6. Here are some comparisons between the Rapture & the 2nd Coming:

Rapture: is a translation or resurrection coming where the Lord comes FOR His Church/Bride (1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:15-17) and taking her to His Father's House. (John 14:3).
2nd Coming: Yahshua(Jesus) is coming WITH his saints/Church/Bride to set up His Millennial Kingdom on earth for 1000 yrs. (Rev. 19; Zech. 14:4-5; Matt. 24:27-31)

Rapture: is a Mystery, a newly revealed truth (1 Cor. 15:51-54; Col. 1:26) not known to the Old Testament prophets, and making it a separate event from anything they have foreseen. The New Testament talks about the Rapture of the Church and the 2nd Coming.
2nd Coming: was predicted in the Old Testament. (Dan. 12:1-3; Zech. 12:10; 14:4) The Old Testament of Israel just talks about the 2nd Coming.

More comparisons between the two:

Rapture: Translation (changed into immortal bodies) of all believers (1 Cor. 15:52-53)
2nd Coming: No translation of anyone (Rev. 19:11-21, Matt. 25:34) survivors of the Tribulation inherited the 1000yr Kingdom, but with no translation into immortal bodies, Isa. 65:20)

Rapture: Translated saints go up to heaven (1 Cor. 15:51-55, 1 Thess. 4:15-17)
2nd Coming: Translated saints return to earth (Rev. 19:7-8, 11-14)

Rapture: Earth is not judged at that time (1 Cor. 15:53-58, 1 Thess. 4:16-18)
2nd Coming: Earth is judged and righteousness is restored (Matt. 25:31-46, Rev. 19:1-6, 20:4)

Rapture: Imminent and sign-less (Matt. 25:13, Mark 13:32-37, Luk. 12:40, Phil. 4:5, Jas. 5:8, Rev. 1:3, 22:10, Tit. 2:13, 1 Thes. 5:6)
2nd Coming: Follows exact signs and days according to Daniel and Revelation prior to (Matt. 24:15-30, Dan 9:27 & 12:11-13, Rev. 6-18)

Rapture: Is for Believers only (1 Thes. 4:13-18 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”)
2nd Coming: Is for everyone (Matt 25:1-2 the wise and the foolish virgins; Matt. 25:46 the sheep & the goats)

Rapture: Happens before the Day of Wrath (1 Thes, 4:13-18 & 1 Cor. 15:51-55; neither mentions the Antichrist, the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse, the 7 Seal judgments, the 7 trumpet judgments, the 7 bowl/vial judgments, the Wrath of God, Armageddon, or the wheat/tare & sheep/goat judgments thereafter)

2nd Coming: Concludes the Day of Wrath (Rev. 6-20:4; Matt. 25:31-46; Dan 9:27 & 12:11-13 specifically mention the Antichrist, the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse, the 7 Seal judgments, the 7 trumpet judgments, the 7 bowl/vial judgments, the Wrath of God, Armageddon, or the wheat/tare & sheep/goat judgments thereafter.)

Rapture: Has no reference to Satan (1 Thes, 4:13-18 & 1 Cor. 15:51-55)
2nd Coming: Satan is bound up for 1000 yrs. (Rev. 20:1-3)

Rapture: Yahshua(Jesus) comes in the air only (1 Thes, 4:13-18)
2nd Coming: Yahshua(Jesus) comes down to the earth (Zech. 14:4)

Rapture: Only Christians see Him (1 Thess. 5:2 He comes “like a thief in the night” so most people won’t know it when He arrives; 1Cor. 15:52 it is said that it will happen “in the twinkling of an eye”, that’s very fast, perhaps too fast to see; Dan. 10:7 Daniel had a vision that no one else there could see; Acts 9:7 the men with Saul could not see what Saul was experiencing), and which news is “comforting” to us believers.

2nd Coming: Everyone sees Him (Rev. 1:7 says “every eye shall see Him” and “everyone on earth shall wail because of Him.”) and they are not happy about it.

Rapture: It’s a joyful and comforting occasion for believers (1 Thess. 4:13-18)
2nd Coming: It’s a terrible day of wrath and destruction for God’s enemies (Rev. 19:15-21)

Rapture: Tribulation then begins (1 Thess. 5:1-11 immediately after Paul’s discussion of the rapture in ch. 4:13-18 he then describes what comes next: the Day of the Lord, sudden destruction, no escape for those people who live in darkness. We are to watch for His rapture and be sober, knowing that we are not appointed to His wrath. That whether we be alive or dead at the time of His rapture, we will then live together with Him. Where will we live with Him? John 14:1-3 in His “Father’s House” in heaven during the Tribulation; Isa 26:20 “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast”)

2nd Coming: Millennial Kingdom begins (Rev. 20:4 those who were beheaded in the Tribulation for Yahshua(Jesus) lived & reigned with Him for 1000 years. That is the Millennial Kingdom.)

7. Practical Results of a Pre-Trib Rapture. Some people think the Pre-Tribbers have illusions of escapism that will destroy their witness and faith if the Pre-Trib Rapture doesn't play out. They think Pre-Tribbers don't care about anything or anyone because they think they have a 'Get out of Jail Free' card for the Tribulation. However, they might not realize that Yahshua(Jesus) will reward Christians for good service at the Judgment Seat of Christ later in heaven after the rapture. If there is no good Christian service, there may be little or no rewards waiting for them after the rapture.

The fact that Yahshua(Jesus) could return today for us should be a good motivator for living a good Christian life and doing good works for Christ.

Also, knowing that loved ones: friends and family, who aren't Christians will be left behind after the rapture to face the coming cataclysm of the Great Tribulation should be enough to motivate them to try to lead as many people as possible to Christ before it's too late.

If the Pre-Wrath or Mid-Tribulation or Post-Tribulation Rapture view was accurate, a simple study of Daniel's 70th Week would then show you exactly when Yahshua(Jesus) is returning for the 2nd Coming. All you have to do is note when the Antichrist's 7 year peace treaty with Israel is signed, or note just when the Antichrist's abomination of desolation in the new Hebrew Temple happens, and you can compute the exact day of our Lord's 2nd Coming. No imminency there. No need to always live a righteous life there. You could then just sin and sin and wait around until the last day before Christ's return and then repent and be good. Based on my understanding of the Bible, I just don't think it works like that.

8. Yahshua(Jesus) Himself taught about the coming Rapture. “1. Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” -John 14:1-3
Where is Yahshua’s ‘Father’s House’? In heaven. He’s going to prepare a place for us in His Father’s House in heaven.
Then what? He will come back for us. That’s the Rapture!
What will he do after He comes back for us, set up His Millennial Kingdom here on earth then? No! He will take us (meaning to go somewhere) to be with Him. Where is He? In heaven. He takes us up to heaven at that time. He doesn’t stick around to battle the Antichrist or to save the world at that time.

Instead, He takes us to our new home, in His Father’s House, in heaven! And after the Bema Seat judgment, and after we get our white linens/robes, and after we get our white horses, and after the 7 yr. Tribulation on earth, THEN Yahshua(Jesus) returns to earth with all His angels, and us believers too on our white horses, to rid the world of the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and all of Satan’s NWO armies. And only THEN does He set up the new Millennium. Only then has ‘Thy Kingdom Come’.

9. Whoever said that everyone must suffer through the Tribulation to be purified?, or to do XYZ good works in the Tribulation to get saved?

Ephesians 2:7-9
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Yahshua(Jesus).
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

What about everyone who has died already who didn't suffer any hardships at all? By some people's definition, they are not saved because they have suffered no great tribulation. That just doesn't make any sense. Yahshua(Jesus) said that we would be delivered from the time and hour of God's judgment to "those who dwell on the earth." His great judgment is for those who have rejected Yahshua(Jesus), not for His children. Satan has given Christians plenty of tribulation over the years, and continues to do so even today.

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Revelation 3:10 (KJV)
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

That is the 'Blessed Hope!'

Titus 2:13 (KJV)
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Yahshua(Jesus) Christ

Maranatha!

Peace.

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