The rapture and the second coming are different events!
Some believers lump the two together. However, they are different.
The word “rapture” comes from the Latin rapturo, translating the Greek word meaning “caught up.” It is used in the Latin texts, not in the Greek.
The primary passage is where Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4:
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together (G726) with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these Words.
The word harpazō (G726) means to seize, carry off by force; to seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly; to snatch out or away
Jesus descends from Heaven but does not touch the earth. Dead believers are resurrected and living believers are transformed. Both groups are caught up to meet Christ in the air. The Church is removed before the Tribulation begins. We don’t have to read anything into these verses, they are very clear.
The Rapture is described as a clandestine, secret operation. It will not be visible to all. This is also described by Jesus in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins that I have written about in the past.
In the Rapture, the focus is on the delivery of the saints from coming wrath. FATHER’S Agape Love, grace, and mercy deliver HIS True church from the justice requirement that is required to cleanse the earth before Jesus’ return. Let us focus on walking in Holiness and by THE SPIRIT as we await being caught up!
Why do you think that there is now a major emphasis and disclosure concerning aliens? The adversary will attempt to deceive the remaining peoples of the earth from believing that the rapture has occurred.
At the Second Coming,
Christ returns visibly to earth.
Every eye sees Him.
He defeats the forces of evil.
He judges the nations.
He establishes His kingdom on earth.
It is written by The Holy Spirit in Zechariah chapter 14:
3 Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle.
4 And in that day His Feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.
5 Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the LORD my God will come, And all the saints with You.
And Jesus Himself spoke in Revelation chapter 1:
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty.”
The following summarizes the difference between the two events:
| Rapture | Second Coming |
| Christ comes for His saints | Christ comes with His saints |
| Believers are caught up to meet Christ in the air | Christ physically returns to the earth |
| The earth is not judged at that moment | Christ judges the nations and defeats evil |
| Seen as a deliverance of believers | Seen as the establishment of Christ’s kingdom |
| Associated with comfort and hope | Associated with judgment and victory |