SCRIPTURE TEACHES THE RAPTURE AND THE VISIBLE SECOND COMING ARE DISTINCT EVENTS – HERE IS THE EVIDENCE

The most contentious debate among evangelicals is not hard to identify.  It consists of whether or not the occurrence of the Rapture of the Church stands as a distinct event from the visible Second Coming of Christ, sometimes referred to as “The Glorious Appearing.”

Indeed, even in the verse where the phrase “the glorious appearing” originates (Titus 2:13), the (1) return of Christ to resurrect the dead “in Christ” and to translate the believers alive at that time appears conflated with (2) the visible return of Christ in glory at the very end of the age at the conclusion of the Great Tribulation.  Titus 2:13 reads, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”

However, although confusion exists in some biblical passages like Titus 2:13 (and remains in the minds of many evangelicals), the misunderstanding can be readily resolved once we carefully study the primary biblical passages that discuss at length these two events. Upon analysis, we discern clear differences between the two occasions. In other words, the return of Christ for His church and the return of Christ to judge the unbelieving world, are definitely distinct as I set forth here. Furthermore, once we determine that there are two distinct events, distinguishing between the role and purpose of the Church with the role and purpose of Israel as God’s covenant people, becomes compulsory to “rightly divide the Word of Truth.”  (2 Timothy 2:15) That is why the Rapture of the Church and the Dispensational approach to interpreting the Bible are so intertwined.

I will not in this effort attempt to demonstrate which position on the timing of the Rapture I favor (Pre-tribulation, Pre-Wrath, etc.)  It is momentous enough just to prove the Rapture constitutes a distinct occurrence to the visible return of Christ.  Therefore, the key point is that there is some lapse of time between one event and the other.

The crucial passages in question are first, regarding the Rapture, 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15; and secondly, for the visible return of Christ, the Olivet Discourse as presented in the three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).  However, for our purposes here we will primarily reference pertinent verses from Matthew 24 and 25 to compare with the teachings of Paul in his two epistles.

Many who believe in the Second Coming say outright, “There is no Rapture,” primarily because the word rapture is not used in the Greek New Testament.  But these same believers certainly would not argue “There is no resurrection,” for they are committed to the essential orthodox doctrines of the Church, of which the resurrection is near the top of the list.  And they would acknowledge that when Christ returns, there will be living believers who will be transformed at that time into immortal beings. This is when all believers, asleep or then living, will be glorified and “made like Christ” and share His glory. (Col 1:27, Phi 3:20) The point for these evangelicals remains simply this: they do not admit a distinction between the event popularly known as the Rapture from the visible Second Coming at the culmination of history.

And it should be noted, of course, that the Greek word which conveys the doctrine of the Rapture is transliterated harpazo (har-pod-zoh).  Harpazo is Strongs G726.  It is used in the New Testament 13 times and is translated in the King James Version six different ways: catch up (4x), take by force (3x), catch away (2x), pluck (2x), catch (1x), pull (1x).  Although Hal Lindsey famously called the Rapture, “The Great Snatch,” the King James Version never actually uses the English verb “snatch” much less the phrase. Still, his “translation” is on target.

Six verses from in the New Testament, relevant to the return of Christ, are quoted below:

• “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (Jhn 10:28)
• “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” (Acts 8:39)
• “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one (was) caught up to the third heaven.” (2 Cor 12:2)
• “How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (2 Cor 12:4)
• “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Ths 4:17)
• “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” (Rev 12:5)

My purpose in assembling and organizing the Scripture in this manner is to put forth a cogent argument that when we examine the passages side-by-side, the distinction between the Rapture and the visible Second Coming becomes obvious.  Indeed, after reviewing the 20 different parameters by which I compare the two events, it becomes most unreasonable to hold that they could occur at the same time.  They are different in virtually every way that matters.

Immediately below, I identify the 20 parameters and provide a quick summary of each.  Following this summary is a lengthy “table” in a linked PDF document, that identifies and places in context the scriptures from the major passages of interest so that the reader can do the “side-by-side” comparison him or herself.  This longer presentation is admittedly elaborate as it consists of 3,200 words and seven or so pages.  Given the vital importance of the topic, I hope that readers who have made it this far through my paper will continue on to study the extensive table thoroughly and make the decision whether they believe the Rapture is in fact evidenced by the plain meaning of the Bible and therefore, should be upheld as essential to our faith, especially given the difficult days that await.

THE DETAILED COMPARISON TABLE OF THE RAPTURE AND THE VISIBLE RETURN OF CHRIST:

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL TABLE

TABLE: Comparison 1 Thess 4 with
Matt 24 9-1-2017

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