THE RAPTURE, THE TRIBULATION, AND THE SECOND COMING

The Rapture or "God's catching away" of the Church

The first three chapters of the Book of Revelation mention the words "church" or "churches" nineteen times in eighteen verses [1:4, 11, 20 (2x); 2:1, 7, 8, 11, 12, 17, 18, 23, 29; 3:1, 6, 7, 13, 14, 22].  The Church is not mentioned again until Revelation 22:16, and there it refers back to the first verse of the book.  Most conservative Bible scholars believe that in Revelation 4:1, John serves as a picture of the Rapture of the Church (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:50-51; 1 Th. 4:16-17; etc.).   

The Tribulation or "God's disciplining" of Israel

It is clear from the content of Revelation, chapters six through eighteen, that they are a detailed description of the Time of Jacob's Trouble (Jer. 30:7), also known as Daniel's Seventieth Week (Dan. 9:24-27),  and the Tribulation (Mt. 24:3-28).  Jeremiah refers to the Tribulation as being the troubling of Jacob (Israel).  Daniel's prophecy speaks of the 483 years from the decree to build the Temple, until the "cutting off" (killing) of the Messiah.  Seven years remain of the 490 years (seventy weeks), and the Tribulation is the seventieth seven-year period, divided into forty-two months; 1260 days; a time, times, and a half time, or three and a half years  (Dan. 9:27; 12:7; Mt. 24:15; Rev.11:2, 3; 12:6; 13:5).

The Second Coming of Israel's Messiah, their King   

 

Chapter nineteen of the Book of Revelation describes Christ's Second Coming.  Notice that "...the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean" (Rev. 19:14)!  The Church is at least part of this innumerable "army" for two reasons:  1) the Church is described as being thusly clothed (Rev. 3:4-5; 19:8); and 2) Jesus promised believers would forever be with Him (Jn. 14:3; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 1 Th. 4:17; etc.)!

 

This event terminates the seven-year Tribulation, and begins Christ's fulfillment of prophecy of Israel's Messiah being of the lineage of David (Ps. 132:11; Isa. 9:7; 16:5; Jer. 23:5; Mt. 1:1, 20; 9:27; 12:23; 15:27; 20:30, 31; 21:9, 15; 22:42; etc.)!  Jesus shall rule on this earth for 1000 years (Rev. 20:1-7).

 

A warning to believers and non-believers alike!

 

If you are a born again believer in Jesus Christ, you should be sharing your faith with the lost when Jesus returns.  Even in the Lord's Supper, we are told we are baring witness to the First and Second Comings of Christ (1 Cor. 11:26)!  I am sure you long to hear Him say to you, "well done My good and faithful servant" (Mt. 25:23)!

 

If you have never acknowledged that you are a sinner, and turned to Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, you don't want to put it off - He could return even while you are reading this!  Trust God who proved His love for you by sacrificing His only begotten Son for you!  Do it now, right where you are.  Don't risk waiting until you can go to some church and walk an aisle.  Time is short!