MJ Martin (13 Aug 2005)
"Contrasts Between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ"


http://www.realtime.net/~wdoud/topics/rapture.html 

Contrasts Between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ


The Rapture

The Second Coming of Christ

Only believers see Christ. The Rapture is private. Heb. 9:28; Acts 1:11 Every eye shall see Him. The Second Coming of Christ is public. Rev. 1:7
Christ meets believers in the air, 1 Thess. 4:17 Christ sets foot on the Mount of Olives, Zech. 14:4
Believers are taken off the earth, John 14:3 At the Second Coming, unbelievers are taken off the earth, Mt. 24:37f
Believers go to heaven, 1 Thess. 4:17 At the Second Coming, believers come back to earth with Christ, 1 Thess. 3:13; Col. 3:4;, 2 Thess 4:13; Zech. 14:5
There is no timetable for the Rapture The Second Coming is seven years after the Rapture, Matt. 24:29-30
Believers are rewarded. 1 Cor. 3:11-15; Rev. 22:12 Unbelievers are judged at the Second Coming; the Baptism of Fire takes place, Matt. 25:31,32,46
The Rapture is a source of comfort to the believer, 1 Thess. 4:18 The Second Coming of Christ is a source of terror for the unbeliever, Rev. 6:15-17
There are no changes in nature associated with the Rapture There are many changes in nature associated with the Second Coming, Isa. 35
The world is not judged at the Rapture. The people of the world are judged at the Second Coming, Jude 15]
The Rapture is a mystery of the Church Age, 1 Cor. 15:51 The Second Coming is the subject of extensive prophecy in the Old Testament.
The unconditional covenants such as those with Abraham and David are not fulfilled at the Rapture. The covenants are fulfilled at the Second Coming; Israel inherits her possessions.
There is no dealing with Satan or demons at the Rapture. At the Second Coming, Satan is bound for a thousand years, Rev. 20:2