Q&A: What's the Difference Between the Rapture and the Second Coming?

The Rapture takes place at least 7 years  before the Second Coming of Christ. The Rapture is the trigger event that causes the 7 year Tribulation Period to begin on earth. During the Rapture, those deemed righteous both dead and alive, will be physically taken off the earth to meet with Christ in the clouds. They will then follow Him and immediately participate in five separate concurring events.

First, they will experience the Bema Seat Judgment (II Corinthians 5:10). At that time, they will receive rewards for their efforts to promote the Good News of salvation and eternal life through faith in Christ. They will also be rewarded for their random acts of kindness towards mankind. The Bema Seat reward consists of earthly governance positions the righteous will perform during the one thousand year or Millennial Reign of Christ on earth. Second, the righteous will receive white garments to wear as a sign of immortality and meritorious service.(Revelation 19:8). Those martyred for their faith in Christ will instead receive white robes to wear (Revelation 6:11).

Third, the righteous will participate in the Marriage Ceremony of Jesus to His saints or followers. This ceremony is one of many proofs that the Rapture is a pre Tribulation event. We are told the the "Bride" or raptured followers of Christ, have now become His "Wife" or Children of God (Revelation 19:6-9). At that time, the saints are officially adopted into the family of God. They now receive all the rights and privileges this title bestows upon them such as immortality and the honor of personally meeting with the Triune Godhead. Fourth, the righteous will attend a wedding reception known as The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7). At the end of this Supper, the saints will accompany Christ back to the earth. It is now the last day of the 7 year Tribulation Period. That day is known as the "Day of the Lord". This is the day the unrepentant of the earth are removed from the earth. Those believers that survived the Tribulation will continue to live on the earth, and the immortal righteous followers of Christ assume the world-wide governance positions they were assigned at the Bema Seat Judgement.

The Rapture could happen at any time as there are no prophecies that need to be fulfilled for it to occur. However, in all probability it will take place just before or during the signing of a 7 year peace treaty between the Jewish nation of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. There is a slight chance that it might occur as late as 3.5 years into the first half of the 7 year Tribulation Period. This is known as the Mid Tribulation Rapture. It is at this time that the World Leader, or Antichrist, declares himself worthy of worship (II Thessalonians 2:4). This declaration will begin the final 3.5 year "Great Tribulation Period" and trigger the Rapture if it has not occurred before then (Revelation 12:9).

TIMING OF RAPTURE

The first opportunity for the Rapture to occur will most probably happen before or during the annual Fall Jewish Feast of Trumpets. Traditionally, this is when the Shofar {trumpet} is sounded and the Jews rush into their fields to harvest their ripened crops just before the season of storms. If the Rapture occurs during this festival in the year 2026 {Friday Sept 11th through Sunday the 13th}, then the 7 year Tribulation Period would start, and then end with the Second Coming of Christ in the year 2033. This date marks the two thousand year anniversary of the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Please see related, “Possible Rapture Dates Revealed”

Scripture states that the "Great Tribulation" will occur during the last 3.5 years {1,260 days} of the 7 year Tribulation Period. (Matthew 24:21). It is during this time period that the unrighteous of the earth begin to be pressured by God to repent and receive eternal life. God initiates 6 {Biblical number of Man} Trumpet Judgements that involve 6 worldwide natural disasters. Then God initiates 7 {Biblical number of Completion} Bowl Judgements that consist of 7 plagues. To make matters worse, the Antichrist will use the power of Satan to initiate a violent world domination plan. This involves a One World Government and Religion. Mankind will be forced to swear an oath of allegiance to this New World Order or perish.

The people of the earth that survive this 7 year period will be able to fairly accurately calculate the date of the Second Coming of Christ. Jesus stated that “But of that day and hour no man knows…” (Matthew 24:36). This prophecy is true for two reasons. First, while the Godhead already knows the "day and hour", they have decided not to divulge it to mankind. Second, a single “day” and “hour" cannot be given as the human race lives on a rotating planet and therefore experiences three different calendars days every twenty four hours, and twenty four different time zones all simultaneously. However, Scripture tells us the Second Coming occurs exactly 3.5 years or 1,260 days after the Antichrist stand in the Third Temple in Jerusalem and declares himself a god (Matthew 24:15). So, everyone alive on the earth will know the approximate date and be looking for Christ’s return. Some to welcome and worship Him, and some to reject and curse Him (Revelation 16: 9, 11, 21).

At the Rapture, the righteous are taken off the earth leaving behind the unrighteous. At the Second Coming, the raptured righteous now immortals, will leave the Marriage Supper of the Lamb reception and return with Christ to the earth (Matthew 24:26-27; Revelation 1:7). Upon their arrival, the mortal righteous on the earth that survived the Tribulation Period will welcome Christ and His entourage. However, the mortal unrighteous will be repulsed at the appearance of Christ to the point of death due to the Holiness of His being (II Thessalonians 2:8-12; Revelation 19:15). So, only the righteous mortals and immortals will now inherit and occupy a restored pristine earth, living in peace and health for the next one thousand years (Revelation 20:4-6). The righteous mortals will also participate in "replenishing" the population of the earth. This desire of God was a command by Him to Adam and Eve in the Garden, and again to Noah's family after the Flood (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 9:1). God will continue to grow His human family as He has great plans for mankind in the eternal Ages to come.

To understand what occurs after the one thousand year Reign of Christ on Earth, please see related: “What Happens at the End of the Millennial Reign”, “Time Ends and Eternity Begins”, “The Sky is Only a Stepping Stone”, “How Old Will I Be In Heaven on Earth?”.