| Rapture | 2nd Coming |
| Christ returns in the air, not to the earth – John 14:1-3; 1 Thess 4:17 | Christ returns to the earth to rule for 1,000 years – Zech 14:4; Rev 19:11-15 |
| Jesus returns for His saints/bride – John 14:1-3 | Jesus returns with His saints/bride – Jude 1:14 |
| There is a resurrection of believers, living and dead – 1 Thess 4:16; 1 Cor 15:52-53 | No resurrection until the Man of Sin is defeated and the beast and false prophet have been cast into the Lake of Fire – Rev 19:20, 20:1-3 |
| Bodies of believers changed from mortal to immortal – 1 Thess 4:17; 1 Cor 15:51-53 | Saints return with Christ from heaven having already been changed to immortality – Zech 14:5; Rev 19:11-15 |
| Rapture occurs during a period of relative peace and prosperity; the world does not expect judgment – Luke 17:26-30 | 2nd Coming occurs during the worst period in history; the world stands on the brink of total annihilation – Matt 24:21-22; Rev 6 – 19 |
| Very few are expecting the return of Jesus; even the church may be surprised – Matt 24; 36, 44 | The visible signs and great tribulation make it impossible for men to sleep; the Man of Sin knows the Lord is coming – Rev 19:19; 6:16; Matt 24:33 |
| The church is sleeping – Matt 25:5; Mark 13:35-36 | At the end of the tribulation; worldwide devastation and hopeless distress – Zech 14:1-2; Rev 6-19 |
| Called the “blessed hope”; deliverance from death, sin, pain, sorrow to be with Him forever – Titus 2:13; 1 John 3:3 | Enduring the tribulation period without being martyred leave very few to experience this “blessed” hope – Rev 13:15-17; 6:9-11; 20:4 |
| New Testament/early church taught to expect it at any moment; to eagerly watch, wait, pray – Luke 12:35-36; Phil 3:20; 1 Thess 1:9-10; Heb 9:28 | Cannot be today; the worst is yet to be. Expectation passages do not refer to this event. |
| This expectation is to provide a motive for seeking to please the Lord today, not knowing when He will come for us – 1 John 2:28-3:3 | Not a motivating force for today; will not occur for a number of years; my lord delays his coming – Matt 24:48-49; Luke 12:45-46 |
| The church’s prayer is to be for Jesus to come immediately; Maranatha; the Spirit and the bride say, “Come” – Rev 22:17,20 | Cannot be today. Don’t worry, be happy. All things must be fulfilled; not one jot or tittle shall pass away until all be fulfilled – Matt 5:18 |
| Events must take place in heaven before the 2nd Coming; judgment seat of Christ; Marriage supper of the Lamb – Rom 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 19:7-8 | The church must be in heaven in order to return with Jesus “clothed in fine linen, white and clean”; garments of the saints – Rev 19:14 |
| Rapture is a “mystery”, truth once hidden, now revealed – 1 Cor 15:51-53 | Proclaimed throughout the Old and New Testaments – Daniel 7:13; Rev 19 |
| Rapture is to deliver the church from the wrath to come – 1 Thess 1:10 | 2nd Coming is to rescue Israel from total destruction – Zech 14 |
Categories