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Many believe that there is some contradiction regarding the
Rapture and the “Second Coming” of Jesus. Since we know
that the bible does not contradict itself, lets consider the
following explanation: The “Second Coming” refers to Jesus’
return to Earth. This event consists of two parts, the
Rapture, and His Glorious Return at the end of the Great
Tribulation.
We’ve
already seen how we are to be ‘caught up together with them
(the believers who have died) in the clouds to meet the Lord
in the air’ (2 Thessalonians 4:17) in what is commonly
called the Rapture. Clearly, Jesus has arrived ‘with a loud
command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet
call of God’.
We also
know that He will put an end to Satan’s rule, establish His
Kingdom on earth and rule for one thousand years. Titus
2:13 refers to this as the “Glorious Appearing”.
Matthew 24, beginning with
verse 27 states: “For as the lightning comes from the east
and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son
of Man be. Immediately after the tribulation of those days
the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its
light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of
the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man
will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth
will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the
clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will
send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they
will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one
end of heaven to the other (verses 29-31). In Titus
2:13,
Paul calls this the “Glorious Appearing”
Notice
the phrase “Immediately after the tribulation of those
days”. Tribulation is to last seven years. Therefore, we
see the Rapture take place, then seven years of Tribulation,
and finally the “Glorious Appearing”.
This is
the reason for the belief that the “Second Coming” is an
event lasting several years, and consisting of two parts:
Rapture, and “Glorious Appearing”. We must remember that
this time period is but the blink of an eye to God.
Wednesday: Pre-Tribulation vs. Post-Tribulation
(c) 2007 Bob Johnston
All Rights Reserved
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