Two of the most discussed biblical events are the rapture and the second advent. But how else do they relate to one another, and can we be sure they take place at the same time? Let’s explore the Old Testament and New Testament prophecies predicting the concurrence of the rapture with the second advent of Christ. The goal will be to achieve a time sequence understanding of the resurrection of the dead and events mentioned in the tribulation and wrath periods. Thirty-six different second advent passages will be examined with a focus on aligning repeated themes and elements to obtain the prize that awaits completion of this study.

“Rapture” and “resurrection” at the second coming are related terms since the resurrection of the dead occurs at the rapture. However, rapture has a broader meaning. Rapture means to be “snatched” in salvation terms within eschatology (i.e., “grabbed” by Christ to be saved from fire or death). There is no event found in the biblical text where salvation of living saints on earth at Christ’s coming is separated in time from salvation of departed saints.

Rapture will be the preferred term to include the transformation of the living (Philippians 3:20-21) and the resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). Ultimate salvation occurs at the rapture. It means eternal life in a new body.

A “post-trib” rapture also means that salvation occurs at the second advent, except it’s associated with the end of the 3.5-year Great Tribulation Period mentioned in Daniel and Revelation. It is fulfillment of being saved today – 2 Corinthians 5:1-5, Ephesians 1:13-14.

An “end-wrath” rapture is like a post-trib rapture other than that it is confined to the second advent and rapture starting at the 7th trumpet of Revelation 11. This rapture is during the 7th bowl period (Revelation 16:17-21), slightly after the 7th trumpet sounds. This does not mean that the saints living on earth realize God’s wrath directly (Romans 2:5-10, Romans 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9), but that they will be protected by being grabbed out of harm’s way (saved) until this wrath is completely poured out. The symbolic 144,000 of Revelation 14:1 are also spared from God’s wrath while on earth.

A way to describe similarities between post-trib and end-wrath raptures is to coin a new phrase I hope you’ll find useful. Let’s call it a “wrath-avoiding” rapture. Both views could utilize the same definition where the second coming is an extended event that occurs at the end of the tribulation period, and it takes a little time to complete during the end of the wrath period (vs. an “instantaneous” second coming). Keep this in mind as we look at the reasons behind why this makes sense.

Key Relationships to the Second Advent

This brings us to relational elements. We can better understand the second advent when it is linked with the rapture and other events of this period. We will have a better appreciation for the last days upon closer examination of 36 passages that have integrated elements as part of one major series of rapid events.

Click here to download a PDF file comprising an organized table of these passages, or copy this link in a browser – https://kjsoze.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2nd-Advent-Passages.pdf

Passages of the Second Coming of Christ

All passages with a direct reference to the second coming are listed below throughout each section. Only 1 passage does not reference the second coming, Daniel 12. However, this is an important chapter that includes other elements such as the resurrection and judgment. We know from Daniel 7 that Christ comes to earth, so the book of Daniel has known references. Daniel 12 is included in our list to help show more relationships to the 3.5-year tribulation period laid out by Daniel (repeated in Revelation).

Passages that have implied references to the second coming are – Daniel 2:31-45, Matthew 13:36-43, John 6:39-40, Revelation 11:15-18, Revelation 17:14.

Passages of the Rapture

Job 19:25-27, Isaiah 26:19-21, Daniel 12, John 5:21-29, John 6:39-40, 1 Corinthians 15:12-28, 1 Corinthians 15:50-53, 1 Thessalonians 3:13 (implied), 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Philippians 3:10-21, Hebrews 9:27-28 (implied), 1 Peter 1:3-9, 1 John 2:28-3:2 (implied), Revelation 11:15-18 (implied)

Passages About Judgment For the Just

Daniel 7:9-27, Daniel 12 (implied), Matthew 13:36-43, Matthew 16:27, Matthew 25:31-46, John 5:21-29, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, 1 Timothy 6:13-16 (implied), 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Philippians 3:10-21, Hebrews 9:27-28, 1 Peter 1:3-9, 1 Peter 5:4,  Revelation 11:15-18, Revelation 22:12

Passages About Judgment Against the Unjust

Daniel 7:9-27, Daniel 12 (implied), Matthew 13:36-43, Matthew 16:27, Matthew 25:31-46, John 5:21-29, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Jude 1:14-15, Revelation 19:11-21, Revelation 22:12

Passages of the Physical Appearance of Christ

Job 19:25-27, Matthew 24:15-31, Luke 17:22-37, Luke 21:25-28, 1 John 2:28-3:2, Revelation 1:7

Passages with Clouds Depicted at Christ’s Return

Daniel 7:9-27, Matthew 24:15-31, Luke 21:25-28, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 14:14-20

Passages with Angels / Armies Accompanying Christ

Matthew 16:27, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, Jude 1:14-15, Revelation 19:11-21

Passages with Angels Gathering the Righteous Saints or Separating the Unjust

Matthew 13:36-43, Matthew 24:15-31, Matthew 25:31-46, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (implied), Revelation 14:14-20

Passages with Christ’s Command to Initiate the Rapture

John 5:21-29, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Philippians 3:10-21

Passages with a Trumpet at the Rapture, or a Trumpet at Judgment Day

Matthew 24:15-31, 1 Corinthians 15:50-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Revelation 11:15-18 (also states that this trumpet sounds the beginning of Christ’s reign on earth)

Passages about Christ Arriving after Tribulation

Daniel 7:9-27, Daniel 12, Matthew 24:15-31, Luke 21:25-28 (implied), 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:11-21 (Revelation passages implied – see notes)

Passages about Destruction of the Wicked at the Second Coming  

Isaiah 26:19-21, Daniel 2:31-45, Daniel 7:9-27, Daniel 12, Matthew 13:36-43, Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 17:22-37, 1 Corinthians 15:12-28, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Philippians 3:10-21, Jude 1:14-15, Revelation 11:15-18, Revelation 14:14-20, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:11-21

Bible Passages About the Second Coming

All 36 of these passages connect to each other by sharing eleven parts of the ending chapter of history. There is no passage referenced that states Christ will come again without using at least one of the other eleven associations. For example, He comes “with His angels” or He comes “to judge.” Related elements show up from 8% to 45% of these 36 second advent passages.

Three is the lowest number of second advent characteristics that are repeated (8%). This is Christ’s voice at His coming (mentioned 3 times out of 36 passages).

The highest numbers are the rapture at 14, destruction of the wicked at 16 and a positive judgment in favor of the just at 17 of 36 passages.

In statistics, there are compounding relationship to relationship formulas that make the likelihood of a single sequence of end-time events the logical conclusion. It is nearly impossible that there are two separate destructions of the wicked or two separate reward judgments at two separate advents of Christ. A tough challenge for the pre-trib rapture view is to explain an initial resurrection at this rapture, then a different resurrection event at the second coming. No text supports this.

This is not a chapter about math, so we will look at base logic. For example, in 1 Corinthians 4:5 there is the second advent depicted with judgment in favor of the saints. It is specifically stated that this reward judgment occurs after He comes.

While angels are not mentioned in 1 Corinthians 4:5, we should not overlook that they are associated near the time of rewards for the righteous in other passages. In Matthew 16:27 the second advent is described with judgment and with an accompaniment of angels.

We also see angels again in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-8, this time with more action on the angels’ part.

There are differences in Christ coming with or without angels. We also see outright statements arguing the second coming is a good thing for saints but a bad thing for the unrighteous. Are they discrete events or different angels?

The next two verses in 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10 make the case for a single event even clearer.

Here we see in 2 Thessalonians 1 that the wicked are punished, and that there is relief for the saints at the same time of Christ’s glorification (“that day”). In these passages, we notice accompanying angels and judgment in relation to each other within the entire biblical context, even if a passage such as 1 Corinthians 4:5 does not specifically state something like angels. This same grouping concept is magnified over 36 passages.

The other option we face is that there are at least two accompaniments of angels, two uses of trumpets, etc., until there is a force of multiple returns of Christ. This is a paramount question to answer. Is Christ coming back once or more than once? Let’s stick with Hebrews 9:27-28.

To honor the words of Hebrews 9:28, some who believe in a pre-trib rapture feel that Christ does not physically, technically, come back to earth within this rapture view. He hangs out in the “air” so a belief in only one second coming to earth holds true. However, since the signs or elements of a pre-trib rapture may be shared between other passages, adherents need to explain two sets of angels, two different trumpets, etc. Logic (or math) does not lead us to a conclusion of two or more of any elements or two second advents.

Some of these passages identified only state one or two sub-events within the second advent. Christ coming to earth is the major thrust where something like a voice command or trumpet sound is just a small part of the overall episode. It is more revealing with passages like Daniel 7, Matthew 24 and 1 Thessalonians 4 that include several parts of the whole.

This interesting description of the second advent gives the mind plenty of grist for thought, including Christ’s command, an archangel, a trumpet, clouds, and the resurrection of the dead along with the salvation of living saints at the rapture. This is 6 out of 11 aspects that are associated with each other. Daniel 7 also has 6 of the 11 aspects.

Matthew 24:29-31 is another famous passage that contains several second advent elements (6 of 11).

Once we realize that there is only one set of clouds, one trumpet and one of everything else, we can be reassured of end-time sequencing. In Matthew 24, Christ states He will come after the Day of the Lord signs that are “immediately after the tribulation.” This is further corroborated by 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Paul explains that history’s greatest antichrist will be revealed before Christ comes again (at the time when the saints are gathered).

This future antichrist is active during the Great Tribulation Period. Christ comes after this tribulation at the time of the destruction of the antichrist and the rest of the wicked (another common theme with 16 out of 36 passages stating the same concept of destruction of the wicked).

Determining the Sequence of End-Time Events

We can assemble an order of events now that we have examined several passages. The primary goal for timing is to answer the question about the timing sequence related to the second coming. Since an alignment of key phrases is prevalent, and there does not seem to be any reason to believe in a third appearing of Christ, it is reasonable that there is the following high-level order.

Post-Trib or End-Wrath Rapture?

Even though we have assembled an outline of high-level events, we still have not concluded if a post-trib or end-wrath rapture is a better term to use. Tribulation and wrath will be defined more below before we answer.

Tribulation is a broad term. It has been occurring for thousands of years (John 16:33, Acts 14:22, Romans 8:35, Romans 12:12). None of these references state “great” tribulation.

We can’t be so caught up in trying to ascribe meaning that we confuse the Great Tribulation Period with general tribulation. When we’re looking for passages relating to the Great Tribulation Period, we find a key one in Matthew 24:21.

Great Tribulation is the same as the 3.5-year period mentioned in Daniel and Revelation (Daniel 7:25, Daniel 12:7, Revelation 13:5).

The hard part is matching the Great Tribulation Period with wrath timing because they overlap at the Day of the Lord. However, it is easier to align everything if we focus our attention on “wrath.” Here are some wrath passages about age-ending judgments.

In Revelation 16:1-2 we see the first bowl of wrath being poured out. It is poured upon those with the mark of the beast. We know this is during the Great Tribulation Period after the antichrist has been revealed. This first bowl occurs well before the Revelation 14 and 19 second advent passages that we just looked at (remember that Revelation is non-linear). The 7th bowl is when wrath is complete at the end of Armageddon.

In Revelation 16:10-16 we notice the 5th and 6th bowl judgments being poured out on the beast’s kingdom and the gathering at Armageddon. As a side note, the 5th trumpet mentions a 5-month period in Revelation 9:10. This leads us to believe that the Day of the Lord and wrath being poured out is a long time (but less than 3.5 years).

We know bowl judgments follow the trumpets. If we use a likely option that the first bowl intensifies the first trumpet, we can connect bowls and trumpets to the Day of the Lord with the signs from the 6th seal and related passages such as Joel 3:11-16.

There are many reasons that the first bowl is unlikely to follow the 7th trumpet that we reviewed in Chapter 22. We can assume the first bowl follows the first trumpet, etc.

Since we also know saints are with Christ at the last battle in Revelation 17:14, we can assume that the rapture occurs towards the end of the wrath period, at the last trumpet, just before the last bowl is completed. Bowls follow trumpets slightly and intensify their calls. This leads us to the view that an end-wrath rapture best describes the timing of the rapture. A post-trib rapture also describes good general timing, but it is hard to nail down the relationship between the 3.5-year tribulation to the rapture.

Timing and Duration of the Second Coming

A related study from Chapter 17 reveals how quickly Christ appears from the initial signs to when He finally comes at the second advent. We know the tribulation period is years long, but there are many passages that state Christ deals out punishment and saves the saints quickly. The duration always seems short since there are no references to drawn out battles. He speaks, and the wicked fall in a short breath. See 2 Thessalonians 2:8, Revelation 14:15-16, Revelation 17:14 and Revelation 19:19-21.

We have examined many reasons that timing and other complexities have challenged us to understand the book of Revelation and the second advent. By scratching the surface of textual comparison, we can be confident that the entire Bible is integrated to show common themes about the most important time in earth’s history, the culmination of time. By going back to the Old Testament references, we know more about Christ’s return, especially why He is coming.

Before we can learn details about when Christ comes back to earth, we should look to answer why He is coming back again. Could He not have destroyed the wicked and saved the saints at His first advent? He did to some extent to begin the process, but the promises were not fully realized. Hebrews 11:39-40 gives an answer based on the preceding verses of Hebrews 11.

We now arrive at potential discrepancies about Christ’s first advent compared to His second. Some believe that death was destroyed once for all. 2 Timothy 1:10 states,

Paul’s statement to Timothy describes the first advent. Christ defeated death for Himself and brought it to light for us since He now holds the “keys” to death (Revelation 1:18).

There are many other rabbit trails we can go down. We can revisit Hebrews 9:27-28. Verse 26 reports the first advent, while verse 28 states He “will appear a second time.” In three verses we see the difference between the advents. He conquered sin once for all, but not death for us, yet.

We know the writer(s) of Hebrews stated we are living in the “last days” since the first advent (Hebrews 1:1-2). The only way we will know when we are at the end of the last days is by the signs discussed earlier.

Josephus did not write about the second advent in The Jewish War in Book 6, ch.5.3, regarding the destruction of the second temple in Jerusalem. Full preterism does not consider the hundreds of passages that state destruction of all the wicked and salvation for the saints (like David, who is waiting for Christ to defeat all enemies so he can be resurrected (Acts 2:34-35)). Abraham is waiting as well (Hebrews 11:13-16). Every tribe, nation and tongue is involved at the end (Revelation 1:7, Revelation 13:7, Revelation 14:6).

One issue we face is that there are passages with dual fulfillment. How do we know what was fulfilled already and what remains open? For example, Neo-Babylonians invaded the promised land then God judged them by sending the Persians to defeat them. However, some of these components also are stated in Revelation (such as Babylon is Fallen). Christ stated similarities to the destruction of the second temple (Luke 21:20-24) while including similar language for end times in a different sermon (Matthew 24:15-21).

Christ conquered death for Himself. We will not benefit from this until He returns, completely defeating death for all the saints in the process. We believe this concept of Christ defeating death as a similar dual fulfillment of prophecy. Death is defeated but not yet defeated.

1 Corinthians 15:16-26 is one that should lift our spirits.