing Christianity. However, the coming of Christ will not be a secret to the elect nor will it be a silent event.
The beginnings of the Secret Rapture theory seems to have come from Emanual Lacunza who had become a Chilean Jesuit in 1747. When the Jesuits were expelled from Chile, Lacunza settled north of Italy where he devoted the remainder of his years to writing 'The Coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty', in which he speculated that Christ will come twice: once for his saints and again with his saints.
Although Lacunza had actually stumbled onto a Biblical truth, his speculation was to be the catalyst for the doctrine of the Secret Rapture. There does not seem to be any literature referring to a secret coming of Christ until after 1830 when many began to come forth with the concept of a secret coming. Among those who taught this concept were the Anglican Curate J.N. Darby, Newton, George V. Wigram, Andrew Jukes, and J.P. Tregelles.
The Secret Rapture Theory
Although there are many variations of the Secret Rapture theory, most who believe this theory believe that Christ will return twice:
First Return
Second Return
THE BIBLICAL FACTS OF CHRIST'S COMING
The biblical facts clearly show the following two returns of Christ:
First Return
Second Return
The Bible shows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that when Jesus returns to gather the elect of God, the event will neither be secret nor silent. The Secret Rapture theory is just that; it is a theory.