The Rapture Revelation: Our Blessed Hope Part 1 :: By James Pannafino

Titus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

The Rapture and Second Coming are similar but separate events.

Both involve Jesus returning. Both are end-times events. However, it is crucially important to recognize the differences.

What is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming?

• The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ are often confused.
• Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether a scripture verse is referring to the Rapture or the Second Coming.
• However, in studying end-times Bible prophecy, it is very important to differentiate between the two.

The Rapture is when Jesus Christ returns to remove the church (all believers in Christ) from the earth.

• The Rapture is described in *1 Thess. 4:13-18 and *1 Corinthians 15:50-54.
• Believers who have died will have their bodies resurrected and, along with believers who are still living, will meet the Lord in the air.
• This will all occur in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye.

The Rapture is a message of hope and comfort.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will 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 thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

1 John 3:2-3 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Our Final Victory

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

The Second Coming is when Jesus returns to defeat the Antichrist, destroy evil, and establish His millennial kingdom.

• The Second Coming is described in *Revelation 19:11-16.

Revelation 19:11-14, 16 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns… His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses… And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

There are some very important differences between the Rapture and Second Coming:

• At the Rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
• At the Second Coming, believers return with the Lord to the earth (Rev. 19:14).
• The Rapture occurs before the tribulation (i.e., wrath/judgments of God) takes place (*1 Thessalonians 5:9; *Revelation 3:10; 6:17; 11:18).
• The Second Coming occurs after the tribulation (i.e., wrath/judgments of God) takes place. (Revelation chapters 6–19)

1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Revelation 3:10 “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

• The Rapture is the removal of believers from the earth as an act of deliverance (1 Thess. 4:13-17, 5:9; cf. *Luke 21:36).
• The Second Coming involves the removal of unbelievers as an act of judgment (*Matthew 24:38-39).

Luke 21:36 “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Matthew 24:38-39 “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

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