Question: The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ - Is There a Difference? According to some Bible scholars, prophetic Scriptures seem to speak of two separate events—the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ. The Rapture will occur when Jesus Christ returns for his church. This is when all true believers in Christ will be taken from the earth by God into heaven (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The Second Coming is when Jesus Christ returns with the church to defeat the antichrist, overthrow evil and then establish His thousand year reign (Revelation 19:11-16). Answer: In the study of Eschatology, these two events appear to be similar but separate. Both happen during the end times and both describe a return of Christ. Yet there are key differences. The following is a comparison of the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ, highlighting the key differences noted in Scripture. 1) Meeting in the Air - Versus - Returning with Him In the Rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air. • 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (NIV) In the Second Coming, believers return with the Lord. • Revelation 19:14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. (NIV) 2) Before Tribulation - Versus - After Tribulation The Rapture will happen before the Tribulation. • 1 Thessalonians 5:9 • Revelation 3:10 The Second Coming will happen at the end of the Tribulation. • Revelation 6-19 3) Deliverance - Versus - Judgment In the Rapture believers are taken from the earth by God as an act of deliverance. • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 • 1 Thessalonians 5:9 In the Second Coming unbelievers are removed from the earth by God as an act of judgment. • Revelation 3:10 • Revelation 19:11-21 4) Hidden - Versus - Seen by All The Rapture, according to Scripture, will be an instantaneous, hidden event. • 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 The Second Coming, according to Scripture, will be seen by everyone. • Revelation 1:7 5) At Any Moment - Verses - Only After Certain Events The Rapture could happen at any moment. • 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 • Titus 2:13 • 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 The Second Coming wont happen until certain events take place. • 2 Thessalonians 2:4 • Matthew 24:15-30 • Revelation 6-18 Of course, as is common in Christian theology, there are conflicting views regarding the Rapture and the Second Coming. One source of confusion over these two end times events comes from the verses found in Matthew chapter 24. While speaking of the end of the age, I believe this chapter references both the Rapture and the Second Coming. However, its important to note, the purpose of Christs teaching here is for believers to be watchful and live each day as though Christs return is imminent. The message is simply, Be Ready. More About End Times
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 22:13:10 +0000
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