The Rapture and Second Coming are separate events.
The events of the rapture of the church and the Second Coming of Christ are distinctly different
| The Rapture of the Church | The Second Coming of Christ |
| Christ returns in the air (1 Th 4:17) |
Christ returns to the earth (Zech 14:4,5) |
| Christ comes for His saints (1 Th 4:16-17) | Christ comes with His saints (1 Th 3:13; Jude 14) |
| The Rapture concerns the church – “In Christ” (1 Th 4:14,16). | The Second Coming concerns Israel and the nations (Zech 12:2-9). |
| The Rapture changes the bodies of believers (1 Co 15:51-53). | The Second Coming changes the hearts of Jews (Zech 12:10). |
| The Rapture is Immanent | Not immanent |
| No sign precedes | Signs precede (Mt 24:29,30) |
| The Rapture is a blessing (1 Th4:18) | The Second Coming brings judgment (2 Th 2:8-12; Rev 19:15) |
| Rapture is a mystery (1 Co 15:51) | Second Coming is not a mystery (Zech 14) |
| Rapture takes place in twinkling of an eye (1 Co 15:52) | Second Coming visible world-wide (Mt 24:27; Re 1:7) |
| Rapture involves the church (1 Th 4:13-18) | Second Coming involves Israel (Mt 24:1-25:46) |
| In the Rapture those taken are taken for blessing (1 Th 4:13-18); those who are left are left for judgment (1 Th 5:1-3) | In the Second Coming those taken are taken for judgment while those left are left for blessing (Mt 24:37-41) |
| No date for the Rapture | An elaborate dating system is given for the Second Coming (1260 days, 42 months, three and one half years ((Da 7:25; 12:7; 11,12, 9:27; Re 11:2; 12:14; 13:5)) |
| “Son of Man” never used for the Rapture | The Second Coming uses “Son of Man” for Christ’s coming (Mt 16:28; 24:27,30,39; 26:64; Mk 13:26; Lu 21:27) |
| In the Rapture saints are translated | There is no translation in the Second Coming |
| In the Rapture saints go to heaven | In the Second Coming there is no translation |
| At the Rapture the world is unjudged | At the Second Coming the world is judged |
| The Rapture concerns only believers | The Second Coming involves primarily unbelievers |
| The Rapture is revealed only in the New Testament (Eph 3) | The Second Coming is revealed in both Old and New Testaments |
