Bible Questions Answered:
When does scripture say that the rapture, the second coming of Christ will be?
Terrance C./ Big Rapids, Michigan
Bible Answer:
The Rapture of the Church (has already been discussed elsewhere in this blog), and the Second Coming of Christ are two different events.
The rapture of the church (the bride) of Jesus Christ, could be at any moment.
Notice the following scripture:
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet Him ahead of those who have died.
16 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.
17 Then, together with them, we who are (Born-Again) still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
18 So encourage each other with these words.
This is an heavenly elopement. The Lord Jesus does not set foot on earth, He meets His Bride in the air.
Are you ready to meet Him?
The first Coming of Christ (to earth) was His birth in Bethlehem.
The Lord's Second Coming (to earth) will be when He returns to end the battle of armageddon (Revelation 16:16). The final battle of men against men.
Revelation 19:11-21 NLT
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for He judges fairly and wages a righteous war.
12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns. A name was written on Him that no one understood except Himself.
13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and His title was the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed Him on white horses.
15 From His mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.
16 On His robe at His thigh* was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: "Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared.
18 Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals, and strong warriors; of horses and their riders; and of all humanity, both free and slave, small and great."
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army.
20 And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
21 Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.
After ending this final war of man against man, the Lord Jesus begins His Millennial reign (of peace and righteousness) on earth.
To leave all of this in some perspective, here are the order of events yet coming...
(The signs of Matthew 24:)
Rapture of the church (Marriage Supper of the Lamb, in heaven. The Bema Seat, giving of rewards for the righteous.)
Tribulation period (A seven year period ending in the Armageddon war.)
Second Coming (Christ and His armies of heaven return to earth.)
Millennium (One thousand years of peace on earth. Christ and His church rule and reign from Jerusalem.)
Great White Throne Judgment (of the lost.)
A New Heaven and a new Earth (wherein dweleth righteousness.)
