What is the Difference Between the Rapture and the Second Coming?
These two events are often confused by definition and also in time. When spoken of, one will often hear that these events are one and the same yet they are not. The rapture and the second coming are two different distinct events with two different purposes. One removes the Church from earth while the other removes the unbelievers for judgment before the Millennial Kingdom.
It is easy to confuse which event some passages of Scripture is referring to at times. Nevertheless when read in context we can see which event Scripture is speaking of as to who it applies to, and the purpose it serves. A review is given here to these two ideas, its application as to who it is for and the purpose.
Where Christ Returns Matters
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which 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.
Within the rapture Jesus returns to the atmosphere where we the believers meet Him in the air and are taken by Christ to Heaven. Jesus does not return to set foot on the earth. One could call it a “fly by” event. Its purpose is the removal of His people from this world to protect them from judgment and present His bride to the Father.
Revelation 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Revelation 19 is dedicated to the Second Coming of Christ. Verse 14 details that the church follows Christ from Heaven back to earth. The purpose of His return is to destroy the antichrist and armies then remove the unbelievers from the earth. This is done before Jesus establishes His Millennial Kingdom.
Who Jesus Returns for Must be Recognized
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
The rapture happens rapidly, in the twinkling of an eye as described by 1 Corinthians. This is further described by the word “harpadzo” in Greek where we get the words “caught up” defining the rapture. Harpadzo is to snatch or to take away as if by force, suddenly, quickly.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Matthew 24:29 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:
30 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.
At the Second Coming the entire world will see Christ. All the tribes of the earth will mourn. When compared to the rapture only those who are believers will see Christ to meet Him. It is worth the time to investigate Matthew 24 deeper for it holds much information for the Jews of this future time we can learn from.
Second Coming Requires Further Fulfillment
Matthew 24 gives other prophecies which must be fulfilled before the Second Coming. As Jesus is speaking in this chapter He references Daniel 9:27 where the antichrist will desecrate the new temple.
This Antichrist is a part of the fourth beast of Daniel and is also seen in John’s Revelation chapter 13.
The Jews within Israel will flee as he hunts them. There are many other prophetic events, essentially the bulk of the book of Revelation, which must take place before the Second Coming.
Two Different Purposes
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
The rapture is to protect the Bride of Christ from the wrath of the tribulation. The Second Coming is the completion of the wrath and removal of the unbelievers.
It is important to recognize that these events are two separate events in time for two different purposes. In order to understand the near future, and more distant events that will take place the rapture and the Second Coming are important markers. To misplace the rapture as the Second Coming would place the Church within the tribulation which is in error.
If one calls the rapture the Second Coming it misplaces the final return of Christ before He establishes the Millennial Kingdom. While the rapture precedes a period of 7 years of tribulation the Second Coming precedes a period of 1000 years of Christ ruling the earth.