READING TIME: 2-3 MINUTES
November 21, 2019
What are the differences between the Rapture and the 2nd Coming/Advent?
1. Rapture – Christ comes for His own, His bride – Jn. 14:3; 1 Thess. 4:17; 2 Thess. 2:1
Second Coming – Christ comes with His own (believers and angels) – Zech. 14:5; Matt. 25:31; 1 Thess. 3:13; 2 Thess. 1:7; Jude 14; Rev. 19:7, 8 with 19:14
2. Rapture: He comes and meets believers in the air (in five of its seven occurrences in the NT it means the atmosphere – Acts 22:23; 1 Cor. 9:26; 14:9; Rev. 9:2; 16:17; Hiebert, 202) – 1 Thess. 4:17
Second Coming – He comes to the earth and sets foot on the Mount of Olives – Zech. 14:4; Acts 1:11
3. Rapture – He claims His bride (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25-27; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 19:7-8)
Second Coming – He comes with His bride (1 Thess. 3:13; Col. 3:4; Rev. 19:7, 8 with 19:14)
4. Rapture – Removal of believers – Jn. 14:3; 1 Thess. 4:17
Second Coming – Manifestation of Christ (2 Thess. 1:7) and removal of unbelievers (Matt. 24:40-41; 25:41, 46; Luke 17:34-35)
5. Rapture – Only believers will see Christ – it is private – Heb. 9:28; Acts 1:11
Second Coming – Every eye will see Him – it is public – Rev. 1:7
6. Rapture – there is no timetable for this event
Second Coming – this event ends the seven-year tribulation – Matt. 24:29-30
7. Rapture – believers are rewarded – 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 22:12
Second Coming – unbelievers are judged – Matt. 25:41, 46; 2 Thess. 1:8-9
8. Rapture – this event is a source of comfort and hope to the believer – 1 Thess. 4:18; Titus 2:13
Second Coming – this event is a source of terror for the unbeliever; this message is accompanied by a message of judgment – cf. Is. 2:19-21; Rev. 6:15-17
9. Rapture – there are no changes in nature associated with this event
Second Coming – there are many changes in nature associated with this event – Zech. 14:4-8
10. Rapture – this event is a mystery of the Church Age – 1 Cor. 15:51
Second Coming – this event is the subject of extensive prophecy in the OT and NT
11. Rapture – the unconditional (but the blessings associated with the covenants are conditional) covenants like those with Abraham and David are not fulfilled at this time
Second Coming – the covenants are fulfilled at this event and during the Millennium – Israel inherits her possessions – cf. Rom. 11:28-32
12. Rapture – there is no dealing with Satan or demons at this event
Second Coming – at this event the Antichrist and the False Prophet are thrown into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 19:20) and Satan is bound for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-3).
13. Rapture – Saved are delivered from wrath – 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9
Second Coming – Unsaved experience the wrath of God (2 Thess. 1:6-10)
14. Rapture – no signs precede rapture; it is imminent
Second Coming – a multitude of signs and events preceding this event – Luke 21:11