Page 89 - The Rapture Question by John F. Walvoord

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THE TRANSLATION AND THE
SECOND COMING CONTRASTED

The preceding discussion has offered many inherent con­
trasts between the translation of the church and the second
coming of Christ to establish the millennial kingdom. These
contrasts are such as to make any harmony of these two events
an impossibility. Those who attempt it must resort to spirit­
ualization of details that clash and avoidance of striking differ­
ences in general character.
These contrasts can be stated by comparison of details of
the translation designated (A) and details of the Second
Coming designated (B). (A) At the time of the translation, the
saints will meet the Lord in the air. (B) At the time of the
Second Coming, Christ will return to the Mount of Olives,
which on that occasion will undergo a great transformation, a
valley being formed to the east ofjerusalem where the Mount
of Olives was formerly located (Zech. 14:4-5). (A) At the
coming of Christ for the church, the living saints are trans­
lated. (B) At the coming of Christ to establish His kingdom,
there is no translation whatever. (A) At the translation of the
church, Christ returns with the saints to heaven. (B) At the
Second Coming, Christ remains on the earth and reigns as
King. (A) At the time of the translation, the earth is not

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