THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE
CONTRASTED WITH
THE RETURN OF CHRIST TO EARTH




A Mystery Contrasted With an Old Testament Prophecy

1 Corinthians 15:51: Behold, I shew you a mystery ...

Zecheriah 14:4: And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east ... (cf.  Zecheriah 12:10)


Coming For Fellowship Contrasted With Coming For Battle

John 14:3: "... I will COME again ... that where I am ye may be also ..."

Revelation 19:11: "... behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him ...doth ... make WAR ..."


Coming In the Air Contrasted With Coming To Earth

1 Thessalonians 4:17: ... shall ... meet the Lord IN THE AIR ...

Zecheriah 14:4: ... his feet shall STAND in that day upon the MOUNT OF OLIVES ...


Coming For the Saints Contrasted With Coming With the Saints

2 Thessalonians 2:1: ... the COMING of the Lord ... and by our GATHERING UNTO HIM ... (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Jude 4: ... the Lord COMETH WITH ten thousands of his saints ... (cf. Revelation 19:14)


Seen By Believers Contrasted With Every Eye Will See Him

1 John 3:2: ... when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

Revelation 1:7:  "... every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. ...  (cf. Revelation 19:11-16 Matthew 24:30)


Heavenly Mansions Contrasted With the Kingdom on Earth

John 14:3: "... in my father’s house are many mansions...I go and prepare a place for you, I will COME again, and RECEIVE you ..."

Revelation 20:4: "... them...which had not worshipped the beast...lived and REIGNED with Christ ONE THOUSAND YEARS ..." I


The Lord Gathering Contrasted With the Angels Gathering

2 Thessalonians 2:1: ... the COMING of our Lord ... and by GATHERING unto him ...

Matthew 24:31: ... he shall SEND his ANGELS ... they shall GATHER ... his ELECT ...


When the Lord Descends Contrasted With When the Lord Sends

1 Thessalonians 4:16: ... the Lord HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND ... and the dead in Christ shall RISE ...

2 Thessalonians 2:1: ... our gathering unto him ...

Matthew 24:31: ... he shall SEND his angels ... AND THEY shall gather his elect ...


The Archangel Contrasted With All the Angels

1 Thessalonians 4:16: ... the Lord himself shall descend ... with the voice of the ARCHANGEL.

Matthew 25:31: ... when the son of man shall COME ... and ALL the holy ANGELS ...


God’s Last Trump of Church Age Contrasted With the Angel’s Trumpet

1 Thessalonians 4:16: ... the Lord HIMSELF shall descend ... with the TRUMP OF GOD: and the  dead in Christ shall rise ... (1 Cor. 15:52 the Last Trump)

Matthew 24:31: ... HE SHALL SEND HIS ANGELS with a great sound of a TRUMPET ...




THE RAPTURE                                  THE GLORIOUS APPEARING

No Judgment on earth at Rapture       Christ judges earth's inhabitants

Church taken to Heaven at Rapture    Christ sets up His kingdom on earth

Rapture imminent          Glorious Appearing 7 years after covenant confirmed (Dan 9:27)

No signs for Rapture                             Many signs for Christ's physical coming

For believers only                                  Affects all humanity

Time of joy                                              Time of sorrow

Before the 7 year Tribulation                 Immediately after the Tribulation

Tribulation begins                                  Millennial kingdom of Christ begins