The Rapture and the Second Coming

 Another great devo from Pastor Laurie today.  He is definitely one California pastor who has been telling his congregation to be ready for the return of Christ, first for His bride and next as the coming King.

 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 

—Colossians 3:4

According to the Bible, there’s a generation that will not see death. Instead, the Lord will remove them from the face of the earth in what we call the rapture of the Church.

This is what Jesus was referring to when He said, “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left” (Matthew 24:40–41 NKJV).

Instantaneously, millions of believers from around the globe will be caught up into God’s presence.

The Bible also speaks of this event in other passages, including 1 Corinthians 15: “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (verses 51–52 NKJV).

Speaking of the same event, 1 John 3:2 says, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (NKJV).

However, there’s a difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming. The Rapture introduces the Tribulation, which follows the rapture of the Church and concludes with the Second Coming.

Here’s another way to put it: At the Rapture, Jesus will return for His Church. At the Second Coming, He will return withHis Church. We will meet the Lord in the air and then when He comes back to Earth, we will return with Him.

Christ is coming for His Church, and when the time is right, He will come back again to this earth.