Let us examine the rapture in its true sense as given in the scriptures. All of us believe that Jesus will return. The moot question is for what purpose and when? The Bible teaches us of the two coming of Jesus Christ. In Zechariah, we have a hint of the two comings of the Messiah. Zechariah 9 predicts a king coming in humility and peace, which seems to contradict Zechariah 14, which speaks of a conquering king. Micah 5 says that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, while Daniel 7 presents Him as a divine figure. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ himself confirmed this in John 14:2-3 “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” This is further confirmed in Acts 1:10-11 “And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” The Bible does not talk of a third coming or for that matter a secret coming.
The second coming of Jesus Christ is the hope of believers that Jesus Christ, the Saviour will return the second time to take with to heaven the faithful so that they may stay with him for eternity. In His first coming, Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem. In His first coming, Jesus was the suffering Servant. In His second coming, Jesus will be the conquering King. In His first coming, Jesus arrived in the humblest of circumstances. In His second coming, Jesus will arrive as a conquering King in pomp and glory with the armies of heaven at His side to gather His elect from the four corners of the world.
The second coming is spoken of in greatest detail in Revelation 19:11-16, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh, he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Christ will come for His believers. He will come again to receive to Himself all true believers. They will be united with Christ, by resurrection and transformation of their mortal bodies into immortal bodies to live with Christ till eternity. He shall come in great pomp, and glory and every eye shall see Him.
Dr Ashwin Drummond
laddertoheaven.co.in
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