THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD
The Second Coming of the Lord is when Jesus Christ returns with the body of Christ (the saints) to set up an earthly kingdom for a special 1000 year time period commonly called, the Millennium. In an effort to try to prevent the Second Coming, the devil, will rally all his human and evil forces together at a battle that is commonly called, the Battle of Armageddon, to try to thwart the Lord and His people. The Second Coming is not a permanent kingdom on a permanent earth as once the Millennium is over and the devil is loosed (who was captured and bound for 1000 years) to once again lead a rebellion against the Lord and His people at a final battle involving Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:7). This will conclude in being the devil's final failure, with him being cast into the eternal lake of fire where his Antichrist and false prophet will already be. Also, on the timeline, will be the Great White Throne of Judgment with the judging of the those who rejected the Lordship of God and His pardon offered through His Son, Jesus Christ. This old earth and its universe will be burned up (1 Peter 3:7, Revelation 20:11,21:1) and those who were judged from among it will be cast into the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:5,11-15,21:8) with the devil and his demons. This is the “second death.” There will be a new heaven and a new earth upon which the heavenly Holy City, the New Jerusalem, will come down upon it and life will be like we have never known (Revelation 21:10). No sun or moon will be needed, for the Lord's glory will be our light (Revelation 21:23). Heaven and earth will live as one without separation.
The Second Coming and the rapture are two different events. Sometimes people confuse the Second Coming with the rapture. This can easily happen when a clear view of each event is not completely understood.
Here are some of the key differences between the Second Coming and the rapture.
The Second Coming and the rapture are two different events. Sometimes people confuse the Second Coming with the rapture. This can easily happen when a clear view of each event is not completely understood.
Here are some of the key differences between the Second Coming and the rapture.
Let's take a deeper look at these differences.
1- Jesus comes with clouds at the rapture but on a horse at the Second Coming. There have been popular songs about Jesus coming on a white horse. And they are nice songs. But the truth of the matter is, the Lord comes on clouds of glory at the rapture to gather His people unto Himself while at the Second Coming, He comes to do battle and eradicate evil from the earth as He sets up the earth for His millennial reign. For more information and Scripture references, see the article Two White Horses, Two Very Different Riders, Two Different Times.
2- Jesus stops in the air at the rapture but comes to live on earth at the Second Coming. At the rapture, His intent is to seize His church from the enemies' hands. By this point the Two Witnesses will have been killed for 3 ½ days and the devil and his people will have been rejoicing and persecuting Christians who will be refusing the mark of the beast or the number of his name or to worship him. To the enemies' utter surprise, they will think it is now “peace and safety” for them, but the earth will shake and the atmosphere above will start to give way and the King of glory will come for His own. We get the word “rapture” from the word, “harpazo,” which means to “openly seize and take from” which is exactly how the Lord calls the true church up from this earth. At the Second Coming, the armies of heaven are with the Lord as the evil ones attempt to prevent His return. Of course, the Lord wins and stays. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 19:15-21,20:4-6)
3- At the rapture, Jesus will bring us unto Himself and when He comes, we shall be like Him. While the rapture takes much longer than a twinkling of an eye, our bodies will certainly be changed in the twinkling of an eye just as the Bible says (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). At the Second Coming, the Lord returns with His saints to set up His Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6).
4- At the rapture, the body of Christ will get their glorified bodies, including the dead in Christ who come with Him first, and then those who are alive (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). At the Second Coming, everyone will already have their glorified bodies (having become like Jesus) and be returning with them (Revelation 19:14).
5- The judgment & wrath of God begin at the rapture. Every knee will have to bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The seven trumpets and seven bowls will fall upon wicked mankind who remain and meet their fate. The Second Coming is the conclusion of wicked mankind. Those not killed prior to Armageddon will be eradicated from the earth (Revelation 19:21). It will not be the time of bowing the knee and confessing, it will be “the physical end” of the wicked at that day. (For Scripture references and a more in-depth look, see the articles Every Knee Will Bow, The Seven Trumpets And The Seven Bowls Parallel Study.
6- The Antichrist and false prophet are allowed to continue after the rapture but meet their demise at the Battle of Armageddon and the Second coming (Revelation 19:20). The devil receives a temporary demise as he is captured and bound in the bottomless pit for one thousand years (Revelation 20:1-3).
A Myth Rebutted: Many say that nothing has to happen before the rapture can happen but the Second Coming must be preceded by certain events. However, all the events of the future, including the rapture have a definite order and there are certain events that must happen first. Jesus told us much of what has to happen before the Rapture and it can be found throughout the Bible. Just read Matthew 24:8-51, Mark 13:13-37, Luke 21:10-36 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 and it will become clear that there is much to happen before the rapture. God is orderly. The events of the past, present and future are all orderly. The events and information about them are told to us so we can even have a sense of order. For more information on this, see the article Can the Rapture happen at any time?
There are important events that will happen after the rapture and before the Second Coming, not only on earth but also in heaven.
On earth after the rapture, the seven trumpets and seven bowls of God's judgment and wrath will be poured out upon those on earth, but in heaven there will be much rejoicing and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. In Revelation chapter 19, one can see that as the Marriage Supper concludes, the Battle of Armageddon and Second Coming follow.
As the trumpets and bowls happen, the Bible consistently shows that men will not be repenting but will be angry and cursing God (Revelation 9:20-21,16:8-9,16:11,16:21). Eventually, the devil, his evil forces and following will all join together to try to thwart the return of the Lord at His Second Coming. That is why they will rally together at Mount Megiddo, north of Jerusalem.
How hard will it be for Jesus to take His earth back? Not hard at all. He will destroy the wicked with the sword of His mouth. The Antichrist and false prophet will be captured and cast into the lake of fire. The devil will be caught, bound and cast into a pit for 1000 years (a temporary place, for he has one more tour of deception left at the end of the Millennium). And the rest of those on earth who will still be alive after all the wrath of the Trumpets and Bowls and the Battle of Armageddon will be eradicated too. The Bible calls it the grapes of wrath. All evil will be removed from the earth.
Some people do not consider it much, but the Second Coming happens upon a “devastated” earth. There is no doubt that there will be restoration and it may take some time for it, but some think that this is when there will be “a new earth and new heaven.” Revelation 20:11 and Revelation 21:1 show that this old earth and heaven (universe) are not destroyed until the Great White Throne of Judgment. Following which, there will be a completely new heaven and new earth and upon it will be the Holy City. If you listen closely to some Christians of the “kingdom now” movement or following, they have a huge tendency to misinterpret “millennial Bible verses” ahead of time and this includes thinking the new heaven and earth will precede the Millennium and Great White Throne of Judgment.
In conclusion, the Second Coming will happen at the end of the last seven years of this Age. The devil and his cohorts will attempt to stop the Lord with the Battle of Armageddon. The Lord will eradicate all evil from this earth and set up His millennial kingdom for 1000 years. At the conclusion of the Millennium, the devil will be released for a short time before it all ends with a final battle involving Gog and Magog. And when the devil fails for his last time, he will join the Antichrist and false prophet in the lake of fire. The dead (not in Christ) will be raised for the final judgment at the Great White Throne of Judgment. The old heaven and earth will be destroyed as well as the wicked who will be sent to eternal destruction in the lake of fire (the second death). A new heaven and earth will have the Holy City of God (the New Jerusalem) set upon it and harm or sin will be no more. It will be glorious.
A Study Note Addendum: There is a type of misunderstanding that happens in confusing Biblical events that have strong similarities or similar terms, and this is usually resolved with a closer look at Scripture or a deeper study. Following, are three examples.
Consider the two last great battles, the Battle of Armageddon and the Battle at the end of the Millennium involving Gog and Magog. They both are battles involving God, the devil and their respective powers and forces but one is at the end of this Age before the Millennium and the other is after the Millennium. One has to pay close attention to what verses may apply to these events to be sure of when each is. There are also Scriptures involving Gog and Magog in the Old Testament that have either happened already or will not happen until the end of the Millennium and sometimes people seriously get them out of context.
Consider the term, “the day of the Lord.”
Many people see a verse or two involving a/the “day of the Lord” and think it is all the same event. In the Bible, the phrase a/the “day of the Lord” is used many times over thousands of years by different writers and is not used every time to reference one single day in the future. Even in the future, there is more than one!
Consider the term, “the last trump or trumpet.”
Some people mistake “the last trumpet of this Age” with “the last of the seven trumpets in book of Revelation.” The last trumpet to sound in the book of Revelation will follow 6 trumpets of God's judgment and wrath and the last trumpet that will sound at the rapture will mark the end of the age of salvation and the catching away of the true church. Christians will not be on earth for the trumpets of God's judgment and wrath so unless we are wrong in this belief, it would be impossible. This thought only allows for a post-tribulation mindset. Also, some people even choose to apply “the last trumpet” to the Jewish Festival of the Feast of Trumpets and want to put the rapture on the last day of it because there is a final trumpet at the end of the feast. Not all “last trumpets” are the same trumpet.
Often erroneous ideas get accepted and spread and then because others accept it, people believe it must be true. Such reasoning is the source of many falsehoods and one of the most important reasons for studying the Bible for yourself. Any concept of Scripture found here or anywhere else should be weighed with one's own personal knowledge of Scripture and the Holy Spirit that lives within every true Christian. Only truth stands. False concepts have the sad result of tripping us up at some point and sometimes can be very harmful or expensive.
1- Jesus comes with clouds at the rapture but on a horse at the Second Coming. There have been popular songs about Jesus coming on a white horse. And they are nice songs. But the truth of the matter is, the Lord comes on clouds of glory at the rapture to gather His people unto Himself while at the Second Coming, He comes to do battle and eradicate evil from the earth as He sets up the earth for His millennial reign. For more information and Scripture references, see the article Two White Horses, Two Very Different Riders, Two Different Times.
2- Jesus stops in the air at the rapture but comes to live on earth at the Second Coming. At the rapture, His intent is to seize His church from the enemies' hands. By this point the Two Witnesses will have been killed for 3 ½ days and the devil and his people will have been rejoicing and persecuting Christians who will be refusing the mark of the beast or the number of his name or to worship him. To the enemies' utter surprise, they will think it is now “peace and safety” for them, but the earth will shake and the atmosphere above will start to give way and the King of glory will come for His own. We get the word “rapture” from the word, “harpazo,” which means to “openly seize and take from” which is exactly how the Lord calls the true church up from this earth. At the Second Coming, the armies of heaven are with the Lord as the evil ones attempt to prevent His return. Of course, the Lord wins and stays. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 19:15-21,20:4-6)
3- At the rapture, Jesus will bring us unto Himself and when He comes, we shall be like Him. While the rapture takes much longer than a twinkling of an eye, our bodies will certainly be changed in the twinkling of an eye just as the Bible says (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). At the Second Coming, the Lord returns with His saints to set up His Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6).
4- At the rapture, the body of Christ will get their glorified bodies, including the dead in Christ who come with Him first, and then those who are alive (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). At the Second Coming, everyone will already have their glorified bodies (having become like Jesus) and be returning with them (Revelation 19:14).
5- The judgment & wrath of God begin at the rapture. Every knee will have to bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The seven trumpets and seven bowls will fall upon wicked mankind who remain and meet their fate. The Second Coming is the conclusion of wicked mankind. Those not killed prior to Armageddon will be eradicated from the earth (Revelation 19:21). It will not be the time of bowing the knee and confessing, it will be “the physical end” of the wicked at that day. (For Scripture references and a more in-depth look, see the articles Every Knee Will Bow, The Seven Trumpets And The Seven Bowls Parallel Study.
6- The Antichrist and false prophet are allowed to continue after the rapture but meet their demise at the Battle of Armageddon and the Second coming (Revelation 19:20). The devil receives a temporary demise as he is captured and bound in the bottomless pit for one thousand years (Revelation 20:1-3).
A Myth Rebutted: Many say that nothing has to happen before the rapture can happen but the Second Coming must be preceded by certain events. However, all the events of the future, including the rapture have a definite order and there are certain events that must happen first. Jesus told us much of what has to happen before the Rapture and it can be found throughout the Bible. Just read Matthew 24:8-51, Mark 13:13-37, Luke 21:10-36 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 and it will become clear that there is much to happen before the rapture. God is orderly. The events of the past, present and future are all orderly. The events and information about them are told to us so we can even have a sense of order. For more information on this, see the article Can the Rapture happen at any time?
There are important events that will happen after the rapture and before the Second Coming, not only on earth but also in heaven.
On earth after the rapture, the seven trumpets and seven bowls of God's judgment and wrath will be poured out upon those on earth, but in heaven there will be much rejoicing and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. In Revelation chapter 19, one can see that as the Marriage Supper concludes, the Battle of Armageddon and Second Coming follow.
As the trumpets and bowls happen, the Bible consistently shows that men will not be repenting but will be angry and cursing God (Revelation 9:20-21,16:8-9,16:11,16:21). Eventually, the devil, his evil forces and following will all join together to try to thwart the return of the Lord at His Second Coming. That is why they will rally together at Mount Megiddo, north of Jerusalem.
How hard will it be for Jesus to take His earth back? Not hard at all. He will destroy the wicked with the sword of His mouth. The Antichrist and false prophet will be captured and cast into the lake of fire. The devil will be caught, bound and cast into a pit for 1000 years (a temporary place, for he has one more tour of deception left at the end of the Millennium). And the rest of those on earth who will still be alive after all the wrath of the Trumpets and Bowls and the Battle of Armageddon will be eradicated too. The Bible calls it the grapes of wrath. All evil will be removed from the earth.
Some people do not consider it much, but the Second Coming happens upon a “devastated” earth. There is no doubt that there will be restoration and it may take some time for it, but some think that this is when there will be “a new earth and new heaven.” Revelation 20:11 and Revelation 21:1 show that this old earth and heaven (universe) are not destroyed until the Great White Throne of Judgment. Following which, there will be a completely new heaven and new earth and upon it will be the Holy City. If you listen closely to some Christians of the “kingdom now” movement or following, they have a huge tendency to misinterpret “millennial Bible verses” ahead of time and this includes thinking the new heaven and earth will precede the Millennium and Great White Throne of Judgment.
In conclusion, the Second Coming will happen at the end of the last seven years of this Age. The devil and his cohorts will attempt to stop the Lord with the Battle of Armageddon. The Lord will eradicate all evil from this earth and set up His millennial kingdom for 1000 years. At the conclusion of the Millennium, the devil will be released for a short time before it all ends with a final battle involving Gog and Magog. And when the devil fails for his last time, he will join the Antichrist and false prophet in the lake of fire. The dead (not in Christ) will be raised for the final judgment at the Great White Throne of Judgment. The old heaven and earth will be destroyed as well as the wicked who will be sent to eternal destruction in the lake of fire (the second death). A new heaven and earth will have the Holy City of God (the New Jerusalem) set upon it and harm or sin will be no more. It will be glorious.
A Study Note Addendum: There is a type of misunderstanding that happens in confusing Biblical events that have strong similarities or similar terms, and this is usually resolved with a closer look at Scripture or a deeper study. Following, are three examples.
Consider the two last great battles, the Battle of Armageddon and the Battle at the end of the Millennium involving Gog and Magog. They both are battles involving God, the devil and their respective powers and forces but one is at the end of this Age before the Millennium and the other is after the Millennium. One has to pay close attention to what verses may apply to these events to be sure of when each is. There are also Scriptures involving Gog and Magog in the Old Testament that have either happened already or will not happen until the end of the Millennium and sometimes people seriously get them out of context.
Consider the term, “the day of the Lord.”
Many people see a verse or two involving a/the “day of the Lord” and think it is all the same event. In the Bible, the phrase a/the “day of the Lord” is used many times over thousands of years by different writers and is not used every time to reference one single day in the future. Even in the future, there is more than one!
Consider the term, “the last trump or trumpet.”
Some people mistake “the last trumpet of this Age” with “the last of the seven trumpets in book of Revelation.” The last trumpet to sound in the book of Revelation will follow 6 trumpets of God's judgment and wrath and the last trumpet that will sound at the rapture will mark the end of the age of salvation and the catching away of the true church. Christians will not be on earth for the trumpets of God's judgment and wrath so unless we are wrong in this belief, it would be impossible. This thought only allows for a post-tribulation mindset. Also, some people even choose to apply “the last trumpet” to the Jewish Festival of the Feast of Trumpets and want to put the rapture on the last day of it because there is a final trumpet at the end of the feast. Not all “last trumpets” are the same trumpet.
Often erroneous ideas get accepted and spread and then because others accept it, people believe it must be true. Such reasoning is the source of many falsehoods and one of the most important reasons for studying the Bible for yourself. Any concept of Scripture found here or anywhere else should be weighed with one's own personal knowledge of Scripture and the Holy Spirit that lives within every true Christian. Only truth stands. False concepts have the sad result of tripping us up at some point and sometimes can be very harmful or expensive.
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