DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING

Toms Perspectives
by Thomas Ice

When considering the issue of the rapture of the Church, especially the timing, it is
essential that one observe the differences between these two events. I strongly believe
the New Testament indicates the Church will be raptured before the seventieth week of
Daniel. A key reason is because the Bible teaches that the rapture is a distinct event
from Christs second coming to the earth. In any consideration of the truthfulness of the
timing of the rapture this issue is of crucial importance.

IMPORTANCE OF DISTINCTIONS
Dr. John Feinberg notes that distinguishing between Christs rapture and His return
is of foundational importance in establishing pretribulationism against the non-pre-trib
claim that Scripture does not teach such a view.

. . . the pretribulationist must show that there is enough dissimilarity between

clear rapture and clear second advent passages as to warrant the claim that
the two kinds of passages could be speaking about two events which could
occur at different times. The pretribulationist does not have to prove at this
point . . . that the two events must occur at different times, but only that the
exegetical data from rapture and second coming advent passages do not
make it impossible for the events to occur at different times. If he can do that,
the pretribulationist has shown that his view is not impossible. And, he has
answered the posttribulationists strongest line of evidence. 1

A key factor in understanding the New Testaments teaching of the pre-trib rapture
revolves around the fact that two future comings of Christ are presented. The first
coming is the catching up into the clouds of the church before the seven-year tribulation
and the second coming that occurs at the end of the tribulation when Christ returns to
the earth to begin His thousand-year kingdom. Anyone desirous of insight into the
biblical teaching of the rapture and second advent must study and decide whether
Scripture speaks of one or two future events. Yet, many non-pretribulationists never
deal with this issue.

FRAMING THE ISSUE

Posttribulationists usually contend that if the rapture and the second coming are two
distinct events, separated by at least seven years, then there ought to be at least one
passage in Scripture which clearly teaches this in the way they have stated it. However,
the Bible does not always teach Gods truth in accordance with out preconceived
notions or man-made formulations in such a way that answers directly all of our
questions. For example, a Unitarian could design a similar kind of question regarding
the Trinity that is not answered directly in the Bible. Where does the Bible teach the
Trinity? We who believe the Trinity reply that the Bible teaches the Trinity but reveals
it in a different way.
Many important biblical doctrines are not given to us directly from a single verse in
the way one thinks it should be stated. One often needs to harmonize passages into
systematic conclusions. Some truths are directly stated in the Bible, such as the deity of
Christ (John 1:1; Titus 2:13). But doctrines like the Trinity and the incarnate nature of
Christ are the product of biblical harmonization. Taking into account all biblical texts
that touch on a matter, orthodox theologians, over time, recognized and stated that God
is a Trinity and that Christ is the God-Man. Similarly, a systematic consideration of all
biblical passages reveals two future comings. I am NOT saying the Bible does not teach
a pre-trib rapture, as some have misconstrued similar comments in the past. The New
Testament does teach pretribulationism, even though it may not be presented in a way
that seems clear to some.
Posttribulationists often contend that pretribulationism is built merely upon an
assumption that certain verses make sense if and only if the pre-trib model of the
rapture is assumed. However, they often fail to realize that they are just as dependent
upon similar assumptions. Their error arises from failure to observe actual distinctions
in the biblical text because of their blinding assumption of a single future coming of
Christ.
We all agree that the career of Messiah takes place in history around two major
phases related to His two comings to planet earth. Phase one took place at His first
coming when He came in humiliation. Phase two will begin at His second advent when
He will come in power and glory. Failure to distinguish these two phases was a key
factor in Israels rejection of Jesus as their Messiah. In the same way, failure to see clear
distinctions between the rapture and second coming lead many to a misinterpretation
of Gods future plan.

THE NATURE OF THE RAPTURE

The rapture is first introduced by Jesus (John 14:13) in the Upper Room Discourse
(John 1316) when He disclosed to His disciples new church age truth the night before
His death. Paul expands upon Jesus introduction of the rapture in one of his earliest
Epistles in 1 Thessalonians 4:1318. The English phrase caught up (1 Thess. 4:17)
translates the Greek word harpazo, which means to seize upon with force or to snatch
up. Latin translators of the Bible used the word rapere, the root of the English term
rapture. At the rapture living believers will be caught up into the air, translated
into the clouds where Christ will hover, in a moment of time.
The rapture is characterized as a translation coming (1 Cor. 15:5152; 1 Thess.
4:1517) in which Christ comes for His church. The second advent is Christ returning
with His previously raptured saints, descending from heaven to establish His earthly
kingdom (Zech. 14:45; Matt. 24:2731).
Differences between the two events are harmonized naturally by the pre-trib
position, while other views are not able to account naturally from biblical texts for
distinctions. The following graphic lists a compilation of rapture passages set opposite
to many verses that refer to the second coming.

RAPTURE AND SECOND COMING PASSAGES

 Second
Rapture Advent
"Seventieth Week"
of Daniel

Seven-Year
Tribulation Period
Rapture Passages 2nd Coming Passages
John 14:1-3 2 Thess 2:3 (?) Daniel 2:44-45 Acts 1:9-11
Rom 8:19 1 Tim 6:14 Daniel 7:9-14 Acts 3:19-21
1 Cor 1:7-8 2 Tim 4:1 Daniel 12:1-3 1 Thess 3:13
1 Cor 15:51-53 2 Tim 4:8 Zech 12:10 2 Thess 1:6-10
1 Cor 16:22 Titus 2:13 Zech 14:1-15 2 Thess 2:8
Phil 3:20-21 Heb 9:28 Matt 13:41 1 Peter 4:12-13
Phil 4:5 James 5:7-9 Matt 24:15-31 2 Peter 3:1-14
Col 3:4 1 Peter 1:7, 13 Matt 26:64 Jude 14-15
1 Thess 1:10 1 Peter 5:4 Mark 13:14-27 Rev 1:7
1 Thess 2:19 1 John 2:28-3:2 Mark 14:62 Rev 19:11-20:6
1 Thess 4:13-18 Jude 21 Luke 21:25-28 Rev 22:7, 12, 20
1 Thess 5:9 Rev 2:25
1 Thess 5:23 Rev 3:10
2 Thess 2:1

Based upon the references above, we can see a vast difference between the character
of passages referencing the rapture when compared to those of the second advent as
summarized in the following chart:

RAPTURE AND SECOND COMING CONTRASTS

Rapture/Translation 2nd Coming/Estab. Kingdom

1 Translation of all believers 1 No translation at all
2 Translated saints go to 2 Translated saints return to
heaven earth
3 Earth not judged 3 Earth judged & righteousness
established
4 Imminent, any-moment, 4 Follows definite predicted
signless signs including tribulation
5 Not in the Old Testament 5 Predicted often in Old Testament
6 Believers only 6 Affects all men
7 Before the day of wrath 7 Concluding the day of wrath
8 No reference to Satan 8 Satan bound
9 Christ comes for His own 9 Christ comes with His own
10 He comes in the air 10 He comes to the earth
11 He claims His bride 11 He comes with His bride
12 Only His own see Him 12 Every eye shall see Him
13 Tribulation begins 13 Millennial Kingdom begins

ADDITIONAL DIFFERENCES
Paul speaks of the rapture as a mystery (1 Cor. 15:5154), that is a truth not
revealed until its disclosure for the Church (Col. 1:26), making it a separate event. On
the other hand, the second coming was predicted in the Old Testament (Dan. 12:13;
Zech. 12:10; 14:4).
The movement for the believer at the rapture is from earth to heaven, while it is
from heaven to earth at the second advent. At the rapture, the Lord comes for His saints
(1 Thess. 4:16), while at the second coming He comes with His saints (1 Thess. 3:13). At
the rapture, Christ comes only for believers, but His return to earth will impact all
people. The rapture is a translation/resurrection event where the Lord takes believers
to the Fathers house in heaven (John 14:3), while at the second advent believers
return from heaven to earth (Matt. 24:30). Ed Hindson says, The different aspects of
our Lords return are clearly delineated in the scriptures themselves. The only real
issue in the eschatological debate is the time interval between them. 2

POST-TRIB PROBLEMS
One of the strengths of the pre-trib position is that it is best able to harmonize the
many events of end-time prophecy because of its distinction between the rapture and
the second coming. Posttribulationists rarely attempt to answer such objections and the
few who try struggle with the biblical text resulting in strained interpretations.
Pretribulationists do not struggle to provide answers. What are some post-trib
problems?
First, posttribulationism requires that the church will be present during the
seventieth week of Daniel (Dan. 9:2427) even though it was absent from the first sixty-
nine. Daniel 9:24 says, all seventy weeks are for Israel. Pretribulationism is not in
conflict with this passage, as is posttribulationism, since the church departs before the
beginning of the seven-year period.
Second, posttribbers must deny the New Testament teaching of imminencythat
Christ could come at any-moment. Pretribulationism has no problem since it holds that
no signs or events must precede the rapture.
Third, premillennial posttribulationism has no answer to the problem of who will
populate the millennium if the rapture and second coming occur together. Since all
believers will be translated at the rapture and all unbelievers judged, because no
unrighteous shall be allowed to enter Christs kingdom, then no one would be left in
mortal bodies to populate the millennium.
Fourth, posttribulationism is not able to satisfactorily explain the sheep and goat
judgment after the second coming (Matt. 25:3146). The rapture would have removed
believers from unbelievers at Christs return rendering the sheep/goat judgment a non-
necessity. On the other hand, it is necessary if pretribulationism is true.
Fifth, Revelation 19:78 identifies the church as the Bride of Christ who has made
herself ready and accompanies Christ from heaven to earth at the second coming (Rev.
19:14). How could this happen if the church is still on earth awaiting Christs
deliverance while at the same time returning with Him? Once again, posttribulationism
requires an impossible scenario, while the clear statements of the biblical text fit nicely
into pretribulationism.

CONCLUSION
The clear differences between Christs coming in the air to rapture His church and
His return to planet earth with the church are too great to be seen as a single event.
These biblical distinctions provide a strong basis for pretribulationism. When one
considers that the church is promised exemption from Israels tribulation (Rom. 5:9; 1
Thess. 1:10; 5:1:9; Rev. 3:10), then it only follows that the church will be raptured before
the tribulation. Such a hope is indeed a Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13). Even so, come
Lord Jesus? Maranatha!

ENDNOTES

1
John S. Feinberg, Arguing for the Rapture: Who Must Prove What and How in Thomas Ice and
Timothy Demy, editors, When The Trumpet Sounds (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1995), p. 195.
2
(emphasis original) Edward E. Hindson, The Rapture and the Return: Two Aspects of Christs Coming
in Thomas Ice and Timothy Demy, editors, When The Trumpet Sounds (Eugene, OR: Harvest House
Publishers, 1995), p. 157.