RAPTURE HAPPENS at the SECOND COMING 1

I have always believed in the doctrine of a PreTribulation Rapture of Christians

from the time I got saved until recently. There have been some things that I saw in the
scriptures that raised questions but I overlooked them because I knew there had to be
some explanation that still supported my belief of the pre-tribulation Rapture in spite of
these other verses. I confess that what I have found to be the truth in the scriptures is that
there is no Pre-tribulation Rapture or any such event that is not connected to the event of
the second coming itself.

A LOOK AT THE RAPTURE VERSES THEMSELVES

1 THESSALONIANS 4:15-17 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that
we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent them which are asleep.16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first:17 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.

SUMMARY: This is 1 of 2 passages people use for the RAPTURE. Notice that this
passage deals with Christians (we which are alive and remain, and them which are
asleep) at the coming of the Lord that are caught up to be with the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2 That ye be not soon
shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as
from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.3 Let no man deceive you by any
means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and
that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

SUMMARY : Notice how the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is attached together
with by our gathering together unto him with the word “and”. They both are
connected to the day of Christ.

1CORINTHIANS 15:12-24 12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how
say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?13 But if there be no
resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our
preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of
God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if
so be that the dead rise not.16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:17 And if
Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.18 Then they also which are
fallen asleep in Christ are perished.19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of
all men most miserable.20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the
firstfruits of them that slept.21 For since by man came death, by man came also the
resurrection of the dead.22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made
alive.23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are
 RAPTURE HAPPENS at the SECOND COMING 2

Christ's at his coming.24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the
kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority
and power.

SUMMARY: This resurrection of the dead has 2 parts. The first part is Christ the
first fruits : which has already happened when he arose from the dead. The second
part is they that are Christ’s at his coming. There are no other parts to this
resurrection.

MATTHEW 24:29-31 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and
the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of
man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son
of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.31 And he shall send
his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

AS COMPARED TO THIS VERSE

Revelation 19:11-1611 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he
that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth
judge and make war.12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were
many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he
himself.13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is
called The Word of God.14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him
upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.15 And out of his mouth
goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule
them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and
wrath of Almighty God.16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name
written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

SUMMARY: In the passage in Matthew, after the tribulation, He (the Son of Man) is
coming for his elect with a great sound of a trumpet to fulfill the promise of John 14:2-3
2
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.3 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. But in Revelation,
after the viols of wrath, He (KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS) comes with the
armies of heaven, and out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite
the nations. These are 2 different events happening at 2 different times. The first event is
referred to as the second coming and the second event is referred to as the day of the
Lord.