In this blog I will attempt to convey a basic understanding of what the Second Coming of Jesus looks like for us who are looking for the Lord, and possibly, for anyone who might miss the Rapture. The Second Coming of Jesus occurs at the end of the seven-year tribulation. His return will come as great news to those trib-saints who have endured through the worst seven years in world history, however, Christ’s physical and visible return to the earth will not be welcomed by those who have taken the mark of the beast and who have rejected the Christ.
The Apostle Paul said it this way, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldy lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and GLORIOUS APPEARING of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” – Titus 2:11-13
- In this passage Paul emphasizes the two advents of the Lord’s return, the Blessed Hope and the Glorious Appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Simply put, the blessed hope is the Rapture, and the glorious appearing is the Second Coming of Jesus.
| Christians sometimes confuse the Rapture of the Church with the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ, aka the Second Coming of Jesus. These are two separate events separated by seven years of tribulation. |
The Rapture of the Church is an event that will occur before the tribulation and the Second Coming of Jesus is an event that will at the end of the tribulation.
| The Lord’s ‘Second Coming’ aka ‘Glorious Appearing’ will occur when Jesus returns to the earth at the end of the seven-year tribulation with His Church. He will set His feet on the Mount of Olives upon His return and begin the process of retaking the earth and establishing His Millennial Kingdom. The Second Coming of Jesus |
need not be a mystery as to when it will occur; those left behind, who are looking for Christ’s glorious appearing, can know when it will occur once they see the signing of the peace treaty between Israel and the antichrist. If they count exactly 2,520 days (7 sets of 360 days) from the day of that significant prophetic event it will reveal the exact day of Christ’ Second Coming.
For believers, we won’t be here when the tribulation begins, but the unsaved will. Another distinct characteristic that distinguishes Christ’s Second Coming from the Rapture of the Church is the unknowing and knowing factor. We don’t know when the Rapture will occur, but trib-saints enduring the tribulation can know the day of Christ Second Coming.
Jesus said it this way, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” – Matthew 24:36-44
- This passage is a direct reference to the Rapture of the Church, not the Second Coming of Christ to the earth. We know this because ‘of that day and hour, no one knows’ is a reference to the Rapture.
However, people can know the exact day of the Christ’s Second Coming. In Noah’s day, they were partying it up until the day that Noah entered the ark, that is, the day the ark door was closed; which symbolizes the Rapture, all partying stopped. It would be another seven days before the first drop of rain fell, a week for people to repent, if they chose to do so. During the tribulation there will not be any partying and celebrating because it will be an unprecedented time of wars, human survival, global suffering, and God’s judgment. When we talk about the Second Coming of Jesus, we need to understand what His return to the earth will look like in proper context. On the 2,520th day after the signing of the peace treaty between Israel and the antichrist, Jesus will return with His Church, to retake the earth.
Jesus described it this way, “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. 30 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. 31 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.” – Matthew 24:29-31
This passage is a direct reference to the Second Coming of Jesus, not the Rapture. A main descriptor in this passage that Christ provides for us here is the statement, ‘Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.’
- This verse speaks to how all the survivors of the tribulation will see Jesus returning in the clouds. No doubt cell phone tech is inferred here. This will not be a secret event like the Rapture; it will be loud, obvious, and permanent.
There are distinct differences between the Rapture and Christ’ Second Coming.
The Rapture: Christ’ Second Coming:
1. Christ comes for His Church in the air. 1. Christ comes with His Church to the earth.
2. All Christians are taken. 2. No one is taken.
3. Believers are taken to heaven. 3. Trib-satins remain on the earth.
4. Judgment is in heaven (Bema Seat). 4. Judgment is on earth (Judgment of Nations).
5. NT Church is taken to heaven. 5. Christ sets up His kingdom on earth.
6. It’s imminent – at any moment. 6. Can’t occur for another 7 years after the rapture.
7. No warning signs for the Rapture. 7. Multiple signs for Christ’s physical return.
8. It’s visible to Christians ONLY! 8. It’s visible to every surviving person on earth.
9. It’s a time of joy for the Christian. 9. It’s a time of mourning for the unbeliever.
10. It occurs before the tribulation. 10. It occurs after the tribulation.
11. No mention of the devil. 11. The devil is bound for 1,000 years.
12. It’s the marriage of the Lamb. 12. The bride descends with the Lamb (Jesus).
13. The tribulation begins. 13. The millennium begins.
14. It’s secret, silent, and instant. 14. It’s loud, revealing, and permanent.
15. Nobody will know what happened. 15. Everyone will know what has happened.
16. It’s to evacuate the Church. 16. It’s to establish Christ earthly kingdom.
17. We can’t know when it will occur. 17. We can know the exact day of Christ’ return.
18. Judgment is via the tribulation. 18. Judgment is via the Judgment of the Nations.
19. Christ begins His global judgment. 19. Christ ends His global judgment.
20. The birth pangs are at maximum. 20. The birth is completed at the millennium.
Knowing the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming will fortify a better understanding of your eschatological view. When Jesus returns to the earth, with His Church, the first place we will go is over the planes of Megiddo in northern Israel.
John the Revelator described Christ’s Second Coming this way,
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He (Jesus) who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 6 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.” – Revelation 19:11-21
- This happens on the 2,520 day: the final day of the tribulation. Jesus doesn’t actually set His feet on the ground at Megiddo, but He flies over it, with us. Jesus speaks the word and judgment ensues upon the armies amassed in Megiddo.
The Prophet Zechariah described the Second Coming of Jesus this way, “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.” – Zechariah 14:3,4
- As believers in Jesus living in these last days we must come to better understand the context of Christ’ return to the earth, and we must place His return in the proper context to the tribulation – at the end of it.
Jesus described His Second Coming this way, “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. 30 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.” Matthew 24:29,30
This is NOT the Rapture of the Church; this is the Christ’ 2nd Coming! The Lord returns to the earth after Daniel’s 70th week is completed.
Mourning for the Pierced One: “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. 11 In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.12 And the land shall mourn, every family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; 13 the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves; 14 all the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves.” – Zechariah 12:10-14
- This is a picture of a restoration and a judgment being rendered to the house of Israel and the world. For all those people who took the mark of the beast and followed after the antichrist, it will be a judgment. For all who resisted the antichrist and remained faithful to the Lord, it will be a restoration.
The Jews will see Jesus for who He really is, their one true Messiah, Jesus Christ. He will begin the process of establishing His millennial kingdom which will begin at the Judgment of the Nations. People often ask, how will the Lord get every living survivor of the tribulation on the face of the planet to Jerusalem to face judgment at the Judgment of the Nations?
The Lord gives us His answer in His Word: “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.” – Matthew 24:31
“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect (chosen ones) from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.” . – Mark 13:26,27
In both of these passages we can see that a gathering is occurring when Jesus returns to the earth. This purpose of this gathering is for people to be judged at the Judgment of the Nations. The entire world will be ‘horizontally raptured’ to Jerusalem where this judgment will ensue.
How does this rapture work? With angel power! An angel collects a person and transports them to their judgment. There is no escape from this judgment. All those who are found worthy to enter into the millennial kingdom will be granted access into the millennial kingdom. All those who are not found worthy will be cast into Hell from this judgment.
Question: What and Who determines if a person is worthy?
Answer: Jesus, and their acceptance of Him.
This judgment will last about 45 days and will be necessary to determine just who will be allowed into the millennial kingdom. No doubt, many tribulation survivors will deeply regret their choice to take the mark and serve the antichrist. This judgment will ensue just after Christ’ Second Coming, most likely on Yom Kippur.
Prophetically speaking, Yom Kippur (aka Day of Atonement), is a day of blood. It heralds the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth, but it must be understood in its proper context to the tribulation; Christ returns to the earth AFTER the tribulation. When Christ returns to the earth with His Church and OT Saints, He will defeat the devil and establish His millennial kingdom. It is believed by many Bible scholars that Jesus’ Second Coming will occur on a future Yom Kippur.
I realize that posting a blog about the Second Coming of Jesus may seem a bit unnecessary, unless of course the Rapture occurs and you are left behind. If that happens, then this blog contains some valuable information pertaining to what you should and should not do, mainly NOT taking the mark of the beast, which will be some kind of chip that is injected into the right hand or forehead of every person on earth. Whatever you do, don’t take this mark, if you do, your soul will be doomed to Hell when you die. The temptation will be for you to take the mark because if you don’t, you can’t buy or sell, which means that you will starve or thirst to death as a result; or you will be put to death by the authorities for not complying with this future mandate. This is NOT the COVID-19 vaccine, this is something else. Also, during the tribulation, many people will be killing themselves because of the horrors they will be seeing all around them. If they die without Jesus, they will go to Hell forever. Please don’t kill yourself. If you accept the Lord as your Savior, it will be difficult for you to live for Jesus and you very well may be martyred for Jesus as a result, but that’s much better than taking the chip or committing suicide. I have written a blog on this site entitled “In Case of Global Vanishings’ that you can access. It gives instructions as to what you should do in the event you’re left behind after the Rapture.
While this blog may seem a bit weird, I feel very strongly to post it right now in an effort to get the sacred truth of the gospel out there. If you’re reading this before the Rapture, you can still be saved by placing your faith and trust in Jesus and asking Him to forgive your sin. He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God and He loves you and will save you if you call out to Him in prayer. If the Rapture has occurred and you’re reading this, you can still be saved by asking Jesus into your heart. It will be difficult for you, but God is still with you. If you are captured and killed by the residing authorities, at least you know you will go to Heaven when you die.
I know we are really close, but we don’t know when, just that we’re close. We all need to be ready so if you’re reading this and you’re not saved, make the call to Jesus right now and invite Him to be your Lord and Savior. Until then, keep working and witnessing for the Lord because as long as we are here, we can make a difference.
Maranatha!
Encouragemen is a blog written by Pastor Rob Lee, recently relocated to Southern Missouri. He lives with his wife of 32-years, near their three adult children, their spouses, and children (their grandchildren). Pastor Rob is an Ordained Assemblies of God minister, a former Lead Pastor (25 years), police chaplain, and community advocate. He continues to serve, consult, and disciple men of God, including those who are in the ministry.
Encourage Men 