The Rapture and The Second Coming

By Joyce Webb 2008

The “rapture” talks about the time when Jesus comes in the clouds to catch away the believers.

It happens at the end of time for the nations.

After the rapture, very terrible things happen here on earth. The time of terrible trouble goes on for 7 years. This is called the “tribulation”.

At the end of 7 years, Jesus comes back to earth to live. He will rule as a king over all the world. He will rule from Jerusalem.

Believers who were in heaven will come down to earth with Jesus. They will help rule the world.

Some people say all this sounds like a fairy tale. It could not be true.

Remember the Jewish people felt that way the first time Jesus came to earth.

They had heard the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah coming. They expected him to come and be a ruler.

The Messiah did come—just the way the Old Testament said—but most of the Jewish people did not believe Jesus was the promised Messiah.

The Jewish people are still looking for the Messiah to come. The Bible says that when Jesus comes the second time, they will believe in Him.

The sad thing is—many of the Jewish people and others will die in the

7 years of trouble—never believing in Jesus.

The Old Testament told about Jesus’ coming the first time. The Old Testament also tells about Jesus’ coming the second time.

The Old Testament also tells about the 7 years of terrible trouble that will happen on the earth.

The New Testament tells about the 7 years of trouble, too. Jesus told about this time of trouble. Jesus told about the rapture where “One person would be taken and the other person would be left.” Jesus told that he would come back to earth again.

When Jesus went up into the clouds to go back to heaven, two angels said that Jesus would come back the same way he went up.

Here are some verses about the “rapture” the catching the believers up in the clouds: This happens before the “tribulation”.

Romans 5:9 “being justified (made right) by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Wrath means great anger.

I Thessalonians 1:10 “To wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

Matthew 24: 37-43

Vs. 37 (As people were at the time of the flood–Noah and the ark–so it will be like that when Jesus comes.)

Vs. 40 Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken and the other left.

Vs. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken and the other left.

Vs. 42 So be prepared (ready), because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.

Vs. 43 You also must be ready all the time. For the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

(Luke tells the same thing. Luke 17:34-37)

Also, Luke 21:6-36

Matthew 25:1-13 Tells about the 10 women who were waiting for the bridegroom to come for their friend, the bride. Five were ready and got into the wedding room, five were not ready and were not allowed into the wedding room.

I Corinthians 15: 51-54

Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep (in death), but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet blowing: for the trumpet shall sound, the dead shall be raised, their bodies will be changed into a body that will never die, and we (which are still alive) shall be changed.

In I Corinthians 15: 18-58, Paul is talking about the resurrection of the dead. Jesus was the first to be resurrected from the dead. Because He was resurrected, we too will be resurrected.

Acts 1:11 You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, which was taken up into heaven, will come again in the same way as you have seen him go up.

Mark 13: 4-14 The disciples asked Jesus:

“Just when are all these things going to happen to the temple? Will there be warning ahead of time?”

So Jesus began a long answer:

“Don’t let anyone fool you. Many will come saying they are the Messiah (Christ) and will lead many astray. Wars will break out near and far, but this is not the sign of the end-time.

For nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be earthquakes in many lands, and famines.

These are only the beginning of terrible times.

But when these things begin to happen, watch out! For you will be in great danger.

You will be dragged before the courts, and beaten in the Jewish churches, and blamed before governors and kings of being followers of Jesus.

This is your opportunity to tell them the gospel. And the gospel must first be told to every nation before the end-time finally comes.

(The next verses tell more about how believers will be treated.)

 

 

I Thessalonians 4:15-17

Vs. 15 We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of (before) those who are in their graves.

Vs. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout,

with the call of the archangel,

and with the trumpet call of God.

First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.

Vs. 17 Then together with them,

we who are still alive and remain on the earth

will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever.

 

I Thessalonians 5:4-6

Vs. 4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.

Vs. 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

(Paul says they are children of light because he is writing to the Christian believers at Thessalonica—which is part of Greece.)

Vs. So be on guard, be watching.

Revelation 4:10,11

I also will keep you from the hour of temptation and testing, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that live upon the earth.

Watch, I come quickly: hold on to your faith, so no one will take your crown of righteousness.

After the “rapture” happens, the 7 years of trouble begin.

During this time there will be a great leader who will be able to have an answer to the world’s problems. He will have such good ideas that the world will be in wonder about how smart he is and how wise. He will have great influence over many nations. The Jewish people will look upon him as a the Peace Maker they have wanted for so long.

He will make a treaty (agreement) with Israel. They will trust him and believe him. He will be so wonderful that the Jewish people will think he is the Messiah that they have been looking for.

But after 3 ½ years, he will break his promise with Israel. He will put up an image in the temple of the Jews. The Jewish people will see that he is not the true Messiah. They will want to pull away from him, but he will have much power and the Jewish people will suffer because of what he will do.

The Bible speaks of this leader as the Anti-Christ, the “man of sin”, the “man of lawlessness”. He will be very clever and he will fool or deceive many.

This man has a prophet that comes along to help him. This prophet will use Satan’s power to make things happen that look like God’s miracles. This makes many people believe in him because of his power.

The prophet will make people worship this leader of “Peace” as god.

The book of Revelation talks a lot about this man and this prophet and what will happen in the world during this time.

 

Here are some verses that tell about these 7 years of trouble. This is the “tribulation”.

II Thessalonians 2:1

Vs.1….For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—-the one who brings destruction.

Vs. 4 He will exalt (lift up ) himself and defy (go against) every god there is and tear down every object of worship.

He will put himself in the temple of God, saying that he himself is God.

Vs. 6 for he can be revealed only when his time comes.

Vs.7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.

(The “one” who is holding it back is the Holy Spirit. )

Vs.8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed (shown),

whom the Lord Jesus will consume (destroy) with the breath of his mouth

and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

Vs. 9 This evil man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit (something that looks like the real thing) power and signs and miracles.

Vs.10 He will use every kind of wicked deception (deceive) to fool those who are on their way to destruction —because they refuse to believe the truth that would save them.

Matthew 24:4

Jesus told them,

“Don’t let anyone lead you wrong. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah’.

They will lead many astray (out of the right way)

Vs. 6 And wars will break out near and far, but don’t panic. (fear)

Yes, these things must come, but the end won’t follow right away

Vs.7 The nations and kingdoms will start wars against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.

Vs 8 But all this will be only the beginning of the terrible things to come.

Vs. 9 Then you will be arrested, persecuted (hurt, made fun of, treated in a bad way) and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your being true to me.

Vs. 10 And many will turn away from me

And betray and hate each other.

Vs. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will lead many astray.

Vs. 12 Sin will be great everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. (The love for God will not be found except for a few people.)

Vs. 13 But those who endure to the end will be saved.

Vs. 14 And the good news will be preached through-out the whole world, so that all nations will hear it. And the, finally, the end will come.

Vs. 15 The time will come when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about the ungodly image standing in the holy place of the temple that makes the temple unholy. (See Daniel 9:27)

When you see this happen go to the hills of Judea. (This is for the Jewish people.)

Vs. 21 If anyone tells you, ‘This is the Messiah’, or ’That one is the Messiah’, do not pay any attention. For there will be many false Messiahs and false prophets who will do wonderful miracles that will deceive (fool).

Vs.24 After the tribulation ends, then the sun will grow dim and the moon will not shine, and the stars will fall–the heavens will shake.

Vs. 30 Then all men will see the Son of Man (Jesus), coming on the clouds with great power glory.

Vs. 31 And he will send forth his angels with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

Vs. 33 ….when you see the events described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door.

Vs. 34 I tell you, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place.

Vs. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.

Vs. 36 However, no knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven, or the Son himself, only the Father knows.

Mark 13: 14-19

Vs. 14 The time will come when you will see the ungodly image put in the temple standing where it should not be. Then you must run away to the hills of Judea.

Vs. 19 For those days will be the worse days ever since the time God created the world.

 

II Thessalonians 2:11-12

Vs. 11 So God will send great deception (deceive) upon them and they will believe all these lies.

Vs.12 Then they will be condemned (blamed and punished) for not believing the truth and for enjoying the evil they do.

After the 7 years great trouble, Jesus will come back to earth. This is when Jesus comes back to earth the second time. At the rapture, Jesus comes in the clouds and calls believers up to Him. But after the 7 years of tribulation is over, Jesus comes to the earth to help the Jewish people in a big war called the Battle of Armageddon. Then Jesus will rule as king over all the world.

Jesus will save the Jewish people from this evil man and from the nations that want to destroy Israel. Jesus will rule the world for 1,000 years from Jerusalem.

Here are some verses that tell of Jesus’ coming to earth the second time:

I Thessalonians 5:2

….the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

Vs. 3 When people are saying, ‘All is well; everything is peaceful and secure.’,

then sudden disaster will fall upon them as suddenly as a woman’s birth pains begin when her child is about to be born.

Mark 13: 26-27

Vs. 26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Vs. 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the earth to the farthest part of the heavens.

Matthew 24: 27-36

Vs.27 For as the lightning lights up the entire sky, so it will be when the Son of Man comes.

Vs.30 And then at last, the sign of the coming of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens,

And there will be deep mourning among all nations of the earth.

And they will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Revelation 19: 11-16 John is telling what he saw in a vision.

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there.

And the one sitting on the horse was named Faithful and True.

His eyes were bright like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns.

He was dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God.

The armies of heaven, dressed in pure white linen, followed him on white horses.

From his mouth came a sharp sword, and with it he struck down the nations. He ruled them with an iron rod, …..

On his robe and leg was written this title: King of kings and Lord of lords.