The Rapture

The Second Coming of Christ

Jesus comes to fetch the Church: 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; John 14:1-3

Jesus comes with the Church : Colossians 3:4; Zechariah 14:5 ; Jude 1:14; Rev 19:14

We will meet him in the air: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Jesus will physically stand on the earth:  Zechariah 14:4; Revelation 19:11-21

Those who believe shall be taken away; those who do not believe will remain behind: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

 Those who did not believe will be taken away; those who are saved during the tribulation will remain: Matthew 13:28-30

Only genuine Christians will see Jesus Christ:

1 John 3:2

Every eye will see Him : Revelation 1:7

Can happen at any time:  Revelation 3:3;  

1 Thessalonians 4:14-16

Happens at the end of the seven years of tribulation: Daniel 9:24; Matthew 24:29-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8

Happens in an instant: 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Everybody will see Him coming - slower process: Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7

Jesus does not come on a white horse

(none mentioned).

Jesus comes on a white horse: Revelation 19:11

Purpose is for Jesus to come and take His Church and to present it to God: Revelation 19:6-9;

2 Corinthians 11:2

Purpose is for Judgement and to establish His kingdom on the earth: Jude 1:14-15; Revelation 19:1-21; Zechariah 14:3-4

Rapture only for the Church: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18;

Second coming is for the saved Jew and Gentile (all who were saved during the tribulation)

When, in Revelation, is the Church in heaven?

The clue one can look at, is the question of crowns and rewards:

1Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

2Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Now observe Revelation 4:4 :And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

In Revelation chapter 3, we have the Church still on earth. In Rev 4:4, we have the HUMAN elders who have already received their reward; so the church must be taken to heaven somewhere between Revelation 3 and Revelation 4:4.

Rapture and 2nd Coming - Known and Unknown Day

Unknown Day:

Mat 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Known Day:

The timetable of the end is clear : It begins with the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15,16) , then follow 1260 days (Rev 12:6) or otherwise stated three and a half years (Rev 12:6). The End comes with Christ coming back to earth in Revealtion 19:20.

Thus the KNOWN day is NOT the same as the UNKNOWN day.

Is Jesus the rider on the white horse in Revelation 6:2 ?

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Answer : Read Revelation 6:1 !!

 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

The Lord Jesus is opening the seals, so it CANNOT be Him. He comes only in Revelation 19 !

Article by Paw Creek Ministries regarding the rapture:  The Great Battle For The Rapture

THE JUDGEMENTS OF MAN

1) Believer as to sin:

When:   Crucifixion

Place:   Calvary

Basis:   Christ's "finished work"

Result:  Dead to sin; justification of believer

Judgement is PAST

Refs: Rom 10:4;  Rom 8:1,2; John 5:24

2) Believer as to works:

When:    After Church is caught out

Place:    Judgement seat of Christ ("in the Air")

Basis:    Their works

Result:    Reward or loss

                      (believer RETAINS his salvation)

Judgement is FUTURE

Refs: 2 Cor 5:10; 1Cor 3:11-15;  1 Thess 4:15,16

3) Jews

When:    Great Tribulation

Place:   Jerusalem and surrounds

Basis:    Rejection of the Godhead:  (i) rejection of God the Father [1Sam 8:7]; (ii) of God the Son [Luke 23:18];

                  (iii) of God The Holy Spirit [Acts 7:51,54-60]

Result:    Conversion and Reception of Christ as their Messiah

Judgement is FUTURE

Refs: Ezek 20:34-38, 22:19-22;  Jer 30:4-7; Dan 12:1; Matt 24:21-31; Zech 14:1-11, 12:10; Isaiah 66:8;

Rev 15:1,5-8 to 16:1-21

4) Nations

When:    Revelation of Christ ("2nd Coming")

Place:   The "Throne of His Glory"; valley of Jehoshaphat

Basis:   Treatment of Christ's brethren, the Jews

Result:   Some nations "saved", others "destroyed"    [the believers always saved - no mater what nation]

Judgement is FUTURE

Refs: Matt 25:31-46; Joel 3:1,2

5) Wicked Dead:

When:   During the renovation of the earth by fire

Place:   Before the "Great White Throne"

Basis:   Works

Result:  Cast into the Lake of Fire

Judgement is FUTURE

Refs: Revelation 20: 11-15

COMPARISON BETWEEN 4TH & 5TH JUDGEMENTS

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