THE RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING

THE RAPTURE OF BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS

*  1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 - "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.  For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:  and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:  and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words....But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you.  For yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction will come upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  You are all the children of light, and the children of the day:  we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are drunk, are drunk in the night.  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.  For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we are awake or we are asleep, we should live together with Him.  Wherefore, comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as you also have been doing."  [Note:  See also John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:48-54]

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

*  Matthew 24:27-30 - "For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven:  and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." 
*  2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 - "For the mystery of iniquity is already at work: only He who now allows it,  will continue to allow it, until He is taken out of the way.  And then shall that Wicked One be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming."
*  Revelation 1:7 - "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him:  and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen."  [Note:  All Scripture is SLV (Skip's Lighthouse Version)]