Many people confuse the rapture of the Church with the second coming of Christ. The term "rapture" does not appear in older Bible translations, but it means "to be caught up," which is found in Scripture.
The Rapture of the Church
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 explains that the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, the dead in Christ will rise first, and believers who are alive will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This sudden event will transform believers (1 Corinthians 15:51-52) as they are taken from the earth.
The rapture is not Christ’s return to earth but a gathering of believers to Him in the air. It precedes a period of great tribulation.
The Second Coming of Christ
Unlike the rapture, the second coming of Christ involves His return to earth with the saints (Jude 14-16). Jesus comes to execute judgment upon the ungodly. This is distinct from the rapture, where believers meet Christ in the air.
In Matthew 24:3, the disciples asked Jesus about the signs of His coming and the end of the world. Jesus described great tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22) and cosmic disturbances (Matthew 24:29-31). After the tribulation, Christ will appear in power and glory, gathering those who believed during that time.
The Tribulation and Return of Christ
After the rapture, the Antichrist will rise and make a seven-year treaty with Israel, breaking it midway and initiating severe persecution (Daniel 9:27). The great tribulation follows. The rapture is expected before this tribulation, as seen in biblical patterns (Genesis 7:7-17; Genesis 19:15-25).
At the end of the seven years, Christ returns with the saints to defeat evil at the Battle of Armageddon. He will establish His millennial reign of peace, and Satan will be bound for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-3).
Conclusion
Believers should prepare for the rapture, not just the second coming. Those left behind will endure tribulation but may still turn to Christ. The rapture is our blessed hope, ensuring that we will be with the Lord before the coming judgment.
"Therefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
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