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The Difference Between the

RAPTURE and the REVELATION of Christ

SIGNS OF JESUS’ RETURN / The “signs” listed in the Scriptures refer to two separate events:

#1 The RAPTURE:

“In the twinkling of an eye”

     The Rapture will occur when Jesus returns in the clouds with the sound of a trump and a shout to rescue His Bride before the time of Judgment referred to in the Bible as the “Tribulation” or the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble.” The Bride of Christ (the Church) is composed of every born-again believer during the present time of Grace and before the Tribulation. The sudden removal of the Bride will occur in the “twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53) and unbelievers will not know what has happened until it is too late and they have been left behind to face the horrific years of suffering under the world-wide rule of the Anti-Christ.

     The Rapture is also referred to as the “Blessed Hope” (Titus 2:13) and could occur at any moment. (Matthew 24:42-44)

The snatching away of born-again believers is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 — “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 who are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP (to catch away or pluck) 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.” 

Seven years later, at the conclusion of the Great Tribulation, Christ will come in power and great glory!

#2 The REVELATION:

The Revelation of Christ occurs seven years after the Rapture at the end of the Tribulation when Jesus will return physically to earth in power and great glory. (Revelation 19:11-16)  Every eye will see Him when He appears in victory upon a white horse and with a vast army dressed in white and also riding white horses. Jesus Himself will destroy His enemies and establishes His Millennial Kingdom on earth.

NOTE: Most of the signs listed in the Bible are indications of Jesus’ return as King of kings and Lord of lords. Many of the signs pointing to the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ will begin to occur BEFORE the Rapture of the Church but they will culminate during the days of the Tribulation.


SIGNS OF THE REVELATION LISTED IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 24:

  1.   DECEPTION: “Take heed that no man DECEIVE you” (Matthew 24:4)
  2.   FALSE MESSIAHS:  “For MANY SHALL COME IN MY NAME, SAYING, I AM CHRIST” (Matthew 24:5)
  3.  “Ye shall hear of WARS and RUMORS OF WARS” (Matthew 24:6)
  4.  “NATION SHALL RISE AGAINST NATION, kingdom against kingdom”  (Matthew 24:7)
  5.  “There shall be FAMINES” (Matthew 24:7)
  6.  “There shall be PESTILENCES” (Matthew 24:7)
  7.  “There shall be EARTHQUAKES in various places” (Matthew 24:7)
  8.   GREAT PERSECUTION: “They shall deliver you up to be AFFLICTED, and shall KILL you” (Matthew 24:9)
  9.  “You shall be HATED of all nations for My sake.” (Matthew 24:9)
  10.  “Many shall be OFFENDED, and shall BETRAY ONE ANOTHER . . . and HATE ONE ANOTHER” (Matthew 24:10
  11.  “Many FALSE PROPHETS shall rise and DECEIVE MANY” (Matthew 24:11
  12.   “INIQUITY SHALL ABOUND”  (Matthew 24:12)
  13.  “The LOVE of many shall GROW COLD” (Matthew 24:12)
  14.  “The GOSPEL of the Kingdom shall be PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD”  (Matthew 24:14)
  15.   “ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION” (Matthew 24:15)
  16. Jews will FLEE from the wrath of the Anti-Christ (Matthew 24:16-20)
  17.  “For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION”  (Matthew 24:21)
  18.  “False Christs and false prophets shall show GREAT SIGNS and WONDERS” (Matthew 24:24
  19.  “SUN shall be DARKENED . . . MOON shall NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT” (Matthew 24:29)
  20.  “The STARS SHALL FALL FROM HEAVEN”  (Matthew 24:29)
  21.  “The POWERS OF THE HEAVENS SHALL BE SHAKEN”  (Matthew 24:29)
  22.  “And then shall appear the SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN IN HEAVEN” (Matthew 24:30)
  23.   “THEY SHALL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30)
  24.  Jesus shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet to REGATHER THE NATION OF ISRAEL (Matthew 24:31)


SIGNS OF THE RAPTURE LISTED IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 24:

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36)  NOTE:  This cannot be referring to the REVELATION of Christ when He comes in power and great glory and every eye shall see Him!

  1.   REBIRTH of the Nation of ISRAEL (Matthew 24:32-34) 
  2.  “But AS THE DAYS OF NOAH WERE, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:37)
  3.  UNEXPECTED and UNANNOUNCED RETURN:  “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking,  marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark.” (Matthew 24:38)
  4.  SUDDEN DESTRUCTION:  “And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away, so shall also the coming of the Son of  Man be.” (Matthew 24:39)
  5.  “ONE SHALL BE TAKEN AND THE OTHER LEFT” (Matthew 24:40-41)
  6.  “WATCH, therefore; for YOU KNOW NOT WHAT HOUR YOUR LORD DOES COME.” (Matthew 24:42)
  7.  “Therefore be you also ready, for IN SUCH AN HOUR AS YOU THINK NOT the Son of Man will come.” (Matthew 24:44

SIGNS OF THE RAPTURE LISTED IN 2 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 3:

  1.  PERILOUS TIMES shall come (1 Timothy 3:1)
  2.  Men shall be LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, COVETOUS, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS,  UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY  (1 Timothy 3:2)
  3.   WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, TRUCEBREAKERS, FALSE ACCUSERS, INCONTINENT, FIERCE, DESPISERS OF THOSE THAT ARE GOOD (1 Timothy 3:3)
  4.   TRAITERS, HEADY, HIGH-MINDED, LOVERS OF PLEASURES more than lovers of God (1 Timothy 3:4)
  5.   HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS but denying the power thereof (1 Timothy 3:5)
  6.   EVER LEARNING, and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth (1 Timothy 3:6)
  7.   RESIST THE TRUTH, CORRUPT MINDS, REPROBATE concerning the faith (1 Timothy 3:8)
  8.   EVIL MEN AND SEDUCERS SHALL BECOME WORSE AND WORSE, DECEIVING, and being DECEIVED (1 Timothy 3:13)


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