Jun 11 2009
Rapture vs. Glorious Appearance
There are some who say that the rapture and the Second Coming in Glory (the Glorious Appearance) are the same event. They say the first half of the this same event is when He is coming for His saints (i.e., the rapture) and it happens halfway down from Heaven to earth. Then Christ continues, coming with His saints to the earth (i.e., the Glorious Appearance). This is to somehow explain away the different Scriptures that state He is coming with His saints and others that say He is coming for His saints.
However, this theory would seem to be refuted by Revelation 19. Revelation 19:14 tells us that Jesus’ Second Coming in Glory is accompanied by armies in fine white linen. Who are these armies? Revelation 19:8 states that the fine white linen is the righteous work of the saints. So these armies are the believers (both those who have slept and been raptured). Why does it have to be both sets of saints, because in Revelation 19:7-8, it tells us that this group of saints are the Bride of Christ.
This refutes the idea of just one event split in half, because the saints, who are the Bride of Christ, begin with Christ in heaven prior to the coming in glory. The saints are already with Christ in heaven, because the rapture occurred prior to the Second Coming in Glory.
| RAPTURE | GLORIOUS APPEARANCE | |
| 1. | Christ comes for His own.
John 14:3; 1 Thess 4:17 |
Christ comes with His own.
Rev 19:14 |
| 2. | He comes in the air.
1 Thess 4:17 |
He comes to the earth.
Zech 14:4-5; Acts 1:11 |
| 3. | He comes to claim His Bride.
1 Thess 4:16-17 |
He comes with His Bride.
Rev 19:6-14 |
| 4. | Removal of the believers.
1 Thess 4:17 |
Manifestation of Christ.
Mal 4:2 |
| 5. | Only His own see Him.
1 Thess 4:13-18 |
Every eye shall see Him.
Rev 1:7; Matt 24:30 |
| 6. | Tribulation begins.
2 Thess 1:6-9 |
Millennial Kingdom begins.
Rev 20:1-7 |
| 7. | Saved are delivered from wrath.
1 Thess 1:10; 5:9; Rev 3:10 |
Unsaved experience the wrath of God.
Rev 6:12-17 |
| 8. | No signs precede the Rapture.
1 Thess 5:1-3 |
Signs precede the Second Coming.
Luke 21:11-28 |
| 9. | Focus: Lord and Church.
1 Thess 4:13-18 |
Focus: Israel and kingdom.
Matt 24 |
| 10. | World is deceived.
2 Thess 2:3-12 |
Satan is bound.
Rev 20:1-2 |
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