Thanks to modern, critical, Bible “scholars,” such as Hank Hanegraff, more and more sheeple’s heads are in a spin over the dismantling of doctrines. The confusion arises when we fail to rightly divide the Word of Truth.
For example, when reading Matthew 24, it is of utmost importance to recognize to whom the Lord is speaking. Is He addressing the church? No! There is a distinct difference between the earthly kingdom, which was promised to the Jews, and the heavenly kingdom, promised to the church.
This is why I am astounded, and not a little dismayed to see the obsession that Christians have with the identity of anti-Christ. Numerous books, websites, and movies are generated with fantastic, extra-biblical themes relating to the man of sin. And the worst thing about it is – it steals attention away from our proper focus – our Savior, the living Word of God. If you want to go through The Great Tribulation (not to be confused with the persecutions and tribulations that Christians are experiencing now) then – more power to you. But you should know, that the Great Tribulation is designed to bring the Nation of Israel to a state of repentance, and to punish the ungodly – not to torture and abuse the Bride of Christ before the wedding!
28 distinctions between the Rapture and the Second Coming
| The Rapture | The Second Coming |
| At the Rapture, Jesus comes FOR His Church. (John 14:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17) | At the Glorious Appearing (Second Coming), Jesus comes WITH His Church. (Zechariah 14:5, Colossians 3:4, Jude 14, Revelation 19:14) |
| At the Rapture, Christians are caught up to meet Jesus in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) | At the Glorious Appearing, Jesus’ feet touch the earth (Zechariah 14:4, Revelation 19:11-21) |
| At the Rapture, Christians are taken first and unbelievers are left behind. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) | At the Glorious Appearing, the wicked are taken first, but the righteous (the tribulation saints) are left behind. (Matthew 13:28-30) |
| At the Rapture, Jesus will gather His Bride, the Church, unto Himself in preparation of the Marriage of the Lamb. (Revelation 19:6-9) | At the Glorious Appearing, Jesus will execute judgment on the earth and establish His Kingdom. (Zechariah 14:3-4, Jude 14-15, Revelation 19:11-21) |
| The Marriage of the Lamb takes place in Heaven AFTER the Rapture of the Church. (Revelation 19:6-9 | War on earth comes AFTER the Marriage of the Lamb at the Glorious Appearing when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords lays the smackdown on evil! (Revelation 19:11-21) |
| The Rapture will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (Blink. It’s over!). (1 Corinthians 15:52) | The Glorious Appearing will be a slow coming. Everyone will see Jesus coming with great power and great glory! (Zechariah 12:10, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7) |
| At the Rapture, only those who are looking for Him (Christians) will see Him. (1 John 3:2, 1 Corinthians 15:52) | At the Glorious Appearing, every eye will see Him and those who have rejected Him will wail. (Revelation 1:7) |
| At the Rapture, Jesus will descend from Heaven with a shout (calling for the saints at the resurrection). (1 Thessalonians 4:16) | At the Glorious Appearing, no shout is mentioned, although the Lord does slay the wicked with the sword of His mouth. (Revelation 19:11-21) |
| At the Rapture, a resurrection will take place. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54) | At the Glorious Appearing, there is no resurrection spoken of. (Zechariah 12:10, Zechariah14:4-5, Revelation 1:7, 19:11-21) |
| The Rapture can happen at any time…maybe even now which is why we are to be WATCHING for the return of Jesus Christ! (Revelation 3:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6) | The Glorious Appearing will occur at the end of the seven-year tribulation period. (Daniel 9:24-27, Matthew 24:29-30, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8) |
| At the Rapture, no angels are sent to gather the Church. | At the Glorious Appearing, angels will be sent to gather people together for judgment. (Matthew 13:39, 41 & 49, Matthew 24:31, Matthew 25:31, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10) |
| At the Rapture, those who died in Christ will return with Jesus to recover their resurrected bodies. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-16) | At the Glorious Appearing, Christians will return with Jesus already in their resurrected bodies riding on white horses. (Revelation 19:11-21) White horse for Jesus or no white horse for Jesus? |
| At the Rapture, Jesus doesn’t return riding a white horse. | At the Glorious Appearing, Jesus will return riding a white horse. (Revelation 19:11) |
| The Rapture will bring with it a message of hope and comfort. (1 Thessalonians 4:18, Titus 2:13, 1 John 3:3) | The Glorious Appearing will bring with it a message of judgment. (Joel 3:12-16, Malachi 4:5, Revelation 19:11-21) |
| World is deceived. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12) | Satan is bound. (Revelation 20:1-2) |
| Focus: Lord and Church. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) | Focus: Israel and Kingdom. (Matthew 24:14) |
| No signs precede Rapture. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3) | Signs precede Second Coming. (Luke 21:11,15) |
| Tribulation begins. | Millennial kingdom begins. |
| Removal of believers. (1 Thessalonians 4:17) | Manifestation of Christ. (Malachi 4:2) |
| Jesus claims His bride. | Jesus comes with His bride. (Revelation 19:6-14) |
| Marriage Supper Of The Lamb follows the Rapture. (Revelation 19:9) | The Great Supper of the wicked follows the Tribulation. (Revelation 19:17) |
| The world will not see Jesus at the Rapture; but rather, believers ascend go to meet Him in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:17) | Jesus will descend bodily and visibly for all to see, just as He ascended bodily and visibly. (Acts 1:9-11) |
| The Judgment Seat Of Christ follows the Rapture. (2nd Corinthians 5:9-11) | The Judgment of the Nations follows the Tribulation (Matthew 24:32-46) |
| Believers receive a new, immortal, glorified body fashioned like unto the Lord’s. (Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54) | Saints saved during the Tribulation enter into the Millennial kingdom with their earthly bodies. (Isaiah 65:20) |
| The Antichrist is revealed after the Rapture. (2 Thessalonians 2:8) | The Antichrist is defeated and cast into the Lake of Fire at the Second Coming. (Revelation 19:20) |
| Israel is persecuted during the Tribulation. Two-in-three Jews in Israel are killed. (Zechariah 13:8-9) | Israel is regathered. (Jeremiah 23:5-8) |
| World government (New World Order) follows the Rapture. (Revelation 13:15) | Christ’s reign and government follows the Second Coming. (Daniel 2:34-35) |
| World famine, pestilence, war and sorrow follow the Rapture. (Matthew 24:6-10; Luke 17:31) | World peace follows Christ’s Second Coming when He reigns from Jerusalem (Isaiah 11:6) |
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
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And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
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But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
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But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.
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If you are truly born again – this world is NOT your home! You are working in the fields until the harvest.
The Great Tribulation is a time of intense judgements, “A time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that time,” Dan. 12:1 and the earth will be under severe judgement, with a cataclysmic worldwide earthquake, and will be purified with fire – instead of water as in the former worldwide judgement.
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, or if you are unsure about your salvation, please ask Him now. Tell Him that you know you are a sinner, and ask Him to save you. Say – “Lord, I am dirty and lost. I feel alone, and desperate. I believe that You are my only hope, and my only salvation. I believe that You died for me, and I ask You, now, to be my Savior, and live inside me. I open the door of my heart to You. Thank you, Jesus.”
If you prayed that prayer, and meant it in your heart of hearts, you are now a part of the family of God and all the angels in heaven are rejoicing! You have the wonderful assurance of a home in heaven with our blessed Redeemer.
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Isaiah 26:20-21
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