RETURN OF CHRIST
One of the great blessings of studying about the return of Christ is that it gives the believer an optimistic outlook on the future. For Christians will be taken out of this world before the great tribulation. Christ came the first time 2,000 years ago and said He would return to earth, which is known as the “second coming of Christ.” The return of Christ is in two stages, first the rapture, and then seven years later the revelation of Christ. The two stages are seen by contrasting the biblical information about them.
Rapture point 1) Takes place in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). But the revelation takes place on the ground (Zechariah 14:3–4).
Rapture point 2) The righteous meet the Lord in the clouds and go with Him to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:17, & John 14:2–3). But at the revelation the righteous come with Christ to the earth and go to war (Zechariah 14:5 & Revelation 19:11, 14).
Rapture point 3) Could happen at any time before the great tribulation (Mark 13:35). But the revelation happens at the end of the tribulation at the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:20–21)
Rapture point 4) Christ will not be seen by those left behind as it happens “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52). But at the revelation “every eye shall see him” (Zechariah 12:9–13:6 & Revelation 1:7).
Rapture point 5) The rapture is called the “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13), and it is to bring us comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:18). But at the revelation there will be a war, and much sorrow (Zechariah 12:9–13:6 & Revelation 1:7).
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” This is found in John 14:2–3, and Christ was crucified the next day, arose from the grave three days later and later ascended up into heaven. Christ said, “I go to prepare a place for you” = in heaven. And after he prepares for us a place He said, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself” = the rapture. And He explains why: “that where I am, there ye may be also” = in heaven.” Christ did not say “that where you are [earth], there you will remain.” In other words, He raptures the saved out of the earth and then takes them to heaven, not back down to earth. After the tribulation and the “marriage supper of the Lamb” (which is in heaven, Revelation 19:1, 7–11), we will come back to earth and reign and rule with Him 1,000 years.
After His resurrection, He ascended up to heaven. “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Christ went away visibly and at the end of the great tribulation will come back visibly “in like manner as ye have seen him go.” At the rapture, only the saved will see Christ when we meet Him in the air, but at the revelation “every eye shall see him” (Revelation 1:7; Zechariah 12:9–14).
When Christ referred to His second coming, He said, “Behold, I come quickly” (Revelation 3:11; 22:7, 12) and “the time is at hand” (1:3; 22:10). How are we to interpret this in light of the fact that He has been gone 2,000 years? “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?…But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness” (2 Peter 3:3, 8; see also vv. 4–9). This passage of Scripture plainly says it is about the “promise of his coming” (return of Christ) in verse 4. We were not to think of it as others: “The Lord is not slack…as some men count slackness” (v. 9). God does not “count” the time until His return as others count time. And the “first” thing we are to understand about it, and not be “ignorant of,” is that “with the Lord…a thousand years as one day” (v. 8). So in connection to the return of Christ and how God counts time, Jesus Christ has been gone two days. For us it has been 2,000 years, but for Christ, less than a week: “Behold, I come quickly,” “the time is at hand” (See END TIMES, also REVELATION.)
One of the great blessings of studying about the return of Christ is that it gives the believer an optimistic outlook on the future. For Christians will be taken out of this world before the great tribulation. Christ came the first time 2,000 years ago and said He would return to earth, which is known as the “second coming of Christ.” The return of Christ is in two stages, first the rapture, and then seven years later the revelation of Christ. The two stages are seen by contrasting the biblical information about them.
Rapture point 1) Takes place in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). But the revelation takes place on the ground (Zechariah 14:3–4).
Rapture point 2) The righteous meet the Lord in the clouds and go with Him to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:17, & John 14:2–3). But at the revelation the righteous come with Christ to the earth and go to war (Zechariah 14:5 & Revelation 19:11, 14).
Rapture point 3) Could happen at any time before the great tribulation (Mark 13:35). But the revelation happens at the end of the tribulation at the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:20–21)
Rapture point 4) Christ will not be seen by those left behind as it happens “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52). But at the revelation “every eye shall see him” (Zechariah 12:9–13:6 & Revelation 1:7).
Rapture point 5) The rapture is called the “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13), and it is to bring us comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:18). But at the revelation there will be a war, and much sorrow (Zechariah 12:9–13:6 & Revelation 1:7).
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” This is found in John 14:2–3, and Christ was crucified the next day, arose from the grave three days later and later ascended up into heaven. Christ said, “I go to prepare a place for you” = in heaven. And after he prepares for us a place He said, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself” = the rapture. And He explains why: “that where I am, there ye may be also” = in heaven.” Christ did not say “that where you are [earth], there you will remain.” In other words, He raptures the saved out of the earth and then takes them to heaven, not back down to earth. After the tribulation and the “marriage supper of the Lamb” (which is in heaven, Revelation 19:1, 7–11), we will come back to earth and reign and rule with Him 1,000 years.
After His resurrection, He ascended up to heaven. “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Christ went away visibly and at the end of the great tribulation will come back visibly “in like manner as ye have seen him go.” At the rapture, only the saved will see Christ when we meet Him in the air, but at the revelation “every eye shall see him” (Revelation 1:7; Zechariah 12:9–14).
When Christ referred to His second coming, He said, “Behold, I come quickly” (Revelation 3:11; 22:7, 12) and “the time is at hand” (1:3; 22:10). How are we to interpret this in light of the fact that He has been gone 2,000 years? “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?…But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness” (2 Peter 3:3, 8; see also vv. 4–9). This passage of Scripture plainly says it is about the “promise of his coming” (return of Christ) in verse 4. We were not to think of it as others: “The Lord is not slack…as some men count slackness” (v. 9). God does not “count” the time until His return as others count time. And the “first” thing we are to understand about it, and not be “ignorant of,” is that “with the Lord…a thousand years as one day” (v. 8). So in connection to the return of Christ and how God counts time, Jesus Christ has been gone two days. For us it has been 2,000 years, but for Christ, less than a week: “Behold, I come quickly,” “the time is at hand” (See END TIMES, also REVELATION.)
