The Revelation of Jesus Christ "The Rapture and the Second Coming are Two Separate Events" Selected Scriptures (Introductory Material for Revelation 15:1-16:21)
Introduction- In preparation for the study of the last heptad of judgments coming from God against the enemies of God on earth, a review seems in order. Having covered the "7 Seal Judgments", and the "7 Trumpet Judgments", John is on the verge of describing the last, and the worst of God's wrath being poured out on the earth, the "7 Bowl Judgments". Some might ask, "…will I (a born again Christian that is living today) have to endure these horrific acts of the Antichrist, and the perfectly just and legitimate outpourings of God's holy wrath upon the earth during the 70th Week of Daniel?" Short answer, No! Those of us who are saved today, right now, will be raptured by our Lord Jesus Christ at any moment. It could be today! However, those who are saved during the 70th Week of Daniel will be facing seven terrible years of the evil of the Antichrist, and the wrath of God upon all the earth. That said, many Christians will die during those seven years, but be rewarded for their faithfulness when they stand before Jesus Christ.
I. The Timeline of Future Events (according to the Pretribulational Premillennial View) A. The any-moment (imminent) Rapture of the Church which could happen today! I Thess. 4:13-18; II Thess. 2:7,8; John 14:1-3
B. The antichrist rises to power by signing a peace treaty with Israel and taking leadership of the Revived Roman Empire Rev. 13:1; Dan. 9:27
C. The Seventieth Week of Daniel Dan. 9:20-27; Rev.6:1-19:10 1. The building of the fourth temple (blasphemous) in Jerusalem 2. The Battle of God and Magog Ezekiel 38,39 3. The "abomination of desolation" Dan. 12:11; Mark 13:14; Rev. 12:17
D. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ 1. The Battle of Armageddon Rev. 19:11-21; Mark 14:62 2. The Judgment of the Sheep and the Goats Matt. 25:31-46 3. Satan will be bound and cast into the abyss Rev. 20:1-3
E. The 1000-year Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ on earth Rev. 20
F. The final battle where Satan is released, he gathers an army, hecomes against Jesus, and Jesus destroys them by fire Rev. 20:7-10
G. The Great White Throne Judgment Rev. 20:11-15
H. The Eternal State Revelation 21,22
II. The Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ are Two Separate Events A. At the Rapture, the church meets the Lord in the air (I Thess. 4:17), but at the Second Coming believers return to the earth with Jesus (Rev. 19:14)
B. At the Rapture, unbelievers are left on the earth (I Thess. 4:13-18), but at the Second coming, unbelievers are killed at the Battle of Armageddon and the Judgment of the Sheep and the Goats, and retained in Hades/Sheol
C. At the Rapture, the church is brought into the presence of Jesus, the Judgment Seat of Christ takes place, and Jesus present the bride to Himself and the Father which leads to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, but at the Second Coming, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is completed
D. At the Rapture, only Christians will see Jesus (I John 3:2), but at the Second Coming, everyone on earth will see Jesus (Matt. 24:29,30; Rev. 1:7)
E. At the Rapture, the spirits of those who were in Christ but physically died come with Jesus and receive their resurrected physical body in order for Christ to give them their glorified bodies, but at the Second Coming, Jesus returns with Christians following in their resurrected bodies riding on horses
F. At the Rapture, Jesus does not set foot on the earth, He meets the church in the clouds (I Thess. 4:13-18), but at the Second Coming, Jesus arrives, sets foot on the Mount of Olives, and the Mount of Olives splits in two (Zechariah 14:3,4)
G. At the Rapture, Jesus will not ride a white horse, but at the Second Coming, Jesus is riding a white horse (Rev. 19:11)
H. At the Rapture, there is no sword coming out of the mouth of Jesus, but at the Second Coming, a sword is coming out of the mouth of Jesus Rev. 19:11-21 III. The Importance of Keeping the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesuys Christ as Two Separate Events A. Making the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ the same event, or having them occurring at the same time means that the church goes through the 70th Week of Daniel I Thess. 5:9; Rev. 3:10
B. If the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the same event, then the Rapture cannot occur today, because there are many things in the 70th Week of Daniel which must occur prior to the Second Coming of Jesus (Matt. 24:4-30).
C. The church is not mentioned in Revelation 6-19, it must be gone from the earth
D. The prophecy of the 70 Week of Daniel (Dan 9:20-27) and the reference to "the time of Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30:7) support the idea that the 70th Week of Daniel is for the purpose of bringing the nation of Israel to salvation