In November's issue I listed 15 irreconcilable points between the gospel accounts and 1 Thessalonians 4:1. I'd like to continue in this issue to list some more considerable distinctions between Christ coming for his church and Christ comingwith his church. Christians are raptured instantaneously into the air according to Church Epistles; the records in the gospels occur over a period of time.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
The word moment in verse 52 is the Greek word atomos {at'-om-os}. We get our English word atom from this word. The point is it will happen very quickly. Further on, verse 51 teaches we shall all be changed. There is no mention of everyone being changed in the gospel accounts. They are judged, punished, rewarded, resurrected, but not ALL are changed. The people are gathered from all over on the earth. The church of grace is snatched away.
* The rapture removes all believers while the Second Advent entails the manifestation or appearing of the son.* The rapture removes the church, and soon thereafter the tribulation begins. The Second Advent ends the tribulation and establishes the millennial kingdom here on the earth.* The rapture is imminent while the Second Advent is preceded by a multitude of signs.* The rapture brings a message of comfort. The Second Advent brings a message of judgment.* The rapture is related to the program for the church. The Second Advent is related to the program for Israel and the world.* The rapture was a mystery while the Second Advent is predicted in both testaments.* At the rapture believers appear before the bema. At the Second Advent gentiles and Israel are judged.* The rapture leaves the creation unchanged. The Second Advent entails the change in creation.* At the rapture the gentiles are unaffected. At the Second Advent the gentiles are judged.* The rapture takes place before the day of wrath. The Second Advent follows it.* The rapture is for believers only. The Second Advent has its effect on all men.
Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
These and other contrasts which might be presented support the contention that these are two different programs and cannot be unified into one event. ÿ