Article by: Kenneth J. Ester
Rapture vs Second Coming
When I study any doctrine in the Bible, I don’t have a preference I look to prove. I don’t care what the truth ends up being. The only thing that is important to me is that I follow the truth. Not my truth, or anyone else’s interpretation of the truth, but God’s truth!
I am going to present you with God’s truth, but I have to ask you. Are you willing to accept truth if it is presented to you?
I ask this because so often people say they only care about God’s truth, but then when they learn what they already believed is wrong, they will deny any evidence you place before them. People naturally hate being proven wrong. We have too much pride. Myself? I have been proven wrong several times in my studies. I have even proven myself wrong a couple times and had to change my stance. Because the truth is truly all that is important to me. That is what I look for. That is what I found. That is what I am going to present to you. I can only hope you are willing to accept the truth when you see it.
When it comes to the rapture, I have found a few certainties and a whole lot of belief. The first thing I have found that I am 100% certain about, is that the Post-Trib Rapture is impossible to happen. I am 100% positive of that.
I will admit that I could not completely prove the mid-trib to be false with scripture, the way I could with the post-trib rapture. However, I am still certain due to simple logic that it will not be mid-tribulation.
I am now almost certain that the rapture will be Pre-Tribulation, with a very slight chance it could possibly happen up to 2.5 years into the tribulation.
Scripture misinterpreted and mistranslated
The first point I would like to address is a verse I find is often misinterpreted to support the post-trib rapture.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 (KJV)
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Personally, I am not a fan of the KJV version. I think all of the "thees" and "thous" and all the weird lingo is ridiculous for today’s age. That was not how Jesus and the apostles spoke. That is not how we speak today. That is how they spoke in the 1600's when the manuscripts were first translated to English. This is not 1611 anymore so I prefer to go without it. However, I will use the KJV quite a bit in this article because there are so many Post-Tribulation Supporters who are also KJV Only purists.
In this case I first want to point out verse 1. There are many who believe this verse alone proves the rapture happens at the same time as the Second Coming, because it combines the two together here.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 (KJV)
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
Let's pretend that the two events are the same for a moment. What exactly transpires when it happens?
1) Jesus comes in the clouds.
2) Jesus calls us up to Him and we are taken up to be with Him in the clouds.
3) Jesus returns to earth and we follow Him back.
Clearly this fits what happens in verse 1 exactly to a tee right? Now let’s just take the first two parts of that event by themselves.
1) Jesus comes in the clouds.
2) Jesus calls us up to Him and we are taken up to be with Him in the clouds.
Guess what? Even without Jesus returning to the earth, this still fits exactly what transpires in verse 1, doesn’t it? But guess what else? Those two lines also fit the rapture if it is a separate event to a tee as well. Jesus will come in the clouds, and He will call us up to Him. The only difference in the two beliefs is that one has Jesus returning to earth at that moment and the other has Him taking us back to heaven. Clearly however, verse 1 fits both beliefs because it never once claims that Jesus returns to earth. Those who believe this is strictly the Second Coming, do so out of assuming the part of Jesus returning to earth is intended, even though the words never say that.
Just to clarify one important point that people tend to ignore. I am not saying that this verse supports there are two separate events. I am saying it doesn't support that it is a single event. I am saying that it fits for both beliefs, therefore it cannot be used to support one or the other.
A Flaw in the KJV Translation
In verse two, the KJV uses the term "day of Christ". It is important to understand that every word used in the Bible can have important connotations. You can do this test for yourself. Go to BibleGateway.com and type in "day of Christ". (Use the quotation marks to keep the term literal.) When you read the verses that come up, you will learn that they refer to either the rapture or the second coming. However, the problem is, "the day of Christ" is the wrong translation.
This was clearly the correct assumption for the translators to take in 1611 when they translated the KJV Bible. At that time, all of the oldest manuscripts used those words. However since that time, we have found many, many more ancient manuscripts and the oldest manuscripts we have now, which are much older than what they had in 1611, have "day of the Lord". Now do the same search with "day of the Lord" and you find a completely different meaning. They all have to do with God's wrath or God's anger."
Today, almost every scholar agrees that the correct translation is "day of the Lord". And that has huge connotations to this scripture.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 (KJV)
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
What is Paul writing here? He is telling the church leaders to not be shaken by the news that the rapture/Second Coming is at hand. Why would the leaders of the church be upset to learn that the rapture is at hand? Remember, for something to be at hand, it does not mean you missed it. It means it is about to happen. What Christian would be upset that either the rapture or the Second Coming is at hand? Do you see how this simply does not make sense?
Now read it in the NASB...
2 Thessalonians 2 (NASB)
2 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
Suddenly with using the correct translation of "day of the lord", it makes sense. They are not upset that the Second Coming is at hand, but they are upset because the day of God's wrath has come. Why would that upset them? Because the rapture is believed to save us from the wrath.
Romans 5:9 (NASB)
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
You see? Paul is writing to them saying, “In regards to the rapture, don’t let yourselves be shaken by a letter as if from us, saying that the day of God’s wrath is at hand.” He is assuring them that they have not missed the rapture and are now going to face God’s wrath on the world. There is no reason they would fear the Second Coming being at hand. Especially if they have the Post-tribulation belief. It makes no sense for them to be upset over that. But if the rapture happens before the Second Coming and before God’s Wrath, then they would have every reason to be upset that God’s wrath is at hand. It would mean they have missed the rapture and must face God’s wrath.
Contradictions in the Rapture and the Second Coming
When you gather the scriptures that have to do with the rapture and the second coming, something stands out. There are distinct contradictions. The simple fact is, the Word of God simply cannot have clear contradictions. Anyone who accepts contradictions in the Word of God is not a true believer that God is in control. Through the countless hours I have spent studying the Bible that is one thing that has become clear to me. There are no true contradictions. So if there are contradictions in verses of the Rapture and verses of the Second Coming, the only possible answer is that they are not the same event.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJV)
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
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.
Take note of a few points here. 1) It is the Lord Himself who will descend with a shout and call us up to Him. 2) We are "caught" up to Him. This word in Greek has a meaning of being snatched up violently. Not a gentle slow process. 3) We are snatched up to meet the Lord in the air. Now let's look at another scripture...
Mark 13:24-27 (KJV)
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Jesus doesn’t come with a shout. He is just seen coming. He doesn’t call us up to Him. He sends His angels to gather us. We are not snatched up violently. We are gathered. And there is no mention of us being gathered to Jesus in the air.
The starkest difference just in reading it is that in one Jesus calls us up to Him and in the other, Jesus sends His angels forth to gather us. But when you study the meanings of the words used, in one we are snatched up quickly, almost violently and in the other they are gathered.
How can anyone sit there and read these two scriptures and think these are the same event? Once you realize the two events may be different, and you separate the scriptures accordingly, you find the two events are far more different.
Rapture verses
Matthew 24:27 (KJV)
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (KJV)
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.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJV)
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
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.
When you read these verses, you find the rapture happens quickly. No great signs are mentioned to accompany the event. It happens as fast as lightning goes from one end of the sky to the other. In the twinkling of an eye. Our bodies are changed from corruptible to incorruptible. We meet Jesus in the air. Nobody is mentioned to see Jesus but those who are caught up to Him.
The Second Coming
Mark 13:24-27 (KJV)
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Revelation 16:15-16 (KJV)
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
Luke 21:25-27 (KJV)
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
The Second Coming does not happen in the twinkling of an eye. In fact it happens slowly enough, that there are great signs that accompany it. Slow enough that every eye sees Him coming! Jesus doesn't call us up to Him with a shout, he sends His angels to gather His elect. There is no mention of gathering them to Jesus in the air. No mention of the elect's bodies being changed.
You can see what I am saying now, cant you? There are too many differences in the two events to believe they are the same event. They are without a doubt two separate events.
The Marriage of the Lamb
Now when you read Revelation 19, it starts off with a great multitude in heaven giving praises to God. This is the church, though Post-tribulation believers would not be able to agree with that. But then verses 5 & 6 clarifies it...
Revelation 19:5-6 (NASB)
5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.”
6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Who else could be the bond servants, small and great? The 144,000 Jews? I think not. They would not be referred to as a great multitude like the sounds of many waters and like the sounds of mighty peals of thunder when they speak. This is without a doubt the church already in heaven.
The very next section, starting in verse 7 is the marriage of the Lamb.
Revelation 19:7-8 (NASB)
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
The bride is the church. The bride is wed to the Lamb and it is given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. There is no doubt this is the church already in heaven and take special note to the fine linen, bright and clean. Just a few verses later, it moves into the Second Coming.
Revelation 19:11-14 (NASB)
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
Notice who the armies are who are following Jesus back from heaven? They are clothed in fine linen, white and clean and are riding white horses as they follow Him back.
Let's use a little bit of common sense here. God is not going to wed the souls of the saints who have died to Jesus then He returns with them following and then He raptures His saints and returns to earth with so many of his bride missing the wedding! In what world would that make sense to anyone?
Even if the several clear distinctions between the two events is not enough to show you the rapture is not at the same time as the Second Coming, this should! The post-tribulation rapture belief simply does not allow room in its timeline for the Marriage of the Lamb to His bride! Scripture clearly shows us that the marriage will happen before Jesus returns in the Second Coming!
The Tribulation Saints!
The Tribulation saints, in my opinion, is one of the strongest points to be made. If you believe the church is not raptured until the Second Coming and that Jesus during His descent from heaven, sends forth His angels to gather the church? How do you explain this...
Revelation 20:4 (NASB)
4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
This is after Jesus has already returned. In fact, verse 3 is where Satan is thrown into the abyss for a thousand years. So there is no doubt that Jesus has already returned. Yet those who had not worshiped the beast or his image and did not take his mark are now brought back to life. But if the rapture and the Second Coming are the same event, then that means every true believer who has died since Jesus rose from the dead was resurrected and changed to imperishable and caught up during His descent. Not after He has already wiped out the enemy and cast the antichrist and false prophet into the Lake of Fire and bound Satan and tossed him in the abyss. So how is it that those were persecuted and killed in the Tribulation are just now coming back to life? How does that fit with the Post Tribulation belief?
The Last Trumpet!
There are many who are willing to ignore all of this simply on the basis that the rapture happens at the last trumpet. Since the 7th Trumpet which happens at Revelation 11:15 is about the reign of Jesus, it seems clear that rapture is when Jesus comes to reign. Right? Seems simple enough. But it’s nothing more than an assumption.
The Bible doesn’t say the rapture happens at the 7th Trumpet. It says it happens at the "last trumpet". Allow me to give you another idea of what trumpet this is speaking about.
1 Corinthians 14:8 (KJV)
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
You see, throughout history and in the Bible, the trumpet, or the bugle is used to call an army to gather for battle. To prepare for war. The last trumpet mentioned in rapture verses is not even speaking of one of the seven trumpets in Revelation. Those who believe it is, do so pure by assumption and with nothing in scripture stating so. It is just saying it is the last time the trumpet will sound for God to gather its armies. He gathers them to Christ in the skies and brings them back to heaven where he prepares them and weds them to the Lamb. Then the army, ready at last, follows Christ back in the Second Coming to the battle of Armageddon. It is the last time God gathers His armies for battle because after Armageddon, the only battle left is when Satan turns the people against Him after the thousand years of peace. But God never needs to gather His armies for that. God wipes out the enemy Himself. After that He gives us a new earth and we live in peace forever.
A Thousand Years of Peace!
Let us pretend again that the rapture and the Second Coming are the same event. Jesus is coming back and on His way down, He raptures up all of His saints and gives them new imperishable bodies. He descends to Armageddon and destroys all of His enemies. He has the beast and the false prophet thrown into the lake of fire and Satan is bound and tossed into the abyss for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:7:9 (NASB)
7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them.
Where did so many people come from for the devil to deceive? So many they are said to be like the sand of the seashore. This would need to be hundreds of millions, if not billions of people. They are not the church because we were given imperishable bodies and will not repopulate the earth after that. It’s certainly not the 144,000 Jews for they are all men, so they will not be able to repopulate the earth without women. The only other option is that Jesus doesn’t kill all of the sinners who lived through the tribulation. Do you truly believe that after all that happens and they still reject the Lord, that he will reward them with a thousand years of peace? Once again, it just doesn’t fit!
Summary
To believe that the rapture happens at the same time as the Second Coming, one does so strictly by assuming things the Bible never states.
The Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Now let’s see how the story flows if the rapture happens before the tribulation.
Jesus comes in the clouds and in an instant, the dead are risen imperishable, all of the saints are changed and we are all snatched up into the clouds. Nobody saw Jesus coming. Jesus never comes to earth. He only calls us up to Him and takes us back to heaven.
On earth there is chaos as millions have disappeared. Many who went to church or had relatives who preached to them realize the rapture happened and it was all real. The many atheists who studied the Bible in order to debate with Christians recognize what happened. All of these instantly turn to Christ and become the new Christians. They begin preaching to others and showing them how millions of Christians had been raptured as proof. More and more are converted to turn to Christ. These are what are known as the Tribulation Saints.
These Tribulation Saints are persecuted and suffer greatly. They are forced to take the mark of the beast or die. Many choose to die for their faith.
In heaven we are wed to the Lamb and given white and clean linen to wear. After the marriage, we are given white horses and we follow Jesus back. The sun is darkened and there are great signs in the skies. Everyone looks up and sees Jesus and His armies filling the skies and descending to the earth.
In the descent from heaven, Jesus sends forth His angels to gather the elect. These are either the 144,000 Jews, or the Tribulation Saints. They are not gathered to Christ in the sky, but they are gathered still in the flesh, to Armageddon.
The Lord destroys all of the enemy armies. He literally wipes them out. He then has the antichrist and false prophet thrown into the Lake of Fire, Satan is bound and tossed into the abyss, and the Lord kills all of the unbelievers who have continued to reject Him. Then He sets up His millennial kingdom.
The Tribulation Saints who were not killed will still be in the flesh and blood. They will repopulate the earth. They will live longer lives and fill the earth throughout the thousand years of peace. When they die, they will receive their imperishable bodies and join their brethren in the city. Their descendants however will not be eye witnesses to what had happened. They will begin to lose faith. At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be let loose and he will deceive the nations and turn the people against the Holy City, where God will wipe them all out.
After that we will all return to heaven where the unbelievers will be resurrected and judged. When their name is not found in the Book of Life, they will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
The old earth will be destroyed and God will then give us a new earth. Upon the new earth, He will place a New Jerusalem for us. That new earth is where we will live forever.
In this scenario, there are no contradictions in scripture. It allows all verses to be right and align smoothly with all others.
More Pre-Tribulation Support
1) We know that rapture cannot happen only a month or two before the Second Coming. If it did, it would mean the Tribulation Saints would have to become a great multitude in an extremely short amount of time. There needs to be enough time for the 144,000 Jews to preach to the world, the new Christians who replace the raptured saints to get organized and begin preaching and for people to begin hearing the gospel and turning to Christ. Then for the numbers to reach a great multitude.
2) The antichrist will be persecuting the Christians after he reveals himself to the Jews at the midpoint of the tribulation. These will be the tribulation saints he persecutes and has many of them killed. So not only will the rapture need to be before this happens, it needs to happen far enough in advance for the number of tribulation saints to be high enough that he will persecute them. This would mean at least a year before the midpoint of the tribulation and likely more. This puts the rapture at no later than 1.5 - 2.5 years into the tribulation. This, in my opinion, cancels out any mid-tribulation rapture beliefs.
3)
Revelation 3:10 (NASB)
10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (NASB)
9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
Romans 5:9 (NASB)
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
These three scriptures are just a few of the verses that support a pre-tribulation rapture. The wrath of God is not the Lake of Fire as some may want to believe. It is a response from God upon our world or those who live in sin, as they are still alive. Not a judgment for their sin after they die. These verses cannot be justified with honesty in the post-tribulation belief.
If you are a believer of the Post-Tribulation Rapture, or the Mid-Trib, it can be a difficult thing to have a change of mind. If this was not enough, then I would give you one piece of advice. Instead of studying to prove the other beliefs wrong or yours correct, try studying to prove your own belief wrong. If it is correct, you will have nothing to fear.
Most people don’t want to find out they are wrong. They look for verses that support what they believe or prove others wrong. Very few actually try to prove their own beliefs wrong. The result is a very biased study and people can naturally prove themselves right on any belief if they look hard enough. The way one can be certain to find the truth is to look to prove all beliefs wrong. Then in their studies they will realize that certain beliefs can be proven wrong to a much more solid degree.
When I study, I try to find the absolute proof that any side of an argument is impossible or find absolute proof it has to be right. Usually one of those can be found.
I am going to present you with God’s truth, but I have to ask you. Are you willing to accept truth if it is presented to you?
I ask this because so often people say they only care about God’s truth, but then when they learn what they already believed is wrong, they will deny any evidence you place before them. People naturally hate being proven wrong. We have too much pride. Myself? I have been proven wrong several times in my studies. I have even proven myself wrong a couple times and had to change my stance. Because the truth is truly all that is important to me. That is what I look for. That is what I found. That is what I am going to present to you. I can only hope you are willing to accept the truth when you see it.
When it comes to the rapture, I have found a few certainties and a whole lot of belief. The first thing I have found that I am 100% certain about, is that the Post-Trib Rapture is impossible to happen. I am 100% positive of that.
I will admit that I could not completely prove the mid-trib to be false with scripture, the way I could with the post-trib rapture. However, I am still certain due to simple logic that it will not be mid-tribulation.
I am now almost certain that the rapture will be Pre-Tribulation, with a very slight chance it could possibly happen up to 2.5 years into the tribulation.
Scripture misinterpreted and mistranslated
The first point I would like to address is a verse I find is often misinterpreted to support the post-trib rapture.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 (KJV)
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Personally, I am not a fan of the KJV version. I think all of the "thees" and "thous" and all the weird lingo is ridiculous for today’s age. That was not how Jesus and the apostles spoke. That is not how we speak today. That is how they spoke in the 1600's when the manuscripts were first translated to English. This is not 1611 anymore so I prefer to go without it. However, I will use the KJV quite a bit in this article because there are so many Post-Tribulation Supporters who are also KJV Only purists.
In this case I first want to point out verse 1. There are many who believe this verse alone proves the rapture happens at the same time as the Second Coming, because it combines the two together here.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 (KJV)
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
Let's pretend that the two events are the same for a moment. What exactly transpires when it happens?
1) Jesus comes in the clouds.
2) Jesus calls us up to Him and we are taken up to be with Him in the clouds.
3) Jesus returns to earth and we follow Him back.
Clearly this fits what happens in verse 1 exactly to a tee right? Now let’s just take the first two parts of that event by themselves.
1) Jesus comes in the clouds.
2) Jesus calls us up to Him and we are taken up to be with Him in the clouds.
Guess what? Even without Jesus returning to the earth, this still fits exactly what transpires in verse 1, doesn’t it? But guess what else? Those two lines also fit the rapture if it is a separate event to a tee as well. Jesus will come in the clouds, and He will call us up to Him. The only difference in the two beliefs is that one has Jesus returning to earth at that moment and the other has Him taking us back to heaven. Clearly however, verse 1 fits both beliefs because it never once claims that Jesus returns to earth. Those who believe this is strictly the Second Coming, do so out of assuming the part of Jesus returning to earth is intended, even though the words never say that.
Just to clarify one important point that people tend to ignore. I am not saying that this verse supports there are two separate events. I am saying it doesn't support that it is a single event. I am saying that it fits for both beliefs, therefore it cannot be used to support one or the other.
A Flaw in the KJV Translation
In verse two, the KJV uses the term "day of Christ". It is important to understand that every word used in the Bible can have important connotations. You can do this test for yourself. Go to BibleGateway.com and type in "day of Christ". (Use the quotation marks to keep the term literal.) When you read the verses that come up, you will learn that they refer to either the rapture or the second coming. However, the problem is, "the day of Christ" is the wrong translation.
This was clearly the correct assumption for the translators to take in 1611 when they translated the KJV Bible. At that time, all of the oldest manuscripts used those words. However since that time, we have found many, many more ancient manuscripts and the oldest manuscripts we have now, which are much older than what they had in 1611, have "day of the Lord". Now do the same search with "day of the Lord" and you find a completely different meaning. They all have to do with God's wrath or God's anger."
Today, almost every scholar agrees that the correct translation is "day of the Lord". And that has huge connotations to this scripture.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 (KJV)
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
What is Paul writing here? He is telling the church leaders to not be shaken by the news that the rapture/Second Coming is at hand. Why would the leaders of the church be upset to learn that the rapture is at hand? Remember, for something to be at hand, it does not mean you missed it. It means it is about to happen. What Christian would be upset that either the rapture or the Second Coming is at hand? Do you see how this simply does not make sense?
Now read it in the NASB...
2 Thessalonians 2 (NASB)
2 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
Suddenly with using the correct translation of "day of the lord", it makes sense. They are not upset that the Second Coming is at hand, but they are upset because the day of God's wrath has come. Why would that upset them? Because the rapture is believed to save us from the wrath.
Romans 5:9 (NASB)
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
You see? Paul is writing to them saying, “In regards to the rapture, don’t let yourselves be shaken by a letter as if from us, saying that the day of God’s wrath is at hand.” He is assuring them that they have not missed the rapture and are now going to face God’s wrath on the world. There is no reason they would fear the Second Coming being at hand. Especially if they have the Post-tribulation belief. It makes no sense for them to be upset over that. But if the rapture happens before the Second Coming and before God’s Wrath, then they would have every reason to be upset that God’s wrath is at hand. It would mean they have missed the rapture and must face God’s wrath.
Contradictions in the Rapture and the Second Coming
When you gather the scriptures that have to do with the rapture and the second coming, something stands out. There are distinct contradictions. The simple fact is, the Word of God simply cannot have clear contradictions. Anyone who accepts contradictions in the Word of God is not a true believer that God is in control. Through the countless hours I have spent studying the Bible that is one thing that has become clear to me. There are no true contradictions. So if there are contradictions in verses of the Rapture and verses of the Second Coming, the only possible answer is that they are not the same event.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJV)
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
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.
Take note of a few points here. 1) It is the Lord Himself who will descend with a shout and call us up to Him. 2) We are "caught" up to Him. This word in Greek has a meaning of being snatched up violently. Not a gentle slow process. 3) We are snatched up to meet the Lord in the air. Now let's look at another scripture...
Mark 13:24-27 (KJV)
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Jesus doesn’t come with a shout. He is just seen coming. He doesn’t call us up to Him. He sends His angels to gather us. We are not snatched up violently. We are gathered. And there is no mention of us being gathered to Jesus in the air.
The starkest difference just in reading it is that in one Jesus calls us up to Him and in the other, Jesus sends His angels forth to gather us. But when you study the meanings of the words used, in one we are snatched up quickly, almost violently and in the other they are gathered.
How can anyone sit there and read these two scriptures and think these are the same event? Once you realize the two events may be different, and you separate the scriptures accordingly, you find the two events are far more different.
Rapture verses
Matthew 24:27 (KJV)
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (KJV)
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.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJV)
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
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.
When you read these verses, you find the rapture happens quickly. No great signs are mentioned to accompany the event. It happens as fast as lightning goes from one end of the sky to the other. In the twinkling of an eye. Our bodies are changed from corruptible to incorruptible. We meet Jesus in the air. Nobody is mentioned to see Jesus but those who are caught up to Him.
The Second Coming
Mark 13:24-27 (KJV)
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Revelation 16:15-16 (KJV)
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
Luke 21:25-27 (KJV)
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
The Second Coming does not happen in the twinkling of an eye. In fact it happens slowly enough, that there are great signs that accompany it. Slow enough that every eye sees Him coming! Jesus doesn't call us up to Him with a shout, he sends His angels to gather His elect. There is no mention of gathering them to Jesus in the air. No mention of the elect's bodies being changed.
You can see what I am saying now, cant you? There are too many differences in the two events to believe they are the same event. They are without a doubt two separate events.
The Marriage of the Lamb
Now when you read Revelation 19, it starts off with a great multitude in heaven giving praises to God. This is the church, though Post-tribulation believers would not be able to agree with that. But then verses 5 & 6 clarifies it...
Revelation 19:5-6 (NASB)
5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.”
6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Who else could be the bond servants, small and great? The 144,000 Jews? I think not. They would not be referred to as a great multitude like the sounds of many waters and like the sounds of mighty peals of thunder when they speak. This is without a doubt the church already in heaven.
The very next section, starting in verse 7 is the marriage of the Lamb.
Revelation 19:7-8 (NASB)
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
The bride is the church. The bride is wed to the Lamb and it is given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. There is no doubt this is the church already in heaven and take special note to the fine linen, bright and clean. Just a few verses later, it moves into the Second Coming.
Revelation 19:11-14 (NASB)
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
Notice who the armies are who are following Jesus back from heaven? They are clothed in fine linen, white and clean and are riding white horses as they follow Him back.
Let's use a little bit of common sense here. God is not going to wed the souls of the saints who have died to Jesus then He returns with them following and then He raptures His saints and returns to earth with so many of his bride missing the wedding! In what world would that make sense to anyone?
Even if the several clear distinctions between the two events is not enough to show you the rapture is not at the same time as the Second Coming, this should! The post-tribulation rapture belief simply does not allow room in its timeline for the Marriage of the Lamb to His bride! Scripture clearly shows us that the marriage will happen before Jesus returns in the Second Coming!
The Tribulation Saints!
The Tribulation saints, in my opinion, is one of the strongest points to be made. If you believe the church is not raptured until the Second Coming and that Jesus during His descent from heaven, sends forth His angels to gather the church? How do you explain this...
Revelation 20:4 (NASB)
4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
This is after Jesus has already returned. In fact, verse 3 is where Satan is thrown into the abyss for a thousand years. So there is no doubt that Jesus has already returned. Yet those who had not worshiped the beast or his image and did not take his mark are now brought back to life. But if the rapture and the Second Coming are the same event, then that means every true believer who has died since Jesus rose from the dead was resurrected and changed to imperishable and caught up during His descent. Not after He has already wiped out the enemy and cast the antichrist and false prophet into the Lake of Fire and bound Satan and tossed him in the abyss. So how is it that those were persecuted and killed in the Tribulation are just now coming back to life? How does that fit with the Post Tribulation belief?
The Last Trumpet!
There are many who are willing to ignore all of this simply on the basis that the rapture happens at the last trumpet. Since the 7th Trumpet which happens at Revelation 11:15 is about the reign of Jesus, it seems clear that rapture is when Jesus comes to reign. Right? Seems simple enough. But it’s nothing more than an assumption.
The Bible doesn’t say the rapture happens at the 7th Trumpet. It says it happens at the "last trumpet". Allow me to give you another idea of what trumpet this is speaking about.
1 Corinthians 14:8 (KJV)
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
You see, throughout history and in the Bible, the trumpet, or the bugle is used to call an army to gather for battle. To prepare for war. The last trumpet mentioned in rapture verses is not even speaking of one of the seven trumpets in Revelation. Those who believe it is, do so pure by assumption and with nothing in scripture stating so. It is just saying it is the last time the trumpet will sound for God to gather its armies. He gathers them to Christ in the skies and brings them back to heaven where he prepares them and weds them to the Lamb. Then the army, ready at last, follows Christ back in the Second Coming to the battle of Armageddon. It is the last time God gathers His armies for battle because after Armageddon, the only battle left is when Satan turns the people against Him after the thousand years of peace. But God never needs to gather His armies for that. God wipes out the enemy Himself. After that He gives us a new earth and we live in peace forever.
A Thousand Years of Peace!
Let us pretend again that the rapture and the Second Coming are the same event. Jesus is coming back and on His way down, He raptures up all of His saints and gives them new imperishable bodies. He descends to Armageddon and destroys all of His enemies. He has the beast and the false prophet thrown into the lake of fire and Satan is bound and tossed into the abyss for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:7:9 (NASB)
7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them.
Where did so many people come from for the devil to deceive? So many they are said to be like the sand of the seashore. This would need to be hundreds of millions, if not billions of people. They are not the church because we were given imperishable bodies and will not repopulate the earth after that. It’s certainly not the 144,000 Jews for they are all men, so they will not be able to repopulate the earth without women. The only other option is that Jesus doesn’t kill all of the sinners who lived through the tribulation. Do you truly believe that after all that happens and they still reject the Lord, that he will reward them with a thousand years of peace? Once again, it just doesn’t fit!
Summary
To believe that the rapture happens at the same time as the Second Coming, one does so strictly by assuming things the Bible never states.
- It is assumed that anything speaking of the coming of Jesus must be the Second Coming and cannot possibly be Jesus coming in the clouds but never coming all the way back to earth.
- It is assumed that any verses about God gathering people are all the same event.
- They assume that if there are similarities in events, they must be the same event, where the opposite is true. If there are any contradictions it is proof they are different events. God’s word can hold similarities. God’s Word cannot contradict itself.
- They must assume that the last trumpet must be the last of the seven trumpets even though the Bible never says that.
- They must assume that God is going to reward the sinner for rejecting Him by giving them all a thousand years of peace.
- They must assume that the Bible has the events of the marriage of the Lamb and the Second Coming out of order.
The Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Now let’s see how the story flows if the rapture happens before the tribulation.
Jesus comes in the clouds and in an instant, the dead are risen imperishable, all of the saints are changed and we are all snatched up into the clouds. Nobody saw Jesus coming. Jesus never comes to earth. He only calls us up to Him and takes us back to heaven.
On earth there is chaos as millions have disappeared. Many who went to church or had relatives who preached to them realize the rapture happened and it was all real. The many atheists who studied the Bible in order to debate with Christians recognize what happened. All of these instantly turn to Christ and become the new Christians. They begin preaching to others and showing them how millions of Christians had been raptured as proof. More and more are converted to turn to Christ. These are what are known as the Tribulation Saints.
These Tribulation Saints are persecuted and suffer greatly. They are forced to take the mark of the beast or die. Many choose to die for their faith.
In heaven we are wed to the Lamb and given white and clean linen to wear. After the marriage, we are given white horses and we follow Jesus back. The sun is darkened and there are great signs in the skies. Everyone looks up and sees Jesus and His armies filling the skies and descending to the earth.
In the descent from heaven, Jesus sends forth His angels to gather the elect. These are either the 144,000 Jews, or the Tribulation Saints. They are not gathered to Christ in the sky, but they are gathered still in the flesh, to Armageddon.
The Lord destroys all of the enemy armies. He literally wipes them out. He then has the antichrist and false prophet thrown into the Lake of Fire, Satan is bound and tossed into the abyss, and the Lord kills all of the unbelievers who have continued to reject Him. Then He sets up His millennial kingdom.
The Tribulation Saints who were not killed will still be in the flesh and blood. They will repopulate the earth. They will live longer lives and fill the earth throughout the thousand years of peace. When they die, they will receive their imperishable bodies and join their brethren in the city. Their descendants however will not be eye witnesses to what had happened. They will begin to lose faith. At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be let loose and he will deceive the nations and turn the people against the Holy City, where God will wipe them all out.
After that we will all return to heaven where the unbelievers will be resurrected and judged. When their name is not found in the Book of Life, they will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
The old earth will be destroyed and God will then give us a new earth. Upon the new earth, He will place a New Jerusalem for us. That new earth is where we will live forever.
In this scenario, there are no contradictions in scripture. It allows all verses to be right and align smoothly with all others.
More Pre-Tribulation Support
1) We know that rapture cannot happen only a month or two before the Second Coming. If it did, it would mean the Tribulation Saints would have to become a great multitude in an extremely short amount of time. There needs to be enough time for the 144,000 Jews to preach to the world, the new Christians who replace the raptured saints to get organized and begin preaching and for people to begin hearing the gospel and turning to Christ. Then for the numbers to reach a great multitude.
2) The antichrist will be persecuting the Christians after he reveals himself to the Jews at the midpoint of the tribulation. These will be the tribulation saints he persecutes and has many of them killed. So not only will the rapture need to be before this happens, it needs to happen far enough in advance for the number of tribulation saints to be high enough that he will persecute them. This would mean at least a year before the midpoint of the tribulation and likely more. This puts the rapture at no later than 1.5 - 2.5 years into the tribulation. This, in my opinion, cancels out any mid-tribulation rapture beliefs.
3)
Revelation 3:10 (NASB)
10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (NASB)
9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
Romans 5:9 (NASB)
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
These three scriptures are just a few of the verses that support a pre-tribulation rapture. The wrath of God is not the Lake of Fire as some may want to believe. It is a response from God upon our world or those who live in sin, as they are still alive. Not a judgment for their sin after they die. These verses cannot be justified with honesty in the post-tribulation belief.
If you are a believer of the Post-Tribulation Rapture, or the Mid-Trib, it can be a difficult thing to have a change of mind. If this was not enough, then I would give you one piece of advice. Instead of studying to prove the other beliefs wrong or yours correct, try studying to prove your own belief wrong. If it is correct, you will have nothing to fear.
Most people don’t want to find out they are wrong. They look for verses that support what they believe or prove others wrong. Very few actually try to prove their own beliefs wrong. The result is a very biased study and people can naturally prove themselves right on any belief if they look hard enough. The way one can be certain to find the truth is to look to prove all beliefs wrong. Then in their studies they will realize that certain beliefs can be proven wrong to a much more solid degree.
When I study, I try to find the absolute proof that any side of an argument is impossible or find absolute proof it has to be right. Usually one of those can be found.
