Armageddon, the Rapture and the Second Coming Procession
I. JESUS IS COMING BACK TO EARTH TO LIVE PERMANENTLY
(Jesus said)...7 Behold, I am coming quickly…12 I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to
every one according to his work…20 Surely I am coming quickly. (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20)
A. Jesus is coming back to the earth to establish His Kingdom. His coming is the ultimate event in prophecy and is
referred to as our blessed hope (Titus 2:13). The NT gives significant emphasis to this subject (Matthew 10:23; 16:27;
23:39; 24:27-31, 38-44; 25:31-32; Luke 9:26; 13:35; 18:8; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:6-13; 1 Corinthians 4:5;
1 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:14-17; 5:1-6; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:3; Hebrews 10:37; Jude 14; Revelation 1:7; 3:11; 11:15-18;
16:15; 19:11-21; 22:7, 12, 20; Isaiah 40:1-11; 59:20; 62:10-63:6).
B. Jesus’ coming is in context to a military conflict around the city of Jerusalem. He will come to win the Battle of
Jerusalem which ends the Armageddon Campaign (which lasts for 3½ years).
Behold, a white horse. He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and
makes war. 12…on His head were many crowns...13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood…14 the
armies in heaven…followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it
He should strike the nations. He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of
the…wrath of Almighty God. 16 He has…a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
(Revelation 19:11-16)
C. Jesus will march through Bozrah in Edom (Jordan) killing His enemies on His way to Jerusalem (Isaiah 34:1-10;
63:1-6; Habakkuk 3:3-18; Psalm 110:5-6; Deuteronomy 33:2; Numbers 24:17-19; Revelation 19:11-16).
Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah (capital of Edom), this One who is…
traveling (marching) in the greatness of His strength?...2 Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like
one who treads in the winepress? 3 I have trodden the winepress…I have trodden them in My anger, and
trampled them in My fury; their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, I have stained all My robes. 4 The day
of vengeance is in My heart…the year of My redeemed has come. (Isaiah 63:1-4)
The indignation of the LORD is against all nations, and His fury against all their armies; He has utterly
destroyed them, He has given them over to the slaughter. 3 Their slain shall be thrown out; their stench
shall rise from their corpses, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood….5 "For My sword…shall
come down on Edom…for judgment. 6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood…for the LORD has a
sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom. 7…their land shall be soaked with blood…
8 For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, the year of recompense for the cause of Zion. (Isaiah 34:1-8)
D. Jesus comes to defeat the Antichrist at Jerusalem and then to establish His Throne there.
When the Son of Man comes in His glory...then He will sit on the Throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will
be gathered before Him... (Matthew 25:31-32)
At that time (Millennial Jerusalem) Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall
be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 3:17)
II. JESUS RAPTURES THE SAINTS AT THE SOUND OF THE LAST TRUMPET
A. The Rapture describes what happens to all the saints worldwide related to Jesus’ Second Coming. As Jesus
descends from heaven, He will catch up or rapture the saints to meet Jesus in the air as they are instantly changed by
receiving resurrected bodies. The word Rapture comes from a Latin word raptus, "snatching away" (the Greek word is
harpazo). We will see Jesus in a face to face way as we are gathered to Him forever (1 Thessalonians 2:19; 4:17; 5:10;
2 Thessalonians 2:1).
God will bring with Him those who sleep (died) in Jesus. 15…We who are alive and remain until the coming of
the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven
with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord
in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)
B. Jesus will rapture all the saints on earth when He brings all the saints with Him from heaven.
At the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:13)
Thus the LORD my God will come, and all the saints with You. (Zechariah 14:5)
C. Jesus will come with all the angels (Matthew 13:41; 24:31; 25:31; Mark 8:38; 13:27; Luke 9:26;
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). Jesus’ procession in the sky with billions of angels will show forth the overwhelming power and
might of His army.
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him (Matthew 25:31)
D. Jesus will send out His angels with a specific role in gathering the saints to the sky from the ends of the earth and
in gathering unbelievers to remove them from earth by killing them.
He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four
winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:31)
E. Jesus will rapture the saints when the Trumpet sounds (Matthew 24:31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Isaiah 27:13).
We shall all be changed...in a moment...at the Last Trumpet. For the Trumpet will sound, and the dead (saints)
will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
F. Paul tells us that the Rapture occurs in association with the Last Trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:50-52;
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Isaiah 27:13; Revelation 11:15-17; 10:7). The 7th Trumpet is the Last Trumpet in the series of
seven (Revelation 8-9; 11:15) that are numbered by John in Revelation.
G. Paul said that in a moment “all” shall be “changed.” What specifically happens in a moment?
We shall all be changed…52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye… (1 Corinthians 15:51)
“In a moment” qualifies how fast that redeemed individuals will be “changed,” not how much time it takes for “all” the Church
collectively to see Him and be changed, thus completing the worldwide Rapture.
III. DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING
A. The Second Coming describes what Jesus does when He permanently “comes” back to earth. The Rapture
describes what happens to the Church when Jesus first “appears” in the sky. Jesus’ Second Coming by definition is a
“coming” to earth the second time. It is not merely for a brief appearing in the sky, but His “coming” is to accomplish a long
term mission on earth.
B. Some think of the Second Coming of Jesus as only consisting of the Rapture of the Church. They think only of
Jesus appearing in the sky to catch up His people that they may all return to heaven. The Rapture is a significant
occurrence within a larger series of events that I refer to as the “Second Coming Procession.”
C. Many assume Jesus will appear simultaneously to all the peoples of the earth at the same moment as He
instantaneously finishes all the activities involved in the Second Coming. The result of establishing a biblical paradigm
about the End-Times is that many passages fit without needing to dismiss them either by spiritualizing them or just ignoring
them. Many passages of Scripture do not make sense if Jesus instantaneously completes all the activities associated with
His Second Coming.
IV. GET THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE (PARADIGM) ABOUT THE END-TIMES
A. The challenge in understanding the Second Coming is in getting the right paradigm. The necessary paradigm is in
understanding that Jesus will rule the earth with the natural human processes not suspended, yet significantly
enhanced by the supernatural dimension of the Spirit. We see aspects of this when Jesus appeared with His
resurrected body (John 20-21; Acts 1).
B. As Gentile believers, our most natural paradigm is to think of worshipping Jesus as God in the supernatural
conditions of heaven. We emphasize Jesus’ deity as the Son of God. Whereas, the Jewish paradigm, thinks of reigning
with the Messianic King as a man in the natural conditions of the earth. They emphasize the Messiah’s humanity as the
Son of David. The full truth is only seen when these two paradigms are brought together.
V. THREE TYPES OF PEOPLE ARE ON EARTH WHEN JESUS APPEARS IN THE SKY
A. The redeemed will be raptured during Jesus’ worldwide procession across the sky.
B. The reprobate who took the mark of the Beast will be judged and then killed (some executed).
C. The resistors are the unsaved survivors (Jews and Gentiles) of the Great Tribulation who refused to worship the
Antichrist. The Scripture refers to them as “those who are left” or “who remain.” These will have an opportunity to be
converted after Jesus returns and then populate the Millennial earth (Isaiah 4:3; 10:20; 11:11; 49:6; 65:8; 66:19;
Jeremiah 31:2; Ezekiel 20:38-42; 36:36; Daniel 12:1; Amos 9:9-10; Joel 2:32; Zechariah 12:14; 13:8; 14:16).
VI. THE SECOND COMING PROCESSION: 3 STAGES (30 DAYS)
A. Jesus’ coming is a procession because He will come with all the saints (1 Thessalonians 3:13) and all the angels
(Matthew 25:31) as He travels on clouds across the whole earth for all to see (Matthew 24:30). It will be a glorious
procession as Jesus comes with the Father’s glory (Matthew 16:27), great power (Mark 13:26) and flaming fire
(2 Thessalonians 1:8) as He travels across the sky with the brightness and energy of lightning (Matthew 24:27). He will
descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God as He raises the dead.
(1 Thessalonians 4:14-16). The sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall and the powers
of the heavens will be shaken (Matthew 24:29).
B. The Second Coming Procession involves a 3 stage process including many events occurring over 30 days
(compare Revelation 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5; Daniel 7:25; 12:7 with Daniel 12:11). This Procession begins in the sky with
the Rapture and ends on the earth to end the Armageddon campaign with a victory over the armies of the Antichrist
at Jerusalem (Revelation 19:11-21; Zechariah 12:1-13:6; 14:1-9).
Stage #1: Jesus’ procession across the sky: to rapture the Church (Matthew 24:30-31; Revelation 1:7)
Stage #2: Jesus’ procession on the land: traveling from Egypt through Jordan (Isaiah 63; Habakkuk 3)
Stage #3: Jesus’ procession into Jerusalem: to the Mount of Olives followed by His coronation
VII. STAGE #1: JESUS’ PROCESSION ACROSS THE SKY: TO RAPTURE THE CHURCH
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him...and all the tribes of the earth will mourn
because of Him... (Revelation 1:7)
A. The Second Coming Procession begins in the sky when Jesus circles the earth on clouds as He raptures the Church.
Jesus will be seen by every eye of every person (believers and unbelievers), from all the tribes of the earth. This will
require a global procession over every inhabited place on earth including each remote island that is inhabited by people.
B. The Rapture will not be a secret event, but a dramatic event that all the people on earth will witness with their
natural eye (rather than seeing Him in a mystical vision or by technology). They would not be convinced so as to mourn if
they only saw Him by technology.
C. The Rapture will be a process that takes time to complete. Since the earth is round, it is impossible for all the people
on the earth to see Him at the same time. It will not be sufficient for Jesus to make one trip around the earth. He will need
to be seen in each longitude and latitude of all the inhabited places on earth as He arrives over their region.
D. What height and speed will Jesus travel at so as to be recognizable to people on the earth with the naked eye?
His procession across the sky requires that Jesus be bright enough and close enough to be seen and the process is
slow enough for each person (not raptured) to interpret what is going on so that they mourn. It must be convincing
enough to cause hardened (not reprobate) unbelievers to mourn.
VIII. STAGE #2A: PROCESSION ON THE LAND: DESCENDING TO MT. SINAI (EGYPT)
A. Jesus descends from heaven to eventually come to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4-5). However, I do not
believe this is His first point of contact with the earth.
B. The Lord will ride on a cloud around the earth as He raptures the Church. In my opinion, He will descend on
Mt. Sinai which is in Egypt.
The LORD rides on a swift cloud (Rapture) and will come into Egypt... (Isaiah 19:1)
C. My view is that Jesus descends from heaven to Mt. Sinai which is in Egypt, then marches through parts of Egypt,
then passing through the wilderness, then through Jordan (Edom) on His way to Jerusalem unto the Mount of Olives. This
march will involve natural human processes that are enhanced with significant supernatural power. This march
progressively unfolds, including a series of events (that may take two weeks).
D. In Acts 3:22, Peter identified Jesus as the “prophet like Moses” that Moses prophesied of.
The LORD...will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren...17 The LORD
said to me: 'What they have spoken is good. 18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among
their
brethren... (Deuteronmy 18:15-18)
E. In what sense is Jesus to be understood as like Moses? Possibly, in that Jesus will start at Mt. Sinai like Moses
(burning bush; Exodus 3) then go through parts of Egypt manifesting His power as He delivers the captives of Israel
(Exodus 7-12) only to return again to Mt. Sinai with Israelites to dedicate themselves to God in covenant (Exodus 19). At
Sinai, Moses established the priesthood (Numbers 4), the Tabernacle (Numbers 9:15), and was the place that God
betrothed Himself to Israel (Jeremiah 2:2). They went through the wilderness on their way to Israel, led by signs and
wonders.
F. Immediately after the Exodus, God’s first point of contact with the earth was on Mt. Sinai. God’s glory like fire rested
on the top of the mountain in the eyes of all Israel (Exodus 19:18-20). Mt. Sinai (Mt. Horeb) is called The Mountain of God
(Exodus 3:1; 4:27; 18:5; 24:13; 1 Kings 19:7-8) and is in the Sinai Peninsula (desert) which is 150 miles wide (northern end)
and 250 miles long.
G. At Mt. Sinai, Moses, as a type of Christ, first stood in God’s glory and then led Israel through the wilderness with
great signs and wonders. So also, Jesus will come as the “Greater Moses” who will release the 7 Bowls of wrath, which are
similar to Moses releasing the 10 plagues of Egypt.
H. Moses as a deliverer of Israel gives us a prophetic picture of how the Lord will again deliver Israel. The miracles of
Egypt will occur in the End-Times (Micah 7:15; Isaiah 10:22-25; 11:12-16; 30:30; Jeremiah 16:14-15; 23:7-8; Ezekiel 38:22;
Joel 2:30).
IX. STAGE #2B: PROCESSION ON THE LAND: THROUGHOUT PARTS OF EGYPT
A. God called His son Israel out of Egypt in the days of Moses. Then again He called His ultimate son (Jesus) out of
Egypt. In the End-Times, Jesus will lead Israel out of Egypt.
When Israel was a child, I loved him…out of Egypt I called My son. (Hosea 11:1)
B. God will send Jesus as the Savior to Egypt (who is at war with the Antichrist; Daniel 11:42-43). The Lord will raise
up five cities in Egypt that make a vow to Jesus (after the Rapture).
18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will… swear by the LORD… 19 In that day there will be an altar
to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt…20 it will be for a sign and for a witness to the LORD…in…Egypt;
forthey will cry to the LORD because of the oppressors, and He (Father) will send them a Savior and a Mighty
One, and He (Jesus) will deliver them (Egyptians and Jews). 21 Then the LORD will be known to Egypt, and
the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day, and will make…a vow to the LORD and perform it. 22 And the
LORD will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they (Egyptians and Jews) will return to the LORD, and He
will be entreated by them and heal them. (Isaiah 19:18-22)
C. Jesus will assemble the captives of Israel. The primary nations emphasized are Egypt and Assyria. The captives are
called the outcasts and dispersed ones (Isaiah 11:11-16; 40:10-11; Hosea 11:10-11; Zechariah 10:10). Jesus leads them
out of the gate of the prison camps (Micah 2:12-13).
D. God will gather Israel from the nations for a new wilderness experience. The Exodus story is the model for the
coming wilderness days that will purify Israel. God will gather Israel from the nations and separate the rebels from them
before He brings them to Jerusalem (Ezekiel 20:34-38).
I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a
mighty hand…and with fury poured out. 35 I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples (Gentile nations),
and there I will plead My case with you face to face. 36 Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the
wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you," says the Lord GOD. 37 I will make you pass
under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; 38 I will purge the rebels from among you…
I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will
know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 20:34-38)
X. STAGE #2C: PROCESSION ON THE LAND: THROUGH THE SINAI WILDERNESS
A. After the Exodus from Egypt, the Lord marched with Israel through the wilderness (Deuteronomy 33:2) as a
prophetic picture of Jesus doing it again in the End-Times as the “greater Moses” (Psalm 68:7-8, Song 8:5). This is the
pattern that will be repeated in the End-Times and will again involve war with Edom (Numbers 20:14-21; Isaiah 11; 34; 63).
Jesus initiates violence in this military conflict.
The LORD came from Sinai, and dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came
with ten thousands of saints… (Deuteronomy 33:2)
B. Jesus will march from Egypt which includes the Sinai wilderness (Mt. Paran, Mt. Seir) through Jordan (Edom, Bozrah,
Teman which was part of ancient Assyria) in His journey to Jerusalem.
God came from Teman (in southern Edom), the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens,
and the earth was full of His praise. 5 Before Him went pestilence, and fever followed at His feet...7 the land
of Midian trembled (Arabian desert reaching into the Sinai Peninsula)...12 You marched through the land in
indignation; You trampled the nations in anger. 13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people...
(Habakkuk 3:3-13)
C. Mount Paran is in the Sinai Peninsula, 30 miles south of Israel, and 130 miles north of Sinai. Mount Seir is the
range from the S. of the Dead Sea to Elath N. of the gulf of Akabah, on the E. of the Arabah. The distance from Mt. Sinai
to Israel is 165 miles. It is an 11 day journey traveling 15 miles a day with flocks (Deuteronomy 1:2). Teman is a town in
the southern part of Edom. Midian is the land east of the Dead Sea, that stretched to the south through the Arabian
desert reaching to parts of the Sinai Peninsula. It lay between Edom and Paran and it is in Arabia today.
XI. STAGE #2D: PROCESSION ON THE LAND: THROUGH JORDAN (ASSYRIA/EDOM)
A. Jesus will march through the city of Bozrah in Edom (Jordan) and Teman killing His enemies on His way to
Jerusalem. Their blood will be sprinkled on His robes (Isaiah 34:5-10; 63:1-6; Habakkuk 3:3-18; Zechariah 9:14;
Psalm 110:5-6; Deuteronomy 33:2; Numbers 24:17-19; Revelation 19:11-16). He did not get this blood on Him by
descending from the sky to the Mount of Olives.
Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah (capital of Edom), this One who is
glorious in His apparel, traveling (marching) in the greatness of His strength?...2 Why is Your apparel red,
and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? 3 "I have trodden the winepress alone…for I have
trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury; their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I
have stained all My robes. 4 For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come."
(Isaiah 63:1-4)
B. The Jewish captives will come from Egypt and Ancient Assyria (regions of parts of modern day Jordan, Syria and Iraq).
This march will involve human natural processes that are enhanced with supernatural power. The march progressively
unfolds over several weeks.
C. The fact the “heavens opened” (Revelation 19:11), describes how John received his revelation, rather than
referring to where Jesus was most recently. In other words, Jesus did not get blood on His robe in the heavenly descent,
but rather in the march through the land.
I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on him…judges and makes war...13 He was
clothed with a robe dipped in blood... (Revelation 19:11-15)
D. During Stage #1 and Stage #2 of Jesus’ Second Coming Procession, Jesus as the new Moses is releasing the
seven Bowls that will be similar to the plagues of Egypt that Moses released. The 7th Bowl will be released immediately
prior to Jesus marching to Jerusalem to win the Battle of Jerusalem to end the Armageddon campaign (Revelation 19:11-21).
XII. STAGE #3A: JESUS’ PROCESSION INTO JERUSALEM: BATTLE FOR THE CITY
Behold, the day of the LORD is coming...2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city
shall be taken...half of the city shall go into captivity... 3 Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those
nations, as He fights in the day of battle. 4 In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives...and the
Mount of Olives shall be split in two... making a very large valley...5 Then you shall flee through My mountain
valley...Yes, you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah…Thus the LORD my God will
come, and all the saints with You. (Zechariah 14:1-5)
A. The final stage of the Second Coming Procession brings us to the high point of world history. Jesus makes His
procession into Jerusalem going to the Mount of Olives then unto coronation on His Throne in the Temple (Psalm 24:7-10;
Zechariah 14:4; Jeremiah 3:17; Zechariah 6:12; Ezekiel 43:7).
B. There is a common misunderstanding about when Jesus comes to the Mount of Olives. The misunderstanding is in
seeing the Mount of Olives as the first place that Jesus arrives at instead of being the place He comes to near the end of
His Second Coming Procession.
C. The situation around Jerusalem? The Second Coming is in context to the Battle of Jerusalem. The city will be
surrounded resulting in half of it being taken into captivity (Zechariah 14:1-2). Who are the nations gathered around
Jerusalem? Initially, it is the 10-nation confederation under the Antichrist. Gentile kings gather to Jerusalem
(Revelation 16:13-16). The Lord will gather all nations to Jerusalem and then will fight against them (Zechariah 14:1-5;
Joel 3:2, 11-21; Revelation 14:20).
D. Jesus enters Jerusalem, arriving at the perfect time to rescue the remnant of Israel. Jesus as the “greater Moses”
will split the Mount of Olives to rescue them (Zechariah 14:4-5). Israel will be delivered by the split mountain instead of the
Sea (Zechariah 14). The Mount of Olives shall be split in two making a very large valley. The Jews will escape through a
valley in the very mountain.
E. The pinnacle of the Second Coming Procession is Jesus’ re-entry into the city of Jerusalem to be officially received
by the governmental leaders of Israel as their Messianic King.
I say to you (governmental leaders in Jerusalem), you shall see Me no more till you say, “Blessed is He who
comes in the name of the LORD!” (Matthew 23:39)
F. He will be celebrated in a Hosanna coronation parade that is hosted by the leaders of Israel. The leaders of Israel
will open the gates of Jerusalem to Jesus in an official declaration of Him as their Messianic King after He rescues them.
Because Jesus suddenly reverses the tide of the war in the Armageddon campaign, they call Him “the LORD strong and
mighty, the LORD mighty in battle (Psalm 24:8) and the LORD of hosts (God’s armies), the King of glory” (Psalm 24:10).
Lift up your heads, O you gates (of Jerusalem)! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory
shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle
(Armageddon campaign). (Psalm 24:7-8)