I don’t believe the Bible teaches there will be “a rapture” for the following reasons.
1. The word “rapture” is not in the Bible.
2. It is said that the rapture will be a “secret” coming of Christ, but the verses cited as being the ones that primarily talk about “a rapture” say that Christ will come with a “loud command”, “the voice of the archangel”, and a “trumpet will sound”! (1 Thes. 4:16-17)
3. Some mention Matthew 24. In this context, 3 questions were asked and answered. The questions in verse 3 are:
“When will these things be?” (“These things” = destruction of temple: verse 2)
What will be the signs of your coming?
What will be the signs… of the end of the age?
4. The answer about the destruction of the temple and the destruction of Jerusalem is included from verse 4 through 36.
It refers to “those days”.
It refers to signs.
Instructs believers to flee to hills. (Why would it matter if they were in the hills or in the city if this is speaking of a rapture? The same with those being with child and it being in winter. Why would this matter if it was talking about a rapture?)
It says that this will happen in “this generation”.
This was accomplished in 70 AD.
5. The answer to the question about the end of the age (end of time) begins in verse 37.
Instead of “those days” it tells about “that day”.
It says there will be no signs.
No one knows when it will happen.
The righteous shall be rewarded in that day and the evil will be assigned a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
6. “Rapture” teaches that the righteous will be taken away and the sinful will be “left behind”.
Matthew 24 teaches that some will be taken and others left. It will be “just like the days of Noah” (verse 37).
In the days of Noah, normal life was going on. (verse 38)
Then the flood came and “took them all away”.
The evil were taken away (swept away) by the flood. (Verse 39)
“So shall the coming of the son of man be” (verse 39).
It will be Sudden. Without prior warning.
Jesus shall come and the evil will be told, “Depart from me” (Matt 25:41)
The evil will be taken away and the righteous will be left in the presence of Jesus. (In the place to which Jesus has come.)
The “Rapture” doctrine has the wrong ones being “taken”.
7. The flood of Noah was not a “secret” or quiet event where the evil did not see it when it happened.
Many people have predicted the rapture at various dates.
The Bible, however, says that if a person predicts something and it does not come to pass, then they have spoken presumptuously, they are a false prophet, and therefore we should not listen to them.
“When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.” (Deut 18:22)
Among those who have predicted the rapture is Hal Lindsey.
He predicted it would happen in 1988. He said the righteous would be taken away by Christ, and the evil would be left behind.
Well 1988 has come and gone, and Hal Lindsey is still with us! This leaves only two possibilities.
Either Hal Lindsey is a false prophet, in which case we should not listen to him!
OR
The rapture happened just like he said, and he was left behind, which by his own teaching, would mean he is not a true follower of God!
Either way, he does not look too good!
When Jesus returns, the Earth will be destroyed. (2 Peter 3:10) There will be no earth for anyone to be "left behind" on. It will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, just like the flood in the days of Noah. Normal life will continue right up to the end, and then Christ will come suddenly, the earth will be destroyed, and we will each face our judgment.