The World’s Two Greatest Events (Part 2 Of 2)

When mankind tells us something we have no guaranteed it will take place. But when God tells us something we can count on it happening.

These two events are:

1. The RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

2. The SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

Last week I preached on the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH which is one of these great events that is yet to take place.

Today I will be preaching on the SECOND GREATEST EVENT the SECOND COMING OF CHRIST that is yet to take place.

There will be seven years of tribulation on the earth that will take place between these two great events known as the TRIBULATION PERIOD.

We call this the PRE-TRIBULATION teaching which we believe the Bible teaches.

Many Christians think that the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ are the same!

Actually they are two different events.

Let me show you a contrast that will take place between the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH AND THE SECOND COMING…

(1) When the rapture take place the Lord Himself shall rapture His church. We will be raptured by the Lord Jesus who will say to the saints of God “Come up hither”. (Not by Gabriel blowing his horn as some suggest)

When the SECOND COMING take place the Lord will 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.

(2) The rapture will takes place in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 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.

The Lord’s feet will never touch the ground in the rapture. So it cannot be called His Second Coming.

(3) SECOND COMING, He will literally come back to earth and set up His Kingdom.

Isaiah 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

He will rule and reign for a thousand years here on earth. So we call this His Second coming.

(4) RAPTURE: No sign is given for His coming.

SECOND COMING: A sign is given in Matthew. We read in 24:30, “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.”

(5) THE RAPTURE: The Scriptures do not indicate that the lost people of the world will see His coming.

IN THE SECOND COMING: The entire world will see the Son of Man, we are told in Matthew 24:30 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.

(6)THE RAPTURE: believers meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

THE SECOND COMING: believers return with the Lord to the earth (Revelation 19:14).

(7) THE RAPTURE occurs before the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

THE SECOND COMING: Occurs after the great and terrible tribulation (Revelation chapters 6–19).

(8) THE RAPTURE: Is the removal of believers from the earth as an act of deliverance (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 5:9).

THE SECOND COMING includes the removal of unbelievers as an act of judgment (Matthew 24:40-41).

(9) THE RAPTURE is imminent; it could take place at any moment (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

THE SECOND COMING: Will not occur until after certain other end-times events take place (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15-30; Revelation chapters 6–18).

As you can see in the scriptures there is a great contrast between the RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING. These are two separate events.

• I mention to you in a previous sermon that I am excited about the RAPTURE because every child of God will participate in the rapture.

• But I am equally excited about the SECOND COMING OF CHRIST because every Christian will participate in this great event.

We Christians have so much to look forward to when these two great events take place. Every child of God will be there to partake of these two great events.

But look what God’s Word has to say about the SECOND COMING OF CHIRST.

Look at Matthew 24:29-31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days (Tribulation Period) 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: 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. 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.