The verse you quote refers to the public second coming of Jesus - not the (secret) “rapture”. All the evidence suggests that the idea of a rapture of the Faithful **before **the tribulations of the end-times, originated in Protestantism in the personal “Revelation” supposedly had by a scottish girl, Margaret Macdonald, in Port Glasgow, sometime in the 1830s. She spoke of the “secret return” of Jesus for the faithful. This was taken up by an ex-Anglican priest named John Nelson Darby (1800-1882), and found its way into the notes of Schofield reference Bible, which was very influential among Victorian evangelicals.
The problem with this teaching is that it requires a secret. hidden 3rd coming of Christ to “rapture” His Church out of the world prior to a 7 year Tribulation where no one will see Him but those being raptured.
However the bible teaches 2 comings of Christ, not 3. The first has come. The second will be when EVERY eye will see Him come in the clouds . . . There is no teaching in the bible that Christ comes to get His Church and hides Himself from all eyes .
In fact a pre-tribulation “rapture” of Christians is specifically denied in the Gospels.
Matthew 24.7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: 8 all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs. 9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come. 15 "So when you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; 17 let him who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house; 18 and let him who is in the field not turn back to take his mantle. 19 And alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
In other words, the Tribulation is to be shortened for the sake of Christians. Christians will not be raptured away to escape the Tribulation.
23 Then if any one says to you, ‘Lo, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Lo, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Lo, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; if they say, ‘Lo, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 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.
Christ will return only in glory, not secretly. There is only **one **second coming.
28 Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together. 29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; 30 then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, 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; 31 and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Jesus returns and gathers the elect after the tribulation.
