"The Difference Between The Rapture And The Second Coming" (With Video on the Rapture) - Inspirational Weekend

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Yes, we are living in the last days; and, yes, the Lord's return is imminent.  It could happen at any time; it is impending.  Nothing at all needs to take place before the Rapture of the Church occurs.   If you scoff at all that, you might be interested to know that you were written about in the Bible at 2 Peter 3:3-4 which says,

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."

There are about 2500 prophecies in the Bible and 2/3 of them have already been fulfilled.  Therefore, it stands to reason that the remaining 1/3 would also come to pass as well; and that includes the prophecies about the Rapture.  I have written previously about the Rapture of the Church (found here).  I will not repeat myself with all that information again, but I will point out some Scriptures again concerning the Rapture.

Another instance of the Rapture is found at 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

Read John 14:1-6 and in particular verse 3 which says:  "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."   Jesus is here referring to the Rapture as well.  

Jesus returns for His Bride, the Church, before the 7-year Tribulation begins.  There may be a gap of a few years after the Rapture before the Tribulation actually begins. At the end of the Tribulation, there is the Second Coming of Jesus where He destroys the wicked left on earth and then ushers in the Millennial Kingdom.  Below is a simplification of the differences between the two events.

RAPTURE                                                                            SECOND COMING

1) Believers meet Lord in air                .................Believers return to earth with Jesus

(1 Thess. 4:17)                                                      (Revelation 19:14)

2)   Occurs before Tribulation                .............    Occurs after Tribulation 

       (1 Thess. 5:9; Rev. 3:10)                             (Revelation chapters 6 through 19)

3)  Act of deliverance                          ..............   Judgment and destruction of    

     1 Thess. 4:13-17; 5:9)                                       unbelievers  (Matthew 24:40-41;

                                                                                1Thess. 5:3

4) Instant and invisible                        ................  Visible to all

(1 Corin. 15:50-54)                                                 (Rev. 1:7; Matthew 24:29-30)

5)  Imminent; occurs at any time         ..............  Must occur after specific end time 

    (Titus 2:13; 1 Thess. 4:13-18;                         events happen (2 Thess. 2:4;  

     1 Corinthians  15:50-54)                                Matthew 24:15-30; 

                                                                            Revelation chapters 6 to 18)

Following is an excellent video on the Rapture with Ron Rhodes explaining why it must be a pre-tribulation event and other pertinent information we all need to know.  Mr. Rhodes has a wonderful sense of humor and by it he helps to make a point.  

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; "   -  Titus 2:13

"Jesus saith unto him,  I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father , but by Me."   -  John 14:6