THE RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS
1 THESSALONIANS 4:16
I. THE DAY OF CHRIST: HIS COMING AND OUR GATHERING WITH HIM
“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be
soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had
come.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2
A. The Day of the Lord refers to the unusual end-time events related to the second coming of Jesus. These events
(positive and negative) will come to fullness in the final 3½ years before Jesus returns and culminate with the second
coming of Christ and the rapture of the church (2 Thes. 2:3; Heb. 10:25; 2 Pet. 3:10).
B. 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.
C. The Day of the Lord is a time period where God’s zeal for righteousness, for His people, and against wickedness
is fully and openly manifest. The second coming of Jesus is the culmination of the Day of the Lord ushering in the
thousand-year reign of Christ. Next to the crucifixion of Christ, it will be the most dramatic and most glorious event in
human history.
D. The second coming will openly manifest the height of what was accomplished in the cross of Christ, which is the
bringing down of the New Jerusalem, the restoration of all natural created order, and the gathering together of heaven
and earth so in that context the fullness of God’s personality might be expressed as He dwells with redeemed humanity
in their resurrected bodies.
“…having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in
the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven
and which are on earth—in Him.” Ephesians 1:9-10
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him,
whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:19-22
II. CULTIVATING INSIGHT CONCERNING THE SECOND COMING IS ESSENTIAL
A. The subject of the rapture is near and dear to God’s holy heart. Paul refers on several occasions to the mystery
of the gospel. This mystery has various components (Eph. 1:9; 1 Tim. 3:16; Col. 1:27; Eph. 3:9; Rom. 11:25; Eph. 5:31)
of which the rapture/resurrection of the saints is one of them.
51 “Behold, I tell you a 4mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of
an eye, at the last trumpet.” 1 Corinthians 15:52
B. The idea of the mystery of God speaks of that which is in accordance with the longings and the desires of the
heart of God. The apostolic mystery is more than a theological treatise; it is an expression of the heart God. The
mysteries of God are an invitation into communion with the Godhead.
“The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter
days you will understand it perfectly.” Jeremiah 23:20
C. God longs to make known the things that are on His heart (1:9).
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory…”
1 Corinthians 2:7
D. There is an unfolding of human history that is understood according to the divine mystery. God devised a plan
that, as He unfolds it to our hearts, causes us to grow in the experiencing of the romance of the Gospel.
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory…”
1 Corinthians 2:7
E. The mystery of the gospel reveals God’s plan, His power, and His personhood. The revelation of the mystery of
God is about the splendor of His majesty, the greatness of His power, and the brilliance of His wisdom.
F. God wants the whole Church to make known the mystery. Throughout church history and especially at the end of
the age the Lord wants the Church to encounter, to walk out, and to proclaim the mystery. The angels are filled with holy
curiosity longing to look into the plan of God. They will gain their insight as God empowers the Church to walk out the
mystery of God.
“Of this salvation (mystery) the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would
come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified
beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow (the unfolding of the mystery). To them it was
revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through
those who have preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look
into.” 1 Peter 1:10-12
G. We cannot claim ignorance concerning the mystery of the rapture of the saints. It is essential that we give
ourselves to searching out the second coming events.
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who
have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13
H. Studying and meditating on the second coming will keep us from deception (Mt. 24:4; Mk. 13:5) as it connects our
hearts with the truth of God’s holy heart. We must search out the passages that give us insight in Jesus’ resurrection
(Mt. 28:1–20; Mk. 16:1–8; Lk. 24:1–53; Jn. 20:1–21:25; Acts 1:1-11).
“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be
soon shaken in mind or troubled, (no need to be confused) either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as
though the day of Christ (the second coming) had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (the second
coming) will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who
opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God,
showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
“…so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you
to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:7-8
I. The second coming and our gathering with Jesus motivates us to righteousness.
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of
light.” Romans 13:12-13
“…so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you
to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:7-8
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that
your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is
revealed, (second coming) we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him
purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3
III. WHAT IS THE RAPTURE?
A. The nature of the second coming events: a 3-stage process that includes many events instead of being only one
event that happens one afternoon. First, Jesus comes across the entire earth in the sky (Rev. 1:7). Second, He comes
across the land (Isa. 63:1-6). Third, Jesus enters into Jerusalem (Mt. 23:39; Ps. 24:7-10) using the seven bowls to
destroy the armies of the Antichrist and thus to win the Armageddon Campaign (Rev. 19:11-21) at the Battle of
Jerusalem. Jesus releases the seven bowls of wrath as Moses released the ten plagues of Egypt.
B. The rapture is that which happens with the saints during the first stage of the three-stage second coming events
of Christ to the earth.
C. The rapture describes what happens to all the saints at the time of 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 (1 Thes. 2:19; 4:17; 5:10; 2 Thes. 2:1). The word rapture comes from a Latin word raptus, “snatching
away” (Greek word: harpazo – 1 Thes. 4:14-17).
D. Jesus will rapture all the saints on earth when He brings all the saints with Him from heaven (Zech. 14:5). Jesus will
come with billions of angels who gather the saints in the sky from the ends of the earth (Mt. 13:41; 24:31; 25:31;
Mk. 8:38; 13:27; Lk. 9:26; 2 Thes 1:7-10).
E. There are three different basic views on the timing of the rapture held by those who believe that Jesus will return
to earth to establish His thousand-year reign. The belief that Jesus is return to establish a thousand-year reign is
referred to as Pre-millennialism.
1. Post-tribulation – The rapture occurs after the tribulation
2. Pre-tribulation – The rapture occurs before the tribulation.
3. Mid-tribulation – The rapture occurs in the middle of the tribulation 3 ½ years before Christ’s return.
F. The scripture makes it clear that the rapture or the resurrection of the saints occurs in context to the second
coming of Jesus to the earth. The error with the Pre-tribulation view and the Mid-tribulation view is that it has the rapture
of the church and the second coming as two separate events. These views can cause various problems for the church,
one of which is leaving the people of God unprepared for the great eschatological storm.
15 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 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. And the dead in Christ will rise FIRST (at His coming). 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 (at His coming –
vs. 16). 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not
to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ
had come.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2
IV. GENESIS: ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF THE SECOND COMING
A. God’s premier vision is for the earth to be filled with the knowledge of His glory. The centerpiece of God’s eternal
purpose is for Jesus to come back to fully establish His kingdom and rule over all the earth as He joins the heavenly and
earthly realms together. Both heavenly and earthly dimensions must come together to fully express God’s personality
and purposes.
B. I refer to Genesis 1:1–3 as God’s vision statement. It gives us insight into God’s purposes in creating the world.
Where it is recorded that God declared, “Let there be light,” there is no mention of the source of the light. The sources of
the natural light were not created until the fourth day. It is my opinion that the reason for this is that the light that shone
forth on the first day was the light of the knowledge of God’s glory.
C. The vision of the Genesis event was to have a natural realm, under the dominion of the redeemed in the embrace
of God, and have the glory of God’s presence, power and purpose fully manifest in natural created order.
D. This vision got distorted through the sin of Adam and Eve and creation came under bondage, but God had a
predetermined plan (mystery) to deliver creation in His Son unto the Father’s glory filling the earth (Rev. 21:1-7).
20 “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the
creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 Fo
r we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” Romans 8:20-22
E. History records creation's bondage to corruption (earthquakes, pollution, extinction of animals, sickness, disease,
disruptive weather patterns, floods, droughts, death, etc.) but this corruption will reach its climax in the generation when
the Lord is going to return. At least 50% of the earth’s population dies in the fourth seal and the sixth trumpet. Vegetation
is destroyed, along with the waters, which become contaminated with blood and wormwood. There will be hundred-pound
hailstorms, earthquakes, removal of islands, wild beasts, food supplies destroyed, and the earth filled with natural, moral
and supernatural darkness (Isa. 60:1). When the Jesus returns the earth will be void and filled with darkness (Gen. 1:1).
“Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste, distorts its surface and scatters abroad its inhabitants.”
Isaiah 24:1
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on
the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2
F. One of the main purposes of the second coming is to deliver creation from the futility of its bondage unto the
resurrection of the redeemed (Rom. 8:20-22). Jesus comes back to the earth physically and personally to bring all things
under His feet and prepare the created order as a habitation of the Father (1 Corinthians 15:23-28).
G. The rapture is near and dear to God’s heart as it relates to God’s glorious plan to send His Son as Creator to the
earth and to prepare it for the fullness of the glory of God.
V. NEW GENESIS: THE RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS
A. I refer to the rapture of the saints as the New Genesis because there are elements of the Genesis account found
in this glorious end-time event.
1. The earth is empty, distorted and filled with darkness when Jesus illumines it with the glory of His second
coming –
2. The presence of music and song –
3. The making of new bodies for redeemed humanity –
4. The last Adam receives His bride with a body like His –
B. Jesus, the God of Genesis, as Creator in the millennial kingdom will make all things new (Rom. 8:19-22).
C. The Father establishes Jesus’ role as Creator from the beginning (Heb. 1:6, 10).
“You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.” Psalm
102:25
“In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning
with God. 3All things were made through Him (Jesus), and without Him nothing was made that was made.” Genesis 1:1-3
16 For by Him (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him (Jesus) and for Him. 17 And He
(Jesus) is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Colossians 1:16-17
D. When Jesus returns, as Creator He has all authority the lead the process of recreating the earth. It will be a
process like the growing old of a garment over time or like unto the folding of a cloak.
“They (heaven and earth) will perish, but You remain; and they (heaven and earth) will grow old like a garment (process
of regeneration); like a cloak You will fold them up (process of regeneration) and they (heaven and earth) be changed
(Rev. 21:1 new heaven and new earth).” Ps 102:26-27
E. The earth is empty, distorted and filled with darkness when Jesus illumines it with the glory of His second
coming –
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on
the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2
“Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste, distorts its surface and scatters abroad its inhabitants.”
Isaiah 24:1
3 Then God said, ”Let there be light” (2 Cor. 4:6); and there was light. Genesis 1:3
Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 2For behold, the darkness shall cover
the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.
Isaiah 60:1-2
F. The presence of music and song –
6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7When the morning stars sang together, and all
the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 38:6-7
Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew
is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Isaiah 26:19
G. Those who dwell in the dust, the dead in Christ, rise FIRST. The making of new bodies for redeemed humanity –
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man
became a living being. Genesis 2:7
Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew
is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Isaiah 26:19
16 For 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 first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16
H. The last Adam Jesus receives His bride –
“Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.” Genesis
2:22
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.
And thus we shall ALWAYS be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17
I. The bride has a body like last Adam –
23And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was
taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall
become one flesh. Genesis 2:23-24
39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you
see I have. Luke 24:39
50 I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God… 1 Corinthians 15:50
20 Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for…Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body
that it may be conformed to His glorious body… Philippians 3:20-21
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is
revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” 1 John 3:2
VI. THE LAST TRUMPET: TIMING OF THE RAPTURE
A. Contrary to the popular “Pre-tribulation” view and a “secret coming”, the timing of the rapture and the second
coming according to the Scripture is clear. The Apostle Paul taught that the second coming is synonymous with the
rapture. It is clear that that the rapture occurs after the Antichrist is revealed.
B. Paul makes it clear that there are two significant timing indicators or signposts before the Lord returns.
1. The great falling away must come first
2. The revealing of the Antichrist
“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Second Coming) and our gathering together to him
(the rapture), we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled…as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no
one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is
revealed, the son of perdition. 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so
that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
C. Paul tells us that the rapture occurs in association with the last trumpet (1 Cor. 15:50-52; 1 Thes. 4:16-17;
Isa. 27:13; Rev. 11:15-17; 10:7). The seventh trumpet is the last trumpet in the series of seven (Rev. 8-9; 11:15) that are
numbered by John in Revelation.
51 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
D. The mystery of God or His plan to prepare a Bride to rule the earth with Jesus is now complete.
7 In the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery (hidden plan) of God would
be finished, as He declared to His…prophets. Revelation 10:7
VII. THE SPLENDOR OF HIS COMING
A. Every eye will see Him at the Second Coming –
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth
will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1:7
B. He is coming with the cloud of His glory-
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see
the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:30
“Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right
hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven” Matthew 26:64
“…the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man
coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” Mark 13:26
“Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of
heaven” Mark 14:62
“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27
“Then 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.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17
“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth
will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” Revelation 1:7
“And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and
their enemies saw them.” Revelation 11:12
“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden
crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who
sat on the cloud,” Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is
ripe” So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.” Revelation 14:14-16
C. Jesus will come with the zeal and vengeance of the Father-
“…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who
do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8
D. The second coming will be filled with brightness, radiant beauty and great power-
“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the
brightness of His coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:8
“who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His
power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” Hebrews 1:3
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see
the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:30
“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” Mark 13:26
“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:27
”These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
2 Thessalonians 1:9
E. Jesus will come with the all hosts of heaven-
“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his
works.” Matthew 16:27
“And 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
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.”
Matthew 25:31
F. The second coming will be accompanied with divine lightning.
G. I do not believe that the mention of lightning in the second coming verses imply an instantaneous event but that it
could possibly mean that the lightning of the glory of God from around the throne of God will accompany the coming of
Jesus to the planet.
H. Some assume that Jesus will appear simultaneously to all the peoples of the earth as He instantaneously finishes
all the activities involved in the second coming. “In a moment” qualifies how fast individuals will be “changed,” not how
much time it takes for “all” the Church collectively to see Him and be changed, thus completing the rapture.
51 We shall all be changed…52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye… 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
“And from the throne proceeded lightings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne,
which are the seven Spirits of God.” Revelation 4:5
“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Matthew 24:27
“For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of
Man will be in His day”. Luke 17:24
I. The reason why I do not believe that the second coming is instantaneous is because there is a clear process
described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.
VIII. THE SEQUENCE THE SECOND COMING
For 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 first. Then 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.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
A. The Lord Himself will descend from heaven-
1. With a shout (voice of an archangel)
2. The trumpet of God
B. And the dead in Christ will rise first-
“Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is
like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.” Isaiah 26:19
C. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them-
1. The transformation of our natural bodies to becoming spiritual bodies is instantaneous.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For
this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
2. We will join the saints who have gone before us in the clouds of heaven.
IX. SCRIPTURES DESCRIBING THE RAPTURE
A. He will come from heaven to catch up all His people to meet Him in the clouds.
For 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 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. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
B. He will come from heaven with all His people.
…that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our…Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with
all His saints. 1 Thessalonians 3:13
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him… 2 Thessalonians 2:1
Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the
tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” Matthew 13:30
C. He will come in flaming fire with His saints.
…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who
do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8
D. At His Coming, we will receive resurrected bodies that radiate His light.
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another
star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.
1 Corinthians 15:41-42
The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who
practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then
the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Matthew 13:41-43
X. THE SECOND COMING PROCESSION: 3 STAGES (30 DAYS)
A. Jesus raptures the Church to initiate His second coming procession which has 3 stages including many events
occurring over a 30-day period which can be seen by comparing the 1,260 days (3½ years) in Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 14;
13:5; Dan. 7:25; 9:27; 12:7 with the 1,290 days of Dan. 12:11.
Stage #1: Jesus’ procession across the sky: to rapture the Church (Mt. 24:30-31; Rev. 1:7)
Stage #2: Jesus’ procession on the land: traveling through Jordan to Israel (Isa. 63; Hab. 3)
Stage #3: Jesus’ procession into Jerusalem: to the Mount of Olives before His coronation
B. Jesus’ Procession begins in the sky at the seventh trumpet (last trumpet: Rev. 11:15; 1 Cor. 15:52) with the
rapture and ends on the earth to finish the Armageddon Campaign with an astonishing victory over the armies of the
Antichrist at Jerusalem (Rev. 19:11-21; Zech. 12:1-13:6; 14:1-9).