Question: "What is the difference between the Rapture
and the Second Coming?"
Answer: The rapture and the second coming of Christ are
often confused. Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether a scripture
verse is referring to the rapture or the second coming. However, in studying
end-times Bible prophecy, it is very important to differentiate between the
two.
The rapture is when Jesus Christ returns to remove the
church (all believers in Christ) from the earth. The rapture is described in 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. Believers who have died will
have their bodies resurrected and, along with believers who are still living,
will meet the Lord in the air. This will all occur in a moment, in a twinkling
of an eye. The second coming is when Jesus returns to defeat the Antichrist,
destroy evil, and establish His millennial kingdom. The second coming is
described in Revelation 19:11-16.
The important differences between the rapture and second
coming are as follows:
1) At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air (1
Thessalonians 4:17). At the second coming, believers return with the Lord to
the earth (Revelation 19:14).
2) The second coming occurs after the great and terrible
tribulation (Revelation chapters 6–19). The rapture occurs before the
tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).
3) The rapture is the removal of believers from the earth as
an act of deliverance (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 5:9). The second coming
includes the removal of unbelievers as an act of judgment (Matthew 24:40-41).
4) The rapture will be secret and instant (1 Corinthians
15:50-54). The second coming will be visible to all (Revelation 1:7; Matthew
24:29-30).
5) The second coming of Christ will not occur until after
certain other end-times events take place (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew
24:15-30; Revelation chapters 6–18). The rapture is imminent; it could take
place at any moment (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians
15:50-54).
Why is it important to keep the rapture and the second
coming distinct?
1) If the rapture and the second coming are the same event,
believers will have to go through the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9;
Revelation 3:10).
2) If the rapture and the second coming are the same event,
the return of Christ is not imminent—there are many things which must occur
before He can return (Matthew 24:4-30).
3) In describing the tribulation period, Revelation chapters
6–19 nowhere mentions the church. During the tribulation—also called “the time
of trouble for Jacob” (Jeremiah 30:7)—God will again turn His primary attention
to Israel (Romans 11:17-31).
The rapture and second coming are similar but separate
events. Both involve Jesus returning. Both are end-times events. However, it is
crucially important to recognize the differences. In summary, the rapture is
the return of Christ in the clouds to remove all believers from the earth
before the time of God’s wrath. The second coming is the return of Christ to
the earth to bring the tribulation to an end and to defeat the Antichrist and
his evil world empire.
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