The differences between the rapture and the revelation

  The Rapture in contrast to the Second Coming
 

 The differences between the rapture and the revelation

               Rapture - For the Church                                                   Revelation – Second Coming – Day of Wrath

               My purpose in putting these simple truths under the proper headings was to help us understand the scriptures. Many verses would not make any
sense if we didn’t know the differences between the Rapture and the revelation. It is also a great comfort (as the bible tells us 1Thess. 4) that we as believers
 in the world today will not go through the tribulation. The scriptures make it abundantly clear that we are not appointed unto wrath or the judgment of God.
It is also very clear that the rapture is imminent, meaning it can happen at any time. The revelation on the other hand has signs preceding it and during as we
count a specific number of days.

The Rapture – This event will take place before the tribulation begins and is imminent, meaning it could happen at any time. The term, Rapture, comes from
a Latin word, “rapio” that means to catch up, to snatch away, or to take out. It is, in turn, a translation of the Greek word, ”harpazo.” This event is solely for
believers (dead or alive) alive when Jesus Christ comes in the clouds. Believers who have died since Calvary will be the first to go up at the trumpet blast and
 the shout. Their bodies will be resurrected and we who are alive will be caught up with them (though not before them) and our bodies will be changed from
corruption to incorruption. The world will wonder, but because of the spirit of anti-christ in the world today and the belief in so many false sciences ie: aliens,
 abductions, and other phenomena it will be explained away. Two will be in a bed and one taken, or two farmers in the field and one will be left. All babies gone!
The world will want answers and the beast will tell them all they need to hear. They will put their trust in him and follow him. The most extraordinary thing is
 that God will send them strong delusion that they will believe every lie. The People of the world have made their choice and would not receive the love of the
truth that they might be saved. God is Love! God is Holy! So, God will judge sin!

The Revelation – This event will take place at the end of the tribulation. The second coming of Jesus Christ will be the culmination of the 7 years of “Jacob’s
Trouble.” This is a time when God will judge the earth and its people. People will be saved through the preaching of the 144,000 Jewish witnesses. Many people
will believe the lie of the anti-christ and take his mark, the mark of man, which is the number 666. Rev.13:16-18.  Believers will be martyred by the multitudes
 because they refuse the mark of the beast. They will not be able to buy or sell without the mark so they will have an extremely difficult existence. The time
of the tribulation is shortened so that many will be saved (meaning delivered, protected, or preserved) physically not spiritually speaking. Matt.24:13, 22      
The “Rapture” is what the Christian should be expecting every moment and live like they believe it

More about the Timing of these Events – There are several opinions as to when the rapture will take place in conjunction with the tribulation.
(Pre – Trib, Mid-Trib, Post-Trib, and Pre-wrath – to name a few)  I believe the scriptures are absolutely clear on this. My belief is in a Pre- Tribulation
 rapture of the church. A literal 7 year tribulation time and after His coming the 1,000 year reign.

·       Rapture

1.        First of all no one knows exactly the day or hour. Matt.24:36 – Not the Son, but only the Father in heaven.

2.        There will be a falling away or apostasy in the Church 1Thess.2:3. The church today is mired in apostasy as more and more of “church membership” is unregenerate.

3.        A restrainer must be removed from holding back the “Wicked” - I believe this to be the Person of the Holy Spirit. He shows His restraining power
through believers who are the “salt and light” in this world. When the church is taken away so goes the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit practically
in the world today. 2Thess. 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.  
Notice the verse speaks of a “HE”. The church is the “Bride of Christ” but the Power in the church is the Person of the Holy Spirit.

·       Between the Rapture and Tribulation – I believe there is a small period of time between the rapture and the beginning of the tribulation.
The world adjusts and explains away the removal of millions of people. The Anti-christ comes to world prominence in and even greater way as he
 will have (what people will believe to be) real answers to the world’s problems. He will be empowered by Satan himself. 

·       Revelation

1.     There will be 7 years of Jacob’s trouble as Jerusalem is a cup of trembling to the world.  Israel will have let down its guard 1Thess.5:3 and paved
the way for a charismatic leader to bring peace in the troubled Middle East.

2.     The first three and half years are tumultuous but the real judgments come after the “abomination of desolation” which occurs after the first three and half years.
This is when the anti-christ will sit in the Temple and proclaim himself god and desire to be worshipped. Dan.9:27

3.     It is at the end of the 7 years that Jesus Christ will descend from heaven with His army clothed in white robes. He will sweep through the valley of Megiddo
and destroy an army of 200,000,000. Rev.9:16  The blood will flow through the valley for 1600 furlongs (200 miles) as bodies are in heaps because of the
carnage.  He will “smite the nations” by the two edged sword which proceeds out of His mouth. Rev.19:11-15  Jesus Christ will finally stand upon the Mt of
Olives and it will split in half. Satan is thrown I a bottomless pit for 1,000 years as Christ begins His literal, earthly Millennial Reign.  He will rule with a rod of
 iron as peace finally prevails.

The Promises attached to each Event – The most exciting thing about these events are the promises God makes to His people.

·       The Rapture 

1.     What a comfort to know that believers will not go through the tribulation. The very darkest event in human history (barring the flood) will not be experienced
by believers who are saved during the church age. 1Thessalonians 4 tells us that we are to comfort one another with these words.

2.     The trouble to come and the grace God affords this world now should be a compelling force to tell the world of His coming and their need to be saved
from the wrath to come.

·       The Revelation –

1.     One promise that many will be able to be trust is that there is an end. Matt.24:13 We know that the time period is specific – 7years. This is the culmination
of the prophet Daniel’s 70 weeks as written in Daniel chapter 9. There were 7 weeks of years (49 years) from the commandment to restore and build
Jerusalem. There was another 62 weeks of years (434 years) from that time till Messiah was cut off at the Cross of Calvary. The clock stopped for
Israel till the tribulation and the final week of years (7 years).

2.     Another thing we can trust in is the sure return of Jesus Christ to put an end to the anti-christ and his rebellion.

3.     We are assured of Satan’s demise for a thousand year lock –up. Rev.20:1-3

The Message for Mankind

            There is simply nothing for the unbeliever to look forward to in any age but judgment. The gospel is the only hope for mankind. Faith in Jesus Christ
is and always has been the hope for mankind. Whether looking forward to a Redeemer Who would come for His people, or looking back at the Cross it hasn’t changed. Faith has always been the way through to eternal life. There is only ONE who we put our faith in to get us to heaven, and that is Jesus. John 14:6 
 During the tribulation a great multitude of witnesses will go out to the world with the same message we preach today. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and
thou shalt be saved.”

1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall
be changed.

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying
that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

            Possibly one of the greatest passages in the Bible for Christians today.

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