THE RAPTURE AND SECOND COMING

1. TIME

RAPTURE--before the tribulation (Rev. 3:10). The church will be kept out of that hour or time of testing which will come upon the whole world.   SECOND ADVENT--after the tribulation (Mt. 24:29-30).

2. QUICKNESS

RAPTURE--in the blinking on an eye (1 Cor. 15:52). It is very sudden. It will happen before people will realize it is happening.  SECOND ADVENT--slow enough for people to realize and see what is happening (Mt. 24:27). The second coming of Christ to the earth will be visible and obvious to all. No one will miss it.

3. DATE (THE DAY ON WHICH IT WILL TAKE PLACE)

RAPTURE--UNKNOWN DAY (Mk. 13:32).  SECOND ADVENT--KNOWN DAY. The date of the second coming can be calculated to the very day. It will occur 2520 days from the time that Antichrist makes a treaty with Israel (Dan. 9:27) and it will occur 1260 days (3½ years) from the time of the abomination of desolation (Mt. 24:15).

4. PRECEDING SIGNS

RAPTURE--NONE (Tit. 2:13; Rev. 22:20; etc.). He may come for His Church at any time and nothing needs to be fulfilled before He comes.   SECOND ADVENT--MANY (Mt. 24:3-28; Rev. ch. 6-18).

5. VISIBILITY

RAPTURE--Christ seen only by the church (1 Th. 4:17; 1 Jn. 3:2).  SECOND ADVENT--Christ seen by every eye (Rev. 1:7; Mt. 24:24-27).

6. LOCATION

RAPTURE--in the air (1 Th. 4:17).  SECOND ADVENT--on the earth (Zech. 14:4; Acts 1:11).

7. ASSOCIATED JUDGEMENT

RAPTURE--the judgment seat of Christ (2 Tim. 4:1,8; 1 Pet. 1:7).  SECOND ADVENT--destruction of the wicked armies (Rev. 19:17-19) and the judgment of living nations (Mt. 25:31-46).

8. IDENTITY OF THOSE REMOVED AND THOSE REMAINING ON THE EARTH

RAPTURE--Believers are removed; unbelievers remain (1 Th. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; Jn. 14:3).  SECOND ADVENT--Unbelievers are removed; believers remain (Mt. 24:37-41; Lk. 17:34-37).

9. PURPOSE OF CHRIST'S COMING

RAPTURE--to receive His bride (Jn. 14:3; 1 Th. 4:17).  SECOND ADVENT--to receive His kingdom (Lk. 19:22; Rev. ch. 19-20).

10. THE BODIES OF LIVING BELIEVERS

RAPTURE--both dead and living believers will be changed (1 Cor. 15:52-53; 1 Th.. 4:17).  SECOND ADVENT--believers who survive the tribulation enter the kingdom in natural bodies (Mt. 25:23), and will re-populate the earth.