The pre-trib "secret rapture" theory says Christ's coming is "imminent", and can happen "at any moment." And for that reason, we don't have to be watching the events leading up to His return, but just be ready to fly away. And also, because we believe, Christ's wrath is not appointed upon us.
Let's see what Apostle Paul taught on that idea. Do you fit Paul's condition here so as to not experience Christ's wrath?
1Thes 5:1-10
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
What are those "times and the seasons" Paul speaks of? It's simply the signs and type of events our Lord Jesus gave us to be watching leading up to His coming. Are you watching that? Or are you content that Christ will rapture you out whenever He does come, so you simply go about your daily grind? Yet these Thessalonians Paul spoke to showed they already knew "the times and the seasons", and even understood that Christ's coming on the day of The Lord will happen "as a thief in the night".
But who will His coming be like that upon, as a thief breaking in at night? Those in Christ? Nope, it's not supposed to be like that for us who stay on watch like our Lord Jesus commanded us to do.
3 For when they shall say, "Peace and safety"; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
This "they" means the deceived. Paul says when they start saying, "Peace and safety" like real world peace has come, it's then that a "sudden destruction" will come upon THEM. Paul gives the "travail upon a woman with child" metaphor. God's Word uses that travail as a child idea as a spiritual metaphor to show deception. It's not about real women who have birth pangs in child labor. That "Peace and safety" represents a deception upon the deceived. It will be because they did not know what the times and the seasons were, and were not watching like our Lord said to do.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Here Apostle Paul shows that those who stand in Christ are not to be in darkness, that that day should overtake us as a thief breaking in at night. That's the opposite idea of thinking Christ's coming is to be "imminent", or at "any moment" like the pre-trib rapture doctrine teaches.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Since we are not in darkness, we are commanded to "not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." So if one is NOT watching the times and the seasons leading up to Christ's coming, then it means to be in "darkness"! Simple, watch the times and the seasons of Christ's coming and you won't be in darkness; don't watch and you will be in darkness.
Boldly put, it means a believer CAN be in spiritual darkness if they are not watching the signs of Christ's coming. If you don't stay on watch, and spiritually sober as to the times and events happening, you can be in darkness and put yourself among the children of the night.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
When that false "Peace and safety" does come, many will misunderstand it, and will be spiritually drunken in it, thinking all is well and Salvation has finally come, for it involves the coming of a false messiah playing God. Those who are spiritually asleep will welcome it, and be in darkness as to the times and seasons, and will NOT be watching for Christ's coming. Many will instead think that false messiah is Christ having come, so no need to wait anymore they'll think.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
(KJV)
Our Lord has not appointed His servants to His wrath that He will pour out upon the wicked. So does that mean just forget about the warning Paul just gave in the previous verses to remain spiritually sober, not alseep, and on watch? Does that mean watching the times and the seasons isn't required?
The bottom line is:
Stay watching the times and the seasons our Lord Jesus and His Apostles gave leading up to His return and you won't be in darkness. Christ's coming as a thief will not take you by surprise.
But don't watch, not knowing the times and the seasons, and you'll definitely be in darkness along with the children of the night. Christ's coming will then indeed surprise you as a thief breaking in at night.
Let's see what Apostle Paul taught on that idea. Do you fit Paul's condition here so as to not experience Christ's wrath?
1Thes 5:1-10
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
What are those "times and the seasons" Paul speaks of? It's simply the signs and type of events our Lord Jesus gave us to be watching leading up to His coming. Are you watching that? Or are you content that Christ will rapture you out whenever He does come, so you simply go about your daily grind? Yet these Thessalonians Paul spoke to showed they already knew "the times and the seasons", and even understood that Christ's coming on the day of The Lord will happen "as a thief in the night".
But who will His coming be like that upon, as a thief breaking in at night? Those in Christ? Nope, it's not supposed to be like that for us who stay on watch like our Lord Jesus commanded us to do.
3 For when they shall say, "Peace and safety"; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
This "they" means the deceived. Paul says when they start saying, "Peace and safety" like real world peace has come, it's then that a "sudden destruction" will come upon THEM. Paul gives the "travail upon a woman with child" metaphor. God's Word uses that travail as a child idea as a spiritual metaphor to show deception. It's not about real women who have birth pangs in child labor. That "Peace and safety" represents a deception upon the deceived. It will be because they did not know what the times and the seasons were, and were not watching like our Lord said to do.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Here Apostle Paul shows that those who stand in Christ are not to be in darkness, that that day should overtake us as a thief breaking in at night. That's the opposite idea of thinking Christ's coming is to be "imminent", or at "any moment" like the pre-trib rapture doctrine teaches.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Since we are not in darkness, we are commanded to "not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." So if one is NOT watching the times and the seasons leading up to Christ's coming, then it means to be in "darkness"! Simple, watch the times and the seasons of Christ's coming and you won't be in darkness; don't watch and you will be in darkness.
Boldly put, it means a believer CAN be in spiritual darkness if they are not watching the signs of Christ's coming. If you don't stay on watch, and spiritually sober as to the times and events happening, you can be in darkness and put yourself among the children of the night.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
When that false "Peace and safety" does come, many will misunderstand it, and will be spiritually drunken in it, thinking all is well and Salvation has finally come, for it involves the coming of a false messiah playing God. Those who are spiritually asleep will welcome it, and be in darkness as to the times and seasons, and will NOT be watching for Christ's coming. Many will instead think that false messiah is Christ having come, so no need to wait anymore they'll think.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
(KJV)
Our Lord has not appointed His servants to His wrath that He will pour out upon the wicked. So does that mean just forget about the warning Paul just gave in the previous verses to remain spiritually sober, not alseep, and on watch? Does that mean watching the times and the seasons isn't required?
The bottom line is:
Stay watching the times and the seasons our Lord Jesus and His Apostles gave leading up to His return and you won't be in darkness. Christ's coming as a thief will not take you by surprise.
But don't watch, not knowing the times and the seasons, and you'll definitely be in darkness along with the children of the night. Christ's coming will then indeed surprise you as a thief breaking in at night.