Did you know that the rapture is very different than the second coming of Jesus Christ? Jesus came once from about 1 B.C. to 32 A.D., He'll come briefly, in the sky, for the rapture and He'll come for one, final time (commonly called "Christ's second coming").
| The Rapture | vs. | Christ's Second Coming | |
| 1 | Jesus coming FOR His Church. John 14:1-3, 1 Thess. 4:14-17 | 1 | Jesus coming WITH His Church - Colossians 3:4, Zechariah 14:5, Jude 14, Revelation 19:14 |
| 2 | Caught up with Him in the air 1 Thess. 4:13-18 | 2 | Jesus' feet touch the earth - Zechariah 14:4, Revelation 19:11-21 |
| 3 | Christians taken first, unbelievers are left behind. 1 Thess. 4:13-18 | 3 | Wicked are taken first, the righteous (Tribulation saints) are left behind - Matthew 13:28-30 |
| 4 | Purpose: To present the Church to Himself and to the Father 2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 19:6-9 | 4 | Purpose: To execute judgment on earth and set up His Kingdom - Jude 14-15, Revelation 19:11-21, Zechariah 14:3-4 |
| 5 | MARRIAGE: Marriage of Lamb in heaven after the Rapture | 5 | WAR: Marriage is followed by war on earth at the 2nd coming |
| 6 | Happens in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (too fast for eyes to see) 1 Corinthians 15:52 | 6 | Slow coming, people will see Him come back - Zechariah 12:10, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7 |
| 7 | Only Christians will see Him 1 John 3:2, 1 Corinthians 15:52 | 7 | Every eye will see Him - Revelation 1:7 |
| 8 | Jesus descends with a shout (for resurrection) 1 Thess. 4:16 | 8 | No shout mentioned - Revelation 19:11-21 |
| 9 | A resurrection takes place 1 Thess. 4:13-18, 1 Cor 15:51-54 | 9 | No resurrection mentioned - Revelation 1:7, 19:11-21, Zechariah 12:10, 14:4-5 |
| 10 | Can happen at any time Rev 3:3, 1 Thess. 5:4-6 | 10 | Occurs at end of 7 years of Tribulation - Daniel 9:24-27, Matthew 24:29-30, 2 Thess. 2:3-8 |
| 11 | No angels are sent to gather (resurrected people don't need angels to help them) | 11 | Angels sent forth to gather people together for judgment - Matthew 13:39, 41, 49, 24:31, 25:31, 2 Thess. 1:7-10 |
| 12 | Spirits of those dead in Christ return with Jesus to receive their resurrected bodies 1 Thess. 4:14-16 | 12 | Christians return with Jesus in already resurrected bodies riding on white horses - Revelation 19:11-21 |
| 13 | Jesus does not return on a white horse | 13 | Jesus returns on a white horse - Revelation 19:11 |
| 14 | For the Church only (those in Christ) 1 Thess. 4:14-17 | 14 | For redeemed Israel & Gentiles - Romans 11:25-27, Matthew 25:31-46 |
| 15 | A message of hope and comfort 1 Thess. 4:18, Titus 2:13, 1 John 3:3 | 15 | A message of judgment - Joel 3:12-16, Revelation 19:11-21, Malachi 4:5 |
