THE COMING OF CHRIST

Intro:

1. The prominent view of the events surrounding the return of Christ among the premillennialists is the Rapture Theory.

2. We will examine this theory as well as point out what the Bible really teaches concerning Christ's return.

I. The Rapture Theory.

A. Premillennialists cannot agree on who will be raptured or exactly when it will occur in relation to the tribulation. There are basically three different rapture theories:

1. Post-tribulation - This theory says that Christ will return only once at the end of the tribulation. The gospel will be preached to all nations. The Antichrist will come bringing tribulation and persecution of Christians. Then Christ will come ending the tribulation and will take His saints with Him before the Battle of Armageddon takes place.

2. Mid-tribulation - The church will be raptured at the end of the first 3½ years of Daniel's 70th week.

3. Pre-tribulation - The church will be removed in its entirety before the tribulation begins. There will be two comings of Christ. Once to suddenly and secretly take saints to heaven before the tribulation. At the conclusion of the tribulation, He will come again to set up His kingdom.

B. The most common view held today is the Pre-tribulation view. Hal Lindsey is the chief proponent of this view in such books as The Late Great Planet Earth.

C. The Scripture that most go to in order to try and prove the Rapture Theory is 1 Thess. 4:13-18.

1. Verse 17 contains the Greek word "harpazo" which means "caught up." From this word the word "rapture" is obtained.

2. From this passage, along with 2 Thess. 2:1 and 1 Cor. 15:51-52, the premillennialist has devised a theory consisting of a mysterious event. The Lord will supposedly secretly come down and gather the living saints away with Him. Those left on the earth (the unsaved) will wonder what happened and where everyone has disappeared to.

3. Does this passage and others really teach this?

a. The context of the passage shows that the Thessalonian brethren were concerned that their brethren and loved ones who had died would miss the Lord's coming and have no hope. Paul, here, reassures them that the dead will rise and join those who are alive. The only ones considered here are the righteous. Nothing is said of the wicked.

b. This passage and others show that Christ's coming will not be a secretive, mysterious happening. Verse 16 says that He will come "with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God." Does this sound like He will come and some not know it? (See also 2 Pet. 3:10)

c. Will His coming be invisible? Not according to 2 Thess. 1:7 - "revealed from heaven;" and Rev. 1:7 - "every eye shall see Him."

D. The Rapture Theory demands two resurrections. - A resurrection of the righteous at the rapture and a resurrection of the wicked at the end of the thousand years.

1. The claim is that in 1 Thess. 4, the Lord will come "for" his saints and that according to Jude 14-15, He will come again "with" his saints.

2. However, in 1 Thess. 4, He is coming "with" some saints and "for" some other saints, all at the same time. (See v. 14 and v. 17)

3. In reality, the Bible only teaches one resurrection. All will be raised at the same time - wicked and saints. (John 5:28-29; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; Acts 24:15)

II. What Will Happen At His Second Coming?

A. There will be an end of preparation.

1. Christ taught that the time would come when the door would be shut. (cf. Matt. 25:1-13)

2. There will be no more time for preparation when the Lord comes.

B. It will be the end of the world. (2 Pet. 3:10)

C. All the dead will be raised to be judged at His coming. (John 5:28-29; Matt. 25:31-46)

D. The kingdom will be delivered up. (1 Cor. 15:23-24)

Concl:

Realizing what will really happen at Christ's second coming, we must prepare ourselves now by obeying Him. (2 Pet. 3:11-13)