Second Coming - Rapture

 How can we be so different on the second coming and the rapture of the church? (The links I post are just to get some scripture references so you can read them yourself).

I believe it comes down to if you rightly divide the scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15).  Because if you believe the Bible is written to us instead of the whole Bible was written for us, for our learning (Romans 15:4 KJV), but not all of it is addressed to us, then you will most likely have a Amillennialist, Pre-millennialists, Post-trib, or Mid-trib understanding.

Here are the different viewpoints about the rapture and end times prophecy. (I actually have people I respect and watch on a daily basis that fall into each of these categories).

1. Amillennialists believe that God's promises regarding the end times are figurative and will not be literally fulfilled, particularly the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth.

Pre-millennialists believe that Jesus Christ will return to the earth prior to His literal reign on the earth for 1000 years. Three groups of pre-millennialists include the following:

2. Post-tribulationists believe that the rapture will not occur until the end of the seven-year tribulation, just prior to the beginning of the millennial kingdom.

3. Mid-tribulationists believe that the rapture will occur three- and one-half years into the tribulation, at beginning of the three- and one-half year great tribulation.

4. Pre-tribulationists believe that the rapture will occur prior to the seven-year tribulation, but not necessarily immediately before the tribulation.

These are the translations I will use (AMP; TLB; KJV; ESV):

Rapture and Second Coming

For me... The Gospels and early Acts are rooted in Old Testament promises, so the Church age actually begins with the ministry of the Apostle Paul.  This opened up my understanding of how to read and comprehend the Bible. It also cleared up any seemingly discrepancies/inconsistency or contradictions that I came across.

The Apostle Paul is the only one who writes about the rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-7).  Paul’s mission is unique: He is the apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13). His teachings emphasize justification by faith, the mystery of the Church, and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Church age is characterized by the inclusion of both Jews and Gentiles into the body of Christ, with no distinction (Galatians 3:28).

Paul’s letters (such as Romans, Galatians, Ephesians) provide essential theological foundations for the Church age.

Even thought The Church age is marked by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2), again, the ministry of the age of grace, the body of Christ, didn't start until Acts 13:46-48 & Acts 15:7-11.

In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch of Pisidia. Paul boldly proclaimed the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. Many Gentiles believed, and the Word of the Lord spread throughout the region.

Acts 15:7-11, During the Jerusalem Council, Peter affirmed that God had chosen Paul to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. The Council recognized that salvation was by grace through faith, not by works of the law. Paul’s message aligned with this understanding.

The destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. marked a significant transition for believers. I believe this was God’s way of emphasizing the universal message of salvation through faith in Jesus by Paul's gospel (Galatians 1:8-9; Ephesians 3).  Now everyone could only be saved by it (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 10:9-10,13). Peter even put his stamp of approval on it (2 Peter 3:14-17).

Here is the Rapture and Tribulation Timeline: 





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