Hello Nick-
Their are two similar events which could be called Christ's return. The first is what is called the rapture of the Church. The second is called the second coming of Christ.
Let's start with the Second Coming.
A. The second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:30-31; 25:31-41; Revelation 19:11-20:3)
This event occurs at the end of the Tribulation. Note that Christ, at this time, does not take anyone to Heaven. Let's list a few of the events that happen.
1. Christ comes with His angels (Matthew 25:31)
2. The Antichrist and the false prophet are hurled into the lake of burning sulphur (Rev. 19:20)
3. Satan is defeated and cast into the Abyss for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-3)
4. All the people throughout the world whether saved or unsaved are brought to Christ. Once that is done Christ separates the saved from the unsaved. (Matthew 25:31--33)
5. The unsaved are sent to the eternal fire (Matthew 25:41)
6. The saved are left on the earth. It is they who live in the millennium and repopulate the earth. This they can do because they still have their mortal bodies.
(Matthew 25:34)
B. The rapture of the Church
You will not find the word "Rapture" in the Bible. It is term people use to refer to a real Biblical event. That event is when Christ comes in the air to bring up to Him every living believer on the face of the earth. These people will be with Him from that point on throughout eternity.
Some texts that describe this event are: (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53) .
" 16) For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet call of GOD and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17) After that we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." ---1 Thessalonians 4:16 & 17
"51) Listen I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep (die), but we will all be changed. 52) In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed. 53) For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
You will notice in 1 Corinthians that at the trumpet call we will be "snatched" from the earth to heaven and in the instant it takes for that to happen our bodies will undergo a complete transformation. We will no longer have a mortal body. It will become immortal and perfect.
I think this is what you were referring to in your question. Thank you for asking the question Nick it was a good one.
Don
1 Corinthians 2:9
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3 comments:
if we will repopulate the earth, will the people born after be automatically saved? how can that be?
what happens when satan is thrown out of the abyss?? a thousand years doesnt compare to an enternity in heaven...
Hello "Don't understand that"
No those people who are born in the millenieum will not be automatically saved. And as strange as it may seem some will actually choose not to be saved.
At the end of the Millenium satan will be released. He will gather the unbelievers and challenge GOD one last time. (Revelation 20:7-10)
The text specifically says , In number they are like the sand on the sea shore."
We see from this that people are not automatically saved during the Millenium.
Why these people rebel is beyond me. But they clearly do.
--Don
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