The Rapture versus the Second Coming

Written and compiled by Gary Kukis

These studies are designed for believers in Jesus Christ only. If you have exercised faith in Christ, then you are in the right place. If you have not, then you need to heed the words of our Lord, Who said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son, so that every [one] believing [or, trusting] in Him shall not perish, but shall be have eternal life! For God did not send His Son into the world so that He should judge the world, but so that the world shall be saved through Him. The one believing [or, trusting] in Him is not judged, but the one not believing has already been judged, because he has not believed in the Name of the only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son of God." (John 3:16–18). "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life! No one comes to the Father except through [or, by means of] Me!" (John 14:6).

Every study of the Word of God ought to be preceded by a naming of your sins to God. This restores you to fellowship with God (1John 1:8–10). If we acknowledge our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9). If there are people around, you would name these sins silently. If there is no one around, then it does not matter if you name them silently or whether you speak aloud.

Topics
Preface	Rapture versus the Second Coming	What is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming?
Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines
Links on the Rapture vs. the Second Coming

Preface:	The rapture and the second coming of Jesus Christ are two separate events, taking place seven years apart in human history. The rapture occurs at the end of the Church Age; and there are no prophecies which allow us to determine the time and the place. The second coming is a part of the Tribulation, which continues the Age of Israel; and there are prophecies which tell us when the second coming will occur.

Credit:	Many people have assembled lists of differences, so that there is little need for me to reinvent the wheel here.

These doctrines are found in 1Thessalonians 5 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Rapture versus the Second Coming (by Kent Crockett)
Rapture	Second Coming
1	Jesus coming FOR His Church.

John 14:1-3 1Thessalonians 4:14-17	Jesus coming WITH His Church. Col 3:4, Zechariah 14:5 Jude 14 Revelation 19:14
2	Caught up with Him in the air 1Thessalonians 4:13-18	Jesus' feet touch the earth. Zechariah 14:4 Revelation 19:11-21
3	Christians taken first, unbelievers are left behind. 1Thessalonians 4:13-18	Wicked are taken first, the righteous (Tribulation saints) are left behind. Matthew 13:28-30
4	Purpose: To present the Church to Himself and to the Father 2Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 19:6-9	Purpose: To execute judgment on earth and set up His Kingdom Jude 14-15 Revelation 19:11-21 Zechariah 14:3-4
5	MARRIAGE: Marriage of Lamb in heaven after the Rapture	WAR: Marriage is followed by war on earth at the 2nd coming
6	Happens in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (too fast for eyes to see) 1Corinthians 15:52	Slow coming, people will see Him come back. Zechariah 12:10 Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7
7	Only Christians will see Him 1John 3:2 1Corinthians 15:52	Every eye will see Him. Revelation 1:7
8	Jesus descends with a shout(for resurrection). 1Thessalonians 4:16	No shout mentioned. Revelation 19:11-21
9	A resurrection takes place. 1Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1Corinthians 15:51-54	No resurrection mentioned Revelation 1:7 19:11-21 Zechariah 12:10 14:4-5
10	Can happen at any time. Revelation 3:3 1Thessalonians 5:4-6	Occurs at end of 7 years of Tribulation. Daniel 9:24-27 Matthew 24:29-30 2Thessalonians 2:3-8
11	No angels are sent to gather (resurrected people don't need angels to help them).	Angels sent forth to gather people together for judgment Matt 13:39, 41, 49, 24:31, 25:31 2Thessalonians 1:7-10
12	Spirits of those dead in Christ return with Jesus to receive their their resurrected bodies. 1Thessalonians 4:14-16	Christians return with Jesus in already resurrected bodies riding on white horses. Revelation 19:11-21
13	Jesus does not return on a white horse.	Jesus returns on a white horse. Revelation 19:11
14	For the Church only (those in Christ). 1Thessalonians 4:14-17	For redeemed Israel & Gentiles. Romans 11:25-27 Matthew 25:31-46
15	A message of hope and comfort. 1Thessalonians 4:18 Titus 2:13 1John 3:3	A message of judgment. Joel 3:12-16 Revelation 19:11-21 Malachi 4:5
From Kent Crockett:

https://www.raptureready.com/rapture-vs-second-coming-kent-crockett/

This is taken directly from Got Questions?
What is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming?
Answer:

The rapture and the second coming of Christ are often confused. Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether a scripture verse is referring to the rapture or the second coming. However, in studying end-times Bible prophecy, it is very important to differentiate between the two.

The rapture is when Jesus Christ returns to remove the church (all believers in Christ) from the earth. The rapture is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. Believers who have died will have their bodies resurrected and, along with believers who are still living, will meet the Lord in the air. This will all occur in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye. The second coming is when Jesus returns to defeat the Antichrist, destroy evil, and establish His millennial kingdom. The second coming is described in Revelation 19:11-16.

The important differences between the rapture and second coming are as follows:

1) At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At the second coming, believers return with the Lord to the earth (Revelation 19:14).

2) The second coming occurs after the great and terrible tribulation (Revelation chapters 6–19). The rapture occurs before the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

3) The rapture is the removal of believers from the earth as an act of deliverance (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 5:9). The second coming includes the removal of unbelievers as an act of judgment (Matthew 24:40-41).

4) The rapture will be secret and instant (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). The second coming will be visible to all (Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29-30).

5) The second coming of Christ will not occur until after certain other end-times events take place (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15-30; Revelation chapters 6–18). The rapture is imminent; it could take place at any moment (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

Why is it important to keep the rapture and the second coming distinct?

1) If the rapture and the second coming are the same event, believers will have to go through the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

2) If the rapture and the second coming are the same event, the return of Christ is not imminent—there are many things which must occur before He can return (Matthew 24:4-30).

3) In describing the tribulation period, Revelation chapters 6–19 nowhere mentions the church. During the tribulation—also called "the time of trouble for Jacob" (Jeremiah 30:7)—God will again turn His primary attention to Israel (Romans 11:17-31).

The rapture and second coming are similar but separate events. Both involve Jesus returning. Both are end-times events. However, it is crucially important to recognize the differences. In summary, the rapture is the return of Christ in the clouds to remove all believers from the earth before the time of God's wrath. The second coming is the return of Christ to the earth to bring the tribulation to an end and to defeat the Antichrist and his evil world empire.
From https://www.gotquestions.org/difference-Rapture-Second-Coming.html accessed July 31, 2022.
Chapter Outline	Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines

Apart from Got Questions, this is a different group of people that I use here to reference to. The basic idea is, if these people understand that there are differences between the rapture and the second coming, then they are probably straight on this doctrine.
Links on the Rapture vs. the Second Coming
Got Questions: https://www.gotquestions.org/difference-Rapture-Second-Coming.html

John Ankerberg: https://jashow.org/articles/8-differences-rapture-second-coming/

Compelling Truth: https://www.compellingtruth.org/difference-rapture-second-coming.html

Learn Religions: https://www.learnreligions.com/rapture-vs-the-second-coming-700630

David Jeremiah:

https://www.davidjeremiah.org/this-could-be-the-day/the-rapture/what-is-the-difference-betw
een-the-rapture-and-the-second-coming
Chapter Outline	Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines