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Carazaa This is what I have observed from my studies:
The differences between the Rapture and the Second Coming are very crucial to know, because according to Bible prophecy, the Rapture could take place at any time.
Scripture provides confirmation that Christ's Second Coming , comes in
two phases. The purpose of the rapture: First, the Rapture is when Jesus Christ returns to
remove the Church (all believers in Christ) from the earth, BEFORE the Tribulation period begins. Jesus promised to save believers from "the wrath to come", the Great Tribulation.
To come; literally,that which is coming, denoting its absolute certainty! 1st Thessalonians 1:10.
The Rapture is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. First, all
believers (those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior) who have
already died, will have their bodies resurrected from the grave, and, along with believers
who are still living, shall
meet the Lord in the air. This will all occur in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye. So fast, we won't even have time to think about changing into our spiritual bodies. Now notice carefully, the contrast between the two events: In the
2nd Coming, Christ comes back to earth with His army of BELIEVERS, and actually touches the earth! He intercedes on behalf of His
chosen people in the Battle of Armageddon, to defeat the Antichrist, destroy evil, and establish His millennial kingdom, described in Revelation 19:11-16. Christ
always protects His children!
Following is a summary of the important differences between the Rapture and Second Coming:
1) At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At the Second Coming, believers from the rapture, return with the Lord, to the earth (Revelation 19:14).
2) However, the Second Coming of Christ, occurs
during the last half of the 7-year tribulation. That is, the
last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation period, when He steps in and rescues Israel from their enemies (Revelation chapters 6–19). The Rapture occurs
before the Tribulation period (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).
3) The Rapture is the removal of all born-again believers from the earth, as an act of
deliverance from the tribulation period. (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 instantaneous! (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). The Second Coming will be
visible to all on earth. (Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29-30).
5) The Second Coming of Christ will not occur until 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).
The rapture shall immediately usher in the Great Tribulation period, before the time of God’s wrath towards
all who mocked, laughed, and cursed Him. The Second Coming is to bring the tribulation to an end and to defeat the Antichrist and his evil world empire.
Mark 13:35 ~ "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at evening, or at midnight, or at the morning."
