The Rapture

OK...here's something that doesn't make sense to me about this *mythical "rapture"*:

Paul writes specifically in Romans:

Romans 6 : 3-5

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Peter compares Baptism to the flood in 3 : 20-22

_....when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, *were brought safely through water.* *Baptism*, which corresponds to this, *now saves you*, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, *through the resurrection of Jesus Christ*, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him._

So, when I read 1 Corinthians 15 : 51-57

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

and Philippians 3 : 20-21

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

I simply see this as the Last Day fulfillment of Christ's promise...the Day he returns in Judgement...and He will Judge me Righteous because he has already Judged me in my Baptismal Death! Then He will Resurrect or Transform me...depending on whether I am dead or alive when He arrives.

Yet, Evangelicals have allowed Satan to steal the true meaning and purpose of Baptism and turn it into some sort of act of obedience...when Scripture is clear that Baptism is God's work in and to us.

Martin Luther wrote about Baptism:

In these words you must note, in the first place, that here stand God's commandment and institution, lest we doubt that Baptism is divine, not devised nor invented by men. For as truly as I can say, No man has spun the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer out of his head, but they are revealed and given by God Himself, so also I can boast that Baptism is no human trifle, but instituted by God Himself...

...For it is of the greatest importance that we esteem Baptism excellent, glorious, and exalted, for which we contend and fight chiefly, because the world is now so full of sects clamoring that Baptism is an external thing, and that external things are of no benefit. But let it be ever so much an external thing, here stand God's Word and command which institute, establish, and confirm Baptism. But what God institutes and commands cannot be a vain, but must be a most precious thing, though in appearance it were of less value than a straw....

_...*For to be baptized in the name of God is to be baptized not by men, but by God Himself*. Therefore, although it is performed by human hands, *it is nevertheless truly God's own work*. From this fact every one may himself readily infer that it is a far higher work than any work performed by a man or a saint. For what work greater than the work of God can we do? *But here the devil is busy to delude us with false appearances, and lead us away from the work of God to our own works*..._

...Therefore let it be decided that Baptism always remains true, retains its full essence, even though a single person should be baptized, and he, in addition, should not believe truly. For God's ordinance and Word cannot be made variable or be altered by men. But these people, the fanatics, are so blinded that they do not see the Word and command of God, and regard Baptism and the magistrates only as they regard water in the brook or in pots, or as any other man; and because they do not see faith nor obedience, they conclude that they are to be regarded as invalid. Here lurks a concealed seditious devil, who would like to tear the crown from the head of authority and then trample it under foot, and, in addition, pervert and bring to naught all the works and ordinances of God. Therefore we must be watchful and well armed, and not allow ourselves to be directed nor turned away from the Word, in order that we may not regard Baptism as a mere empty sign, as the fanatics dream.

So, since most Evangelicals have allowed Satan to steal from them the glorious redemptive work of God in Baptism...I can understand why it must be replaced with something else. So, men have concocted this "silly little rapture" to sew their theology back together.

...and THEN...just to add silliness to silliness....they call it a "secret rapture" when 1 Thessalonians 4 : 15-17 says

For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

and Jesus Himself says in Matthew 24 : 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.

Bright lights, a loud command, voice of the archangel, trumpet of God, Jesus riding on a cloud...that's hardly coming in secret. So, my options are to conclude one of two possibilities:

1) Jesus and the Apostles are liars about Baptism and Christ's return

or

2) This secret rapture isn't Biblical and a heresy i should avoid at all costs

UMMMM...I'm going with option #2. At least I know I'm not calling my Lord a "Liar" and an "Idiot".