[toiwnz]

Concerning this subject, some christians are getting there doctrine from popular fiction novels and movies. These authors and directors give a few verses to support their claim but when you put those verses with the all of the other verses of scripture you can see that it's not a secret. You don't find in scripture where only believers will see him. You don't find in scripture of a second and third coming. I think the big question is the timing. A lot of people believe Jesus' coming is before the tribulation. Here are just a few scriptures. When you take a single scripture or two out of context of the entire Bible then you support almost any doctrine.

Revelation 1:7-Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen

Matthew 24:27-For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be

Matthew 24:30-And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Psalm 50:3-Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

These are just a few scriptures that speak of the visible and audible return of Christ. I'm sorry to say that there is not any mention of a two phase coming of Christ. In fact there is mention of just the opposite in scripture. Look at these verses.

Matthew 13:24-30, 39-40
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

Matthew 13:47-49
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

These two sets of scripture speaks volumes against a two phase second coming or a secret coming. Jesus himself said that the two groups of people would grow together until the end of the world. Later in the book Jesus speaks of the gathering and seperation plainly. Look at this scripture

Matthew 24:31-And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other

I have seen this scripture used to give claim to a secret rapture or a two phase coming. But you can't take this scripture out by itself. As seen with the other two, Jesus said the two groups would grow together until the end and then he will send his angels to seperate and gather. If we really think about this secret rapture or two phase coming we will find many other things that go against scripture. One question that I've always asked is "if we are going to be taken away before the tribulation then why study what's going to happen in the tribulation? We won't be here so why study about it" The doctrine of a secret rapture is escape route. The scripture tell us that we will go through tribulation. Jesus even said this in Mark 13. All throughout church history the body has been persucuted. To try and save our lives now goes against scripture. Scriptures are clear we will go through trials and tribulations in this life. But Jesus spoke volumes about trying to save our lives and leave this world. Look at these scriptures.

Matthew 16:25-For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it

John 17:14-16-14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world

As we have seen the destruction that's going on in the world now (earthquakes, cyclones, wars, gay marriages). These are the signs of the times and Jesus said that it's just the beginning. Things are going to get worst. Think about the witnessing opportunity we will have when all these plagues, destruction, and judgment begin.