Eschatology 11 Of 16 The Second Coming

• The rapture of the church

• The receiving of our glorified bodies

• The Judgments (The Seal Judgments, The Trumpet Judgments, and The Vial Judgments)

All these things will take place on earth during the seven years of the tribulation period.

But we also discovered that while this is taking place on earth, two great events also will be taking place in heaven:

• The Judgment Seat of Christ

• The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

The seven years that will take place after the rapture will be the most important years of mankind. But at the end of these seven years, when the last Vial Judgment takes place, something else that is very important is going to take place.

WHAT IS THAT? The Second Coming of Christ will take place.

Let’s look at some of the remarkable things about the Second Coming of Christ.

First, we need to consider-

I. THE PLACE OF HIS SECOND COMING

The Second Coming of Christ will take place on this earth.

In fact, the Word of God tells us that when He returns to the earth, it will be at the same place from which He left in His ascension.

Look at Zechariah 14:3-4, “Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.”

This world in which we live has not seen the last of Christ. HE IS COMING BACK!

• Something many folks do not know, is that the Second Coming of Christ and the rapture of the church are two separate events.

• The Bible teaches us that the Rapture will take place in the air, but the Second Coming will take place on earth.

Look at 1 Thess. 4:13-18, we read, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

The Second Coming and the Rapture of the church are different events.

Look at some of the differences:

• The rapture will take place at the beginning of the tribulation period and the Second coming will take place at the end of the tribulation period.

• The rapture is when Christ will come FOR His Church, the Second Coming is when Christ will come WITH His church.

• The rapture is when Christ will come in the air, but at the Second Coming He will come to the earth.

• The rapture is when Christ will come as a thief (no signs), but the Second Coming is when He will come with many signs of nature exploding like fire works, as the last vial judgment is poured out on the face of the earth.

• The rapture is when Christ will come as a thief, but the Second Coming is when every eye shall see Him.

The Second Coming of Christ will bring human history to a close. The Second Coming of Christ will be the most fearful thing that mankind has ever had to face on this earth.

Look at Luke 21:25-26, we read, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”

This coming is called the Second Coming, and unlike the Rapture, He literally will come to earth again.

The earth is THE PLACE OF HIS SECOND COMING. Now let’s look at -

II. THE PURPOSE OF HIS SECOND COMING

Rev. 19:11 says, “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.”