Many evangelical Christians have been taught that the Rapture could happen at any time. All those who died in Christ would be resurrected and given a new body. But the lucky ones are those who will be alive when Jesus returns, and they will be caught up from Earth to meet Him in the air. They would never have to face the horrors of death. Their bodies will be instantly transformed, and they will be taken to enjoy the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Unfortunately, many who believed and taught this Divine Hope have since "gone on to glory" without fulfilling their dream of being raptured. Or so we would assume. Was their dream of passing from this Earth without tasting death unfulfilled? What if they experienced some other event, something just as wonderful as the rapture, when their lives ended? I believe the Scriptures teach that they never truly tasted death. Their bodies may have ceased to function, but they were too preoccupied with the Divine Kiss to even notice.
I have carefully considered this rapture business. If the rapture occurs during my lifetime, I would choose to remain behind. I would rather tell the Lord, "I appreciate the opportunity to escape from this Great Tribulation and to bring my existence on Earth to such a glorious end through the rapture. But, you know, God, why should I escape the blessings of suffering for my faith? If it's all the same to You, I would like to stick it out during that tribulation period and see how many others I can bring into faith in You. All I ask is that I receive the Divine Kiss when that final moment comes."
When I taught Bible college, I would share these thoughts with my classes, and many of my students would be aghast at the idea of passing up the rapture. But, I discovered a little secret through my studies of the Scriptures in the biblical languages-a secret experienced by Aaron, Moses, and many of our biblical heroes. Our Jewish brothers and sisters call it the Divine Kiss. I am persuaded that the Divine Kiss is every bit as glorious and wonderful as the rapture of the church, so much so that I call it the Secret Rapture.