1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “[a]I would not brethren, have you ignorant [b]concerning them [c]which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope.[d]For if we believe that Jesus is dead, and is risen, even so them which sleep in [e]Jesus, will God [f]bring with him.[g]For this say we unto you by the [h]word of the Lord, that [i]we which live, and are remaining in the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which sleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a [j]shout, and with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then shall we which live and remain, be [k]caught up with them also in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort yourselves one another with these words.”
Two events have been discussed and argued for a very long time. The Rapture or Great Catching Away of the Saints and the Second Coming of Christ; both share great Biblical significance yet many are divided over the two points nearly equally. While nearly all Christians and general Theologians agree that the Second Coming of Christ will occur (although with varying degrees of timing etc), the Rapture of the Church is often sneered at as ‘The Secret Rapture!”
I was very interested in the details of each and have studied them at length over the years. What I found was astounding to say the least! There are two separate events that have been recorded and prophesied by Isaiah, Zechariah, King David in the Psalms, the Apostle Paul, John the Revelator and many more. One event is like a thief in the night and the other Jesus is seen by the entire world. One event Christ comes for His church and the other He comes with His church. One is an instant catching away while the other is a focus on Israel and His Kingdom. In the Rapture, Jesus does not touch the earth but is in the air where the Saints are caught up into. In the Second Coming, Jesus literally touches down on the Mount of Olives and walks through the Kidron Valley and into the newly built Temple to rule the earth for one thousand years! He arrives with tens of thousands and thousands of His Saints!
There can be no doubt; Jesus is coming again in both the Rapture and the Second Coming! As soon as the Church is taken, the Anti-Christ (the man of sin or perdition) is loosed and the timing of the Second Coming of Christ can be noted at seven years! Three and a half years of Tribulation and three and a half years of Great Tribulation! You can set your watch to it! There is nothing left to be completed for the Rapture of the Church to occur and Jesus can return at any moment. The question is: are you ready? Are you looking for His glorious appearing? When He returns in the Great Catching away of the church, will He find you in Him? Remember we are His body in this world! Be ready by turning your hearts to Him.