God’s Plan of Salvation - Part III
The Rapture or The Second Coming of Christ?
There is a distinct difference between these two events!
Prophesy is such an important subject and for us NOT to understand it can make it difficult to truly appreciate everything that God has done for us. There should be a need and a desire from us to acknowledge and learn prophesy, even if it can be somewhat puzzling or confusing at times.
One of the greatest misconceptions about prophecy is understanding the difference between the Rapture (also know as the Blessed Hope) and the Second Coming (also known as the Glorious Appearing). Most people see these as a single event— but it’s not — they are two distinct events, with distinct purposes, on God’s prophetic timeline.
Prayerfully, as we compare these two events, you can have a clearer understanding and want to share in the Blessed Hope that God has given us (See Titus 2:13-14). And be willing and ready to share that hope with others.
The 15 Differences Between the Rapture and the Glorious Appearing
The Rapture / The Blessed Hope
The Glorious Appearing
Christ comes in the air for His own
Rapture of all Christians
Christians are taken to the Father’s house
No judgment on earth
Church taken to heaven
Imminent-could happen any moment
No signs
For believers only
A time of joy
Before the “day of wrath” the Tribulation
No mention of Satan
The judgment seat of Christ
Marriage Supper of the Lamb
Only His own see Him
Tribulation begins
Christ comes with His own to earth
No one raptured
Resurrected saints do not see Father’s house
Christ judges inhabitants of earth
Christ sets up His kingdom on earth
Cannot occur for at least 7 years
Many signs for Christ’s physical return
Affects all humanity
A time of mourning
Immediately after Tribulation (Matt. 24)
Satan bound in abyss for 1,000 years
No time or place for judgment seat
His bride descends with Him
Every eye will see Him
1,000 year kingdom of Christ begins
The Rapture (Blessed Hope) and the Second Coming of Christ (Glorious Appearing) are similar but separate events. Both involve Jesus returning. Both are end-times events. However, it is crucially important to recognize the differences.
In summary, the Rapture, or the Blessed Hope, is the return of Christ in the clouds to remove all believers from the earth before the time of God’s wrath. The Second Coming, or the Glorious Appearing, is the return of Christ with His Saints to defeat Satan (the Antichrist) and his world government. This will bring an end to the tribulation, which climaxes at the Battle of Armageddon.
