The Rapture & The Second Advent

So this morning we come to one of the most important doctrines of the Christian faith and that is the second coming of Jesus Christ and why is that so important? Not only is the return of the Lord one of the key doctrines of the faith.

This is something that is still yet in our future most of the time when we teach and preach and look at things the things that happened in the past that this is. This is going to happen perhaps It could happen in our lifetime.

The Second Coming as a Central Christian Doctrine

So this is something we want to know about. Let's turn to John chapter 14. John chapter 14 so this is one of the essential teachings of Christianity and true Christians have always believed that Jesus is coming back now.

What Christians disagree about Are the timing and the details that kind of a thing but every faithful believer Understands that Jesus is coming back a second time. In fact Jesus himself promised it look at John 14 starting in verse 3 Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will do what I Will come again and Receive you to myself that where I am. There you may be also right now. Let's turn to Acts chapter 1. But you notice that statement Jesus says where I am.

Well, where is Jesus right now? Where is he right now, I heard a few different answers. Okay, so he's seated at the right hand of God. Jesus is in heaven. Jesus is going to come back and he is promised that he will come back and take the church to be where he is.

So he's coming back to take his people to Heaven and then there are also some verses that talked about Jesus returning to the earth, however. So statements about Jesus taking us to heaven but also for example Zechariah chapter 14 Says that Jesus will step foot on the Mount of Olives.

The Rapture and the Second Advent as Two Phases of the Second Coming

So you have statements about him coming back for his church to take us to be the heaven then coming back to the earth. So here's the premise. This is my position the church's position that when it comes to the second coming there are two Phases of the second coming there is the rapture of the church Takes us to heaven and then there is the second advent of Christ To the earth.

I think both can be described as the second coming so Two phases of the second coming. All right, you're turning to Acts 1 you're in Acts 1. All right, so these Verses give us some insight into How Jesus will return to earth.

Look at verse 9 says now when he had spoken these things while they watched Jesus was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight and while they looked Steadfastly toward heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel.

Who also said men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven this same? Jesus who has taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go Into heaven. What is he saying?

Just as you saw him go up from the Mount of Olives. He's going to come down people are going to visibly see him come down on the Mount of Olives. So when Jesus comes back, is he coming back to the United States?

Well, no, he was never here. When he comes back, he's going to come back to Israel on the Mount of Olives. So we see in Scripture the Lord's return described again in two different ways so we have to be solid on this his return for his people in the rapture and Then his return with his people in the second advent because Jude says and we'll look at this.

But Jude says that the Lord comes with his Saints. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints. All right, so that's the position and you missed this. So I'll let you know. There's two phases.

We're talking about the second coming of the Lord. There are two phases of the second coming. First one we call the rapture and then seven years later We're gonna call that the second advent. Here's the thing if you call the second advent when he returns to earth if you call that the second coming.

That's what we commonly do. Well, the rapture is called the coming of the Lord, too. So I think this is the best way to describe it. Both are the second coming two phases the rapture and the second advent.

The Blessed Hope, Imminence, and the Timing of Christ's Return

Okay, so people will argue and debate the terminology and The timing and everything else but here's what our church doctrinal statement says. Okay from the Moores Corner Church statement of faith that says.

We believe in that blessed. Hope the personal imminent pre-tribulational premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for his redeemed ones and his subsequent return to earth with his Saints to establish his Millennial kingdom.

All right, so there is some theological language there first the blessed hope. What do you think the blessed hope refers to which one? The first one because when Jesus comes at the second advent one of the things he is going to do is fight the battle of Armageddon.

Okay, so this is a time a day of darkness and judgment. It's going to be received by the believers alive at the time, but the blessed hope I believe refers to the rapture. Jesus taking the church to be with him.

Which is in Heaven that's that's where he is. So Jesus comes. Personally, I don't miss that. It's really him. Who returns he doesn't send an angel to gather everybody at the rapture. The Lord's return is Him and we believe this event the rapture of the church is imminent.

What is the term? What does that mean? Imminent? Okay, yeah, I believe any generation could be the generation that sees this event, so this church takes the position that the rapture is pre tribulational.

That Jesus returns before the seven-year tribulation after the seven years that's when Jesus comes back to the earth at his second advent and. Then the next thing after the second advent is what? The the Millennium the thousand years so Jesus comes before the Millennium.

Pre means before so his Jesus's return is pre Premillennial. All right. Now, let's turn to first Thessalonians chapter 4 first Thessalonians 4. This is the chapter where we get the term rapture some people say well the word rapture is not in the Bible and you've heard this before and.

Our response is well, you're right the word the English word rapture is not in most translations. But neither is the word Trinity. Neither is the word Bible. Doesn't mean we don't have a Bible or there's not a Trinity the word rapture means Snatching away or to be caught up in first Thessalonians 4 13 through 18.

It does talk about believers being caught up. Therefore yes, the rapture is indeed in the Bible. But again, the second advent is when Jesus returns physically to this earth. Okay, so the rapture can happen when.

Any time the the second advent we believe is always well, it's at least seven years away. Yes Marcus I.

Don't know why it went from Hebrew or Greek Latin, but that's where we get the word raptures. Sure.

Yeah, I think the Greek word is harpozzo and Then in the first few centuries the Latin Bible is what they used Rapturo and then I think it went through several languages or French. And then it came to us finally in English as rapture.

It doesn't really matter though. You argue about that term. It's the concept that's what makes a difference. So just one quick statement because we're kind of glossing over the whole idea of the seven seven year tribulation.

We only have so much time in this class. Where does the idea of a seven seven year tribulation come from? Well that comes from Daniel chapter 9 Daniel's prophecy of the 70 weeks that there is one week of years.

Okay, basically seven years that remains to be fulfilled in Israel's history before as Daniel says everlasting righteousness is ushered in. That hasn't happened yet. So we're still waiting or better put Israel is still waiting on this final week of Prophecy in in their future.

So that's where we get the seven-year tribulation also in the book of Revelation. It talks about 42 months or a time times and half a time. That's a year two years and a half a year and three and a half years plus three and a half years as well.

Seven years and of course Jesus in Matthew 24 speaks about the most terrible time in the history of the world. He calls it the Great Tribulation, so that's that's where that comes from. Okay, so that time again is a future period for Israel.

Not the church. Daniel 70th week. That's for Israel. Not the New Testament Church. All right, look at first Thessalonians 4 13 through 18. The Apostle Paul is speaking to who? That's the Thessalonians and this was a New Testament Church.

He says but I do not want you to be ignorant brethren. That is I don't want you to be unaware of these things. Concerning those who have fallen asleep or those who have died lest you sorrow as others who have no hope for if we believe If Jesus died that if Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord that we who are alive and remain Until the coming of the Lord, we will by no means precede those Who fall asleep so we will not go before those who have died before us.

But the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise from. Then we who are alive and remain shall be Caught up.

That's that's the term Rapture, that's where we get it. We who are alive and remain Shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and thus we shall always Be with the Lord therefore comfort one another.

With these words, so where is the Lord in? Heaven the Saints are going to be caught up in The air to meet the Lord. We will forever be with the Lord in Heaven, but he is coming back down to earth. So if we're forever with him when he comes back to earth at the second advent, guess what?

We're gonna come with him then because we're always Always with the Lord so those who have died in Christ those loved ones and saints throughout the ages their bodies In the ground their spirit is with the Lord right now at this event Jesus returns in the clouds their bodies are raised body and soul is reunited and that happens of course in the twinkling of an eye and Then at that moment those of us if we are that generation or whoever that generation is that's alive at that moment that happens first and we're caught up and We're translated our body never dies.

We're just changed and we receive that Glorified body and then all of God's people the church is with the Lord from that time forward. Yes, Jim. Now that explains the mystery.

Because There's several factors included in that mystery. Number one. There's no sign As to when he's gonna come. Mm-hmm, and he will come unannounced. You know beforehand the announcement will be solid with Trump the voices of angels.

So that's all the mystery because we have no idea of when his return for us will be sure.

So why yeah, but why is it a mystery. Because it was never foretold in the Old Testament, okay? But in the Old Testament, they did know about the resurrection of the dead. What they didn't know is that there would be a generation of believers who would never die.

So the the catching up of the Saints was a mystery. It wasn't known in the Old Testament. Paul revealed it 1st Thessalonians 4 1st Corinthians 15 51 through 58 where he calls it a mystery in that passage.

Distinctions Between the Rapture and the Second Advent

Okay. So let me just go through some of these things quickly. The rapture and the second advent, okay two phases of the second coming what are the differences and. There's several reasons why we believe there are different events or different phases of the same event.

However, you want to put it because the Bible describes them differently so in the rapture Jesus comes in the air and. The second advent he comes to earth. In the rapture he comes for his people he comes for the church and.

Then since we're always with the Lord from that time forward when he returns to earth. He's going to bring us with him. The rapture is a mystery as Jim said in the Old Testament. This was not known. The second advent is not a mystery.

The the prophecies about the second advent of Christ were known. So this. It wasn't anything new. The rapture there are no signs preceding the rapture. This is why we believe it could happen in any generation.

There's not going to be any any sign. But if you read Matthew 24 the passages on the second advent when Jesus comes to earth sets up his kingdom. There's all sorts of signs for that. So during the seven-year tribulation There's plenty of signs.

The day okay now this this one is going to make a difference. We talked about the difference between Bible translations last week. But in the King James and the New King James Version when it says day of Christ, that's a reference to the rapture.

But it says day of the Lord. That's a reference to the day of darkness and judgment the second coming. The day of the Lord. But if you use the other modern Translations they call the day of the price the day of Christ day of the Lord's that that that distinction does not work.

Unless you use the King James or the New King James. The rapture is a day of blessing. That's how it's described. I Mean Jesus coming, but how great would it be? I mean, honestly if Jesus came back Right now how great would that be?

So, I don't know but I might miss the football game later, oh, I know it's not football season I know that but Hey, listen, you you need to read Rethink some things that that's the way you look at it, but it's a day.

It's a time of blessing. The second Advent will be a blessing for the believers living during the tribulation. I mean, that's true. But the way it's described. It's it's a day of judgment because that's when the Battle of Armageddon happens.

At the end of the seven years the rapture happens in a twinkling of an eye. Nobody is going to see it. I mean people will notice the disappearance of millions and millions of Christians. But you're not going to see the Lord in the rapture that is the world is not going to see the Lord in the rap.

Sometimes it's called the secret rapture and People critique that because well It's not gonna be a secret because people are gonna know something happened true enough. But with the second Advent Revelation chapter 1 it says every eye will see him.

So Jesus will be seen. Not here by the world. He will be seen by the world when he returns the second Second time to earth and then the rapture is for the church The second Advent this is going to affect the whole world.

Of course the rapture technically will affect the world but you understand Jesus is coming for his church The second Advent deals with Israel as a nation. All right, any quick comments for sake of clarification or any quick clarifying questions on this?

Twinkling quick. Yeah, you can't just you can't just say that you blink. That's that's a that's quick. That's fast. So does it mean?

Within fractions of a second. Yeah, you're not gonna be able to measure it. It's just gonna Sure. Right, yeah. Instantaneously, you're gonna be Translated caught up. Yeah. All right. So this is the rapture that what we read in first Thessalonians 4.

And again, it's called that because in verse 17 the Greek word harp odd, so it's translated through the languages and comes out in English centuries later as Rapture meaning to be caught up or snatched away.

The Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4 and the Meaning of Rapture

So This is pretty simple. I think if you if you just read The Bible and take it at face value. I Believe this is what you will come up with. There will be critics who will say no. No this doctrine was created in 1830 by John Nelson Darby and blah blah blah.

Well, no, I believe it was created by the Apostle Paul in the first century AD because we're not have I quoted John Nelson Darby? At all. Am I are we looking to him as our authoritative source? No, we're looking at Paul.

Paul's the one who revealed this. So just to drive this point in. In the rapture the Lord comes for his saints in the second coming or the second advent. He comes with his saints turn to Jude for a moment.

Just want to read this Jude only has one chapter and where is it in the Bible? Who knows? Right at the end real easy to find First second third John Jude and then the revelation look at Jude. Who would like to read verses 14 and 15?

Get a volunteer. Okay, Jen. Okay. Thank you, that sounds kind of like a frightening. It is thing when when the Lord comes at that moment. Well, that's not the Blessed Hope. That's the second advent. The the rapture he comes for his people to Catch us up the second advent.

You heard it he comes with ten thousands of his saints and in the in the Bible There's they didn't have words for ten million or billion or trillion. I mean basically 10 ,000 was the largest number they had so ten thousands plural.

It just means a innumerable Company. Okay. Now, let's turn to the book of Zechariah. Old Testament book of Zechariah it's in the minor prophets towards the end towards the end of the Old Testament. Yep Malachi is the last book Zechariah's before that.

As you're turning there as you see on the TV. There's the difference between the rapture and the second advent and again we're going to give you a chance to ask all your questions and feel free to You.

You know, I don't want to say disagree or anything, but you know if you want to challenge some things. Hey, I don't get this. How does this work? You're saying this feel free. I'll I'll answer those questions, I think.

People who try to shut down discourse. Do that because they know they can't defend their position. So anytime you you won't have people censoring things or shutting down Conversation it's because they can't back up what they're saying.

So that's not where we're at. I believe this can be defended. So you're turning to Zechariah? 14 did I tell you the chapter? 14 if you remember our study on dispensationalism, which I guess was two weeks ago.

Really the pre-tribulation rapture and dispensationalism go hand-in-hand. If you don't you you can't believe in one and not the other. And if you say well, I do well, you're confused. The two the two you can't have it any other way, but that's that's a whole other topic.

Zechariah 14 and the Second Advent to the Mount of Olives

Zechariah 14. They're just for the sake of time. We're gonna read verse 4 Zechariah 14 verse 4 says and in that day Speaking of the Lord his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. Which faces Jerusalem on the east and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two.

From the east to west making a very large valley. Half the mountains shall be moved toward the north North and half of it toward the south and if you were to look at this chapter more in-depth you would see this is Talking about where all nations move against Jerusalem.

This is headed towards the Battle of Armageddon. So his feet we believe this is speaking of the Lord Jesus his feet. Step where? On the Mount of Olives just like the angels in Acts chapter 1 said you saw him go up.

From the Mount of Olives guess what he's coming back in like manner very simple. So this in Zechariah 14 is talking about which phase of the second coming the rapture or the second advent. This second coming and I don't know if you caught this but at the beginning here's my position.

Both can be described as the second coming. If you read first Thessalonians 4 on the rapture, it calls it the coming of the Lord. There's not three comings. So we're calling both of these the second coming two phases Rapture and second advent, I think.

Rapture. He doesn't actually touch the earth. He's in the air. With the second coming he comes to the earth. His feet and whole body are on the earth, right?

Right and the second I think it's better to call it the second advent because around Christmastime churches celebrate. They have four weeks of what? Advent and what our church is celebrating during advent.

First come. Right. We're celebrating Jesus coming the first time to earth born in Bethlehem. So the term advent Speaks of him coming here not in the clouds and no here on earth so the second Advent speaks to him coming here on earth.

A second a second time. All right now let's turn to Revelation 19. Revelation 19 this is the battle we call Armageddon and If we were to keep reading again in Zechariah 14, it would have described this battle where says that all nations shall gather against Jerusalem.

Guess guess which nation is the least popular nation at the United Nations? Well, it's probably Russia right now, but. But you know before all this happened. Yeah, Israel is Probably the most hated nation on Earth, of course the Muslims called them Satan the devil right and there's the great Satan the United States, but there is a lot of Animosity and hostility towards the nation of Israel and that's only going to increase as we get Towards the end and by the way in Zechariah 14 verse 9 It says then the Lord shall be king over all the earth in that day.

It shall be so. This is what Revelation 19 is describing when Jesus He is gonna come in the clouds. I mean he has to get here somehow. He's gonna come in the clouds and then come right back down to earth.

Once Jesus is on the earth Fights the Battle of Armageddon then what happens the kingdom is set up. Same thing you see in Matthew 24. Jesus comes back. Matthew 25 the kingdom is established. Okay, Revelation 19 verses 11 through 16 It says now I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse and He who sat on him was called faithful and true and in righteousness.

He judges and makes war verse 12 his eyes Were like a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except himself and he was clothed with a robe dipped in blood.

And his name is called the Word of God. And the armies in heaven clothed in fine linen white and clean followed him on white horses. Now out of his mouth goes a sharp sword that with it He should strike the nation's when Jesus comes at the rapture.

There's no talk like this. And says he himself will rule them with a rod of iron and he himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God and he has on his robe and on his thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords All right, just to go back to the Morse corner Church statement of faith.

It says we believe in that blessed hope the personal imminent pre-tribulational premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for his redeemed ones and then Seven years later his subsequent return to the earth with his saints to establish his millennial kingdom.