THE SECOND COMING IS NOT FOR THE SAINTS
…when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).
The distinction between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ, for most people, has been a source of confusion. Nevertheless, the Scriptures unambiguously delineate these two distinct events.
First, the Second Coming of Christ is not intended for Christians. The Rapture of the Church is meant for Christians, and it will occur before the Second Coming.
In the Second Coming of Christ, we will come together with Him, but it’s primarily a time of judgment. It’s called the day of His wrath, the day of His judgment (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). This judgment takes place before He establishes the 1,000 years of peace. In Matthew 24:29, where Jesus Himself speaks about this, He said, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days….” This indicates that the Second Coming of Christ will occur after the Great Tribulation.
Matthew 24:30 says, “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” They will mourn because they weren’t expecting Him, they didn’t believe in Him.
But notice what it says in the 10th verse; this judgment will take place “When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day” (2 Thessalonians 1:10). Observe that it doesn’t say when He shall come to be glorified “by” His saints, but “in” His saints. The significance here is that He will be glorified in us, and those who see us will admire Him in us. They’d wonder at His glory in us.
This aligns with what John said in 1 John 3:2, “… when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” When He comes, we come with Him, looking like Him; they’ll see His glory in us, and they’ll wonder at it. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, by your Spirit and your Word, I’m prepared for the Rapture of the Church, living my life for the Lord, every day. I walk in love, and my faith is activated to be caught up to meet the Lord at His appearing, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Matthew 24:44
*1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 10:24-42, Genesis 34-35
*2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 9:10-20, Esther 9-10
