TWO DISTINCT PHASES OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

A Comparison Between the Rapture (Pre-tribulational Coming) and the Second Advent (Post-tribulational Coming)

1. TIME

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

2. QUICKNESS

1. RAPTURE--in a "moment" (Greek-"atom," a split-second, literally "uncut, indivisible," we divide and cut time into years and months and days and hours and minutes and seconds, but the smallest measure of time is an "atom" of time which we might call a split-second), in the blinking on an eye (1 Cor. 15:52). It is very sudden. It will happen before people will realize it is happening (even as it was with Enoch, see Gen. 5:24; Heb. 11:5). An example of a man being raptured away suddenly so as to be seen no more is found in Acts 8:39 (where the Greek word for rapture, harpazo, is used).
2. SECOND ADVENT--slow enough for people to realize and see what is happening (Mt. 24:27; Rev. 1:7; Ps. 2:2; Rev. 19:19). 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)

1. RAPTURE--UNKNOWN DAY. The Lord Jesus will surely come for His Church (John 14:3) but we do not know when (compare 1 Jn. 2:28 and 3:2 where the subjunctive mood is used indicating that while the fact of His coming is sure, the time of His coming is unsure). The rapture is imminent which means that He may come at any time. 
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). See Rev. 11:2,3; 12:6,14; 13:5; 2 Th. 2:8 (Antichrist destroyed at 2nd coming). Of course, this "known day" cannot be known or calculated by anyone until the treaty is signed (Dan. 9:27).

4. PRECEDING SIGNS

1. RAPTURE--NONE (Ti. 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). There is much that must be fulfilled before Christ returns to the earth (such as all the events in Rev. 6-18).

ILLUSTRATION: The rapture can be likened to Thanksgiving (a holiday without signs) and the second advent can be likened to Christmas (which is preceded by all kinds of signs). When you see the signs of Christmas (decorations, lights, trees, etc.) then you can be sure that Thanksgiving will take place at any time. If Christmas is near then Thanksgiving must be even nearer!

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 JUDGEMENT

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 FROM THE EARTH 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). See Mt. 24:38 where the unbelieving world in Noah's day was taken away in judgment.

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. chapters 19-20)

10. THE BODIES OF LIVING BELIEVERS

1. RAPTURE--church age believers are raised (those who have died) and are translated and "changed" (those who are living) with the result that they have 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.