Biblical descriptions of Jesus’ return

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The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is described many times in the Bible. Nevertheless, there are some “inconsistencies” that have become widely accepted doctrines. One widespread theory is the so-called (secret) pre-rapture. This is taught primarily by several evangelical churches. During this event, Christian believers will be secretly taken from the earth to save it from the impending tribulation. However, this theory cannot be supported by the descriptions in the Holy Scriptures.

The Bible gives clear information about the rapture

In the so-called (secret) pre-rapture, all the righteous of the Christian community will be taken from the earth in advance. All of a sudden, surprising everyone. The “great remnant” will remain on earth and will face the coming tribulation. However, this theory regarding the end times is not tenable upon closer inspection. The Bible provides completely different information on this matter.

By no means will a select group be raptured “quickly,” especially not before the beginning of the Tribulation. There will be a Rapture, but it will occur at Jesus’ return and thus during the “great finale.” This can be quickly verified based on the descriptions in the Bible.

The reason for this false doctrine of a pre-rapture can only be speculated upon. However, historical writings demonstrate that this idea originated with Jesuit scholars and originated as early as the end of the 16th century. The Antichrist, the Church of Rome, identified by the Protestants, was to be taken out of the firing line using self-developed prophecies (Info).

The described 1,000-year kingdom of peace on earth after the appearance of the Messiah is also connected to the thesis of the early rapture. During this time, people are said to have the opportunity to come to faith.

But such a time of peace on earth is nowhere to be found in the Bible. Whatever the form of a potentially staged “man-made spectacle,” the truth about Jesus’ return is easily found in the Bible. Numerous passages in the books of the New Testament provide clear information on this as well.

Jesus will come with His angels

Matthew 16:27: “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.“

Jesus comes with great power and glory

Mark 13:26: “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.“

His coming is like lightning from east to west

Matthew 24:27: “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.“

All will see the coming of Jesus

Revelation 1:7: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.“

Resurrection of the righteous

Matthew 24:31: “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.“

Mark 13:27: “And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.“

1. Corinthians 15:51-52: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In 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.“

1. Thessalonians 4:15-17: “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 shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.“

Salvation of God’s people

Romans 8:23: “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.“

Punishment of the ungodly

2. Thessalonians 1:8-9: “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;“

Revelation 20 speaks plainly

Revelation 20 explains the sequence of events between the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the ongoing 1,000-year Kingdom, and what will happen afterward.
Only the redeemed have been resurrected, or those still alive have been transformed, and together they have been taken to meet Jesus Christ in the clouds. Satan will be bound in the abyss (the desolate earth). Verses 5 and 6 state:
“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.“

After the 1,000 years, the dead are resurrected, and Satan is released. He once again instigates a final rebellion against God and His people through deception. This ends disastrously, Revelation 20:9-10:
“And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.“

This is followed (verses 11 to 15) by a more detailed description of the reasoning behind the judgment of the wicked. They will now be finally judged.

Warning against deception

The gospel reveals nothing at all about the possibility of a pre-rapture or even a 1,000-year kingdom of peace on earth. This false belief will lead countless believers to follow these false assumptions and land them in the same boat. For Jesus Christ warned emphatically against succumbing to the deceptions of the end times (Info).

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)