Page 34 - Eschatology - Student Ebook

The rapture (word not used in the Bible – the word in the Bible is “snatching away”) is an event
described in both I and II Thessalonians which is event that will usher in “the Day of the Lord.” (I
Thess.5:2). There are no precluding signs that let us know when this event will take place. In fact, I
Thess. 5:2-3 says that the majority of people will not be expecting it. We do know that this event is
followed by “destruction”

I Thes.4:16-18 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and
remain will be caught up (rapture) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so
shall we always be with the Lord.”

II Thessalonians 2: 8 says that after the “gathering of saints”, the “lawless one” will be revealed whom
the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming”.
This verse teaches us that the “lawless one” or antichrist will not come onto the national screen until the
saints have been” gathered away.”

Important Points:
The Second Coming of Christ is a literal event where Jesus Christ will return in body form to earth, will
return to Jerusalem, will be accepted by Israel as their Messiah, and will rule and reign over the earth. It
is described in Matthew 24-35, Luke 21, and in several OT books.

The rapture of the Saints is an event preceding Jesus’ Second Coming. Jesus will meet his Saints in the
clouds, not on the earth. This event will initiate the “Day of the Lord” or the “time of Jacobs troubles”
and will chronologically begin a seven-year period in earth’s history where God will bring judgment from
Heaven to earth on the wickedness of mankind. These judgments are described in Revelation 6-19.
Meanwhile on earth, the “lawless one” will politically take total control of the governments of the earth
to resist the coming of Jesus Christ which concludes the “day of the Lord.”

In essence, there are two phases to the Second Coming of Christ: Phase I is the coming in the clouds or
the rapture of the Church. Christ does not actually come down and set His feet on the earth; rather He
comes to receive His Bride in the clouds. Phase II is the coming of Christ with His saints to destroy all
rebellion. He will put His feet down on the Mount of Olives, walk into Jerusalem, and will rule and reign
from the thrown of David in Jerusalem for 1,000 years. We will detail out all these events further in our
study, however, what is important to understand is that when one talks about the second coming of
Christ, one must clarify which phase of His second coming are being referenced. For example, Matthew
24-25 reference Phase II of his coming, while I Thess. 4 reference phase one of His coming.

Phase II of His second coming is spoken of in greatest detail in Revelation 19:11-16, “I saw heaven
standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With
justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has
a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and
his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and
dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down
the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of
God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF
LORDS.”

33