THE TWO DISTINCT PHASES OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST!

A Comparison and Contrast Between: 

the Rapture (Pre-tribulation) 

and the Second Advent (Post-tribulation)!

1. TIME

1. RAPTURE--before the tribulation (Rev. 3:10). 
2. SECOND ADVENT--after the tribulation (Mt. 24:29-30; Rev. 19:11-16).

2. QUICKNESS

1. RAPTURE--in a "moment" - in the blinking on an eye (1 Cor. 15:52).  
2. SECOND ADVENT--slow enough for all people to see what is happening (Mt. 24:27; Rev. 1:7; Ps. 2:2; Rev. 19:19). 

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

1. RAPTURE--UNKNOWN DAY. Even the Lord Jesus did not know exactly when (Mk. 13:32); if He knew when the Rapture would take place, then He would have known exactly when His Second Coming would occur.  
2. SECOND ADVENT--KNOWN DAY. The date of the second coming can be calculated to the very day. It will occur 2520 days (7 years, or 84 months, each month made up of 30 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; also see Rev. 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14; 13:5; 2 Th. 2:8).

4. PRECEDING SIGNS  

1. 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. The only thing we are waiting for is the completion of the church (Mt. 16:18; Rom. 11:25), and only God knows when this will be.
2. SECOND ADVENT--MANY (Mt. 24:3-28; Rev. Ch. 6-18). 

5. VISIBILITY

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

6. LOCATION

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

7. ASSOCIATED JUDGMENT

1. RAPTURE--the judgment seat of Christ (2 Tim. 4:1,8; 1 Pet. 1:7).
2. 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

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

9. PURPOSE OF CHRIST'S COMING

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

10. THE BODIES OF LIVING BELIEVERS

1. RAPTURE--church age believers are raised (those who have died; followed by those still living) and are "changed" and are given immortal, resurrection bodies (1 Cor. 15:52-53; 1 Th. 4:17).
2. SECOND ADVENT--believers who survive the tribulation enter the kingdom in natural bodies (Mt. 25:23), and these believers will eventually bear children and re-populate the earth. 

BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS WILL EXPERIENCE THE RAPTURE!

UNBELIEVERS WILL EXPERIENCE GOD'S WRATH 

FOLLOWED BY THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT!

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU PLACE YOUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST NOW!