From the site logosinfo.org
Questions about the Second coming of Christ on Earth, of concern not only to theologians and ordinary Christians. However, in the minds of the people a lot of confusion and myths. Seek answers to questions about the Second coming of Christ to the source — the Bible.
There is a theory that before the coming of Jesus Christ, all Christians will be secretly raptured from this earth. Is it really so?
The Apostle Paul stresses that this phenomenon, with the accompanying resurrection of the dead and rapture the living would not be mysterious and quiet, but quite the contrary — it will be loud, with earthquakes and huge excitement: “I Tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
At the Second coming, the restoration of life, the righteous in Christ will not die but will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and together they will be caught up in the air to meet Christ to be with Him forever.
The coming of Jesus there will be some private, secret, and territorial (for example, in the wilderness or in the desert), but will be like lightning that is seen everywhere (see Matthew 24:26.) “Then shall all the tribes of the earth will see the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and he shall send His Angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:30, 31).
What is the purpose of the Second coming of Jesus Christ?
Scripture speaks of two purposes for which Jesus Christ will return to earth a second time, the punishment of sinners and the salvation of believers: “Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give every man according to his deeds” (Revelation 22:12).
For those people who have rejected the call of God, violated His commandments and not believe in His saving grace, this is a time of destruction, because on that day the longsuffering of God to the wicked will end and the Son of God treading “the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15).
However, it is written that Christ “will appear a second time [for purification] sin, and for waiting for Him for salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). For those who believed in Christ with all your heart, and waited His Coming, as a meeting with a dear Friend and Lord, it will be the most joyous day. At His Second Coming the Lord will destroy sin and sinners and will cast Satan into the abyss of hell (Revelation 20:1-3). And those who in sincerity of heart and fulfilled His commandments, I will say in that day: “Here He is, our God! on Him we have trusted, and He saved us.” (Isaiah 25:9).
What will happen to those believers who died before His coming, and those who meet Him alive?
God’s word gives a panoramic view of the great paintings:
“I don’t want to leave you, brethren, in the dark about the dead, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who are asleep, because the Lord Himself with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet of God will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall gather together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and forever be with the Lord. So comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
When will this happen? Throughout the history of Christianity many times to establish the date of the Second coming of Jesus Christ. XXI century is no exception. The end of the world was expected at the turn of the century, and now called new date.
Jesus Christ said that the exact time of His Coming is unknown: “but Of that day and hour nobody knows, neither the Angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36). But the Lord pointed out the signs of the approaching Second coming. In the words of Jesus Christ, signs of the last days of earth’s history will be “famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Matthew 24:7). “Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of… for nation will rise against nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom” (Matthew 24:6-7). More “there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). “People will faint from fear and expectation of the [things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Luke 21:26). The Apostle Paul drew attention to the characteristic vices of the last time: “this Know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men will be lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unforgiving, slanderers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4). And another prophecy: “And will be preached this gospel of the Kingdom in all the world for a witness unto all Nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).
These predictions come true before our eyes. It says that Jesus Christ will return very soon.