Second Coming is not the Rapture: Last Day Study

Second coming not again and again....
This is a study of the second coming and promised resurrection. It is my position that the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ will come again on the last day and at that day he will raise the dead from the grave. On that same day he will judge the eternal destiny of all souls of men either to eternal damnation in Hell for unforgiven sinners or eternal life in Heaven for the forgiven who have accepted his grace and received his cleansing blood.

There is a serious issue in the study of last days as many are misled by a popular doctrine commonly known as rapture, tribulation and 1000 year reign.
As we look at the Scriptures and consider the prophecy revealed about the future
and the last days we must consider the truth or error of various interpretations.

This is a serious and urgent study as many are being led away from Christ as a result of misinterpretations of the Scriptures. I urge you who read this to carefully study the text of the Bible and see if what you hear is in accordance with what the word of God says. If the rapture doctrine is false it poses serious doubts on other interpretations of prophecy about the last days and the coming of Christ to accept the redeemed and punish the wicked.

First of all the Bible clearly states that Jesus will come again. Heb 9:28"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many;
and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time
without sin unto salvation."Subject: Christ offered once for sin shall appear second time.
This clear statement is a promise of hope for all who know him and desire his coming. What is also important is to recognize that there is no promise of multiple comings or phases of comings over 1007 years. If there are to be multiple comings of Christ in the future we should read of them in Scripture. If there are no statements of multiple comings it is dangerous to add word or ideas to the Bible. Rev 22:18Not in Bible: promise of his coming more than second time. When we consider the coming of Christ we need to examine all the passages that the apostles taught and recorded in the Scriptures. These are all in agreement and should not be interpreted so that they contradict. Correct interpretation must consider the immediate context and not contradict any other statements in scripture.

Peter wrote to answer a problem of unbelieving scoffers who said in his day and still say today, " Since he has not come,.... He is not coming...."

II Pet 3:4"...and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?"The subject of the question is a future event that is promised: HIS COMING

Peter replied that there would always be unbelievers who refuse God's warning.
He uses the example of Noah and the flood and assures the readers that there will be a judgment day and that is a day that we (faithful Christians) await." the subject of the answer is: the day of judgment v.7the day of the Lord v.10 the coming of the day of God v.12we, ... look for new heavens and a new earth v.13
Each of these four items describe a specific aspect of the second coming. No one passage give all the details but must all be taken in context of preparing for that day. Here are four descriptions of one day for which we are looking.What is the Promise of HIS coming? John 14:3 Jesus said, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
Here is a plain statement of hope by Jesus that his followers find comfort and joy to consider his return. It is a promise that he will come and deliver us from the death and judgment that is waiting the lost. Even though we may die physically we have this hope that some day he will raise us from the dead. II Thes 1:7-10"...when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 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."Subject: Lord Jesus revealed from heavenEvent: 1 When he shall come 2 to be glorified in his saints.3 to be admired in all them that believe4 in that day.Here Paul describes the judgment in agreement with Peter's statement that we await that day. II Thes 2:1-31 "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit,nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day......"Subject: 1 the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 and our gathering together unto him.3 the day of Christ, ... 4 that day
The focus of this study is about the second coming. Other subjects in the context of these statements are for another study. The Thessalonians were disturbed by some false teachers claiming they had missed the coming of the Lord, and Paul corrects this by telling them details about that day.
II Thes 2:9-10"...Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming."Subject: Destroy Wicked (that man of sin, the son of perdition)Event: Brightness of his coming I Thes 3:13"To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."Event Subject: the coming Who: OUR Lord Jesus Christwhat: your hearts unblameable in holiness before GodWho else present: all his saints ( who are these "saints"?) Jude 1414 "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, "Subject: Coming of Lord with 10,000 saints Who are these saints?: Paul revealed in II Thes 1:7 that these saints are his mighty angels. The term "saints" is also used for "holy ones" or "mighty angels." I Thes 4:13-1713 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 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. 16 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: 17 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. "Event Subject: the coming of the Lord and our gathering together unto him Action Resurrection: the dead in Christ shall rise firstWho Appears: the Lord himself shall descend from heaven What is heard: with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trump of GodWhat else happens: 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. I Cor 15:26 "The last enemy that shall be abolished is death" Subject: LAST ENEMY When Death is abolished there are no more enemies v.54 "But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?" Consequence: Mortal put on immortality; corruption put on incorruption DEATH SHALL BE NO MORE. It is important to recognize here that when the resurrection of the dead occurs there will be no more death. If a doctrine teaches that death will continue it is in conflict with this statement. The rapture doctrine teaches that death will continue 1007 years after the resurrection of the dead in Christ. Therefore, the rapture doctrine is false doctrine.
When is the last enemy death abolished? I Cor 15:51 "...we shall all be changed, 52 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." Subject: Resurrection What is Heard? sound of a trumpet: THE LAST TRUMP Herein is stated an immutable chronological sequence of events: Exactly described in detail the same event as described in I Thes 4:13-17 The Lord descends (His Coming) We shall ALL be changed (Resurrection)We meet him in the air (incorruptible) Death, the last enemy is abolished.
Paul includes himself, "we all shall be changed" in I Cor 15 and I Thes 4:17 "shall we ever be with the Lord."I Cor 15:23"But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ`s, at his coming. 24 Then [cometh] the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power." Subject: Resurrection of they that are Christ's (Believers who belong to Him)Event: at His Coming (singular event) Time: Then the end. This describes the resurrection. Jesus shall descend with a shout:John 5:28 "Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment." Subject: Resurrection of life and Resurrection of judgmentEvent: HEAR HIS VOICE and COME FORTH: Who: ALL that are in the tombs shall hear his voice (Descend with a SHOUT I Thes 4:13)TIME: the hour (singular indicates one point in time)These are words of Jesus, do not neglect or mishandle them.
The word ALL here and in I Cor 15:54 are inclusive, meaning none will be left in the grave. If All are raised at his coming then there is no place for multiple resurrections.
John 6:40 (44,54)40 "For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." Subject: Resurrection of Believers (every one that believes on Jesus)time: LAST DAY (singular) John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken,
the same shall judge him in the last day. Subject: Judgment of rejecters of his words Time: LAST DAY (singular) only one last day THE HOUR = THE LAST DAY without controversy these words affirm that when one believer is raised in the resurrection ALL believers will be raised. These words affirm without controversy that when the resurrection of life occurs the resurrection of judgment occurs simultaneously same day same hour. These are indisputable words of prophecy about which we cannot deny. COMING > Revealed > Appearing > Last Day >Last Trumpet >RESURRECTION > Judgment of Wicked > END > New Heaven and New Earth
Rev 20:11-15 says every man will be judged by their works and this is followed by the new heaven and new earth. It is now time to prepare for that day.
There is very little agreement among those who believe in a rapture tribulation and 1000 year reign of Christ on earth. I know for I have studied all sides of the issues. Who is the man of sin?, Will the church go through tribulation?, When will the rapture be? These and other questions have several differing answers by rapture teachers, but the Scriptures are clear that the dead will be raised on the last day and the last enemy will be abolished on the last day at His coming.
Until the last day evil men wax worse and worse and I do not expect otherwise.
II Thes 3:14 "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."Paul says, "I Thes 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."I Thes 3:13"To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."Peter says, "II Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."
We have seen very clear and singular words that all point to the last trump on the last day when the Lord Jesus Christ makes His appearing as he promised. To add to these words or twist them out of their plain meaning is very dangerous way to handle the Scriptures. We must interpret the prophetic and symbolic language of the Bible in harmony with the clear literal statement of Jesus and his apostles. Whatever we say the meaning of visions like John's recorded in Revelation they must not contradict these plain words that Jesus will return on the last day to raise the dead and bring an end to the last enemy death. These clear words tell us that there will be a resurrection on the last day at the coming of Christ. To say that this will occur over 1007 years is in direct conflict with the words of Jesus (John 6: 39,40,44,54; 12:48) as well as the teachings of Paul and Peter. Therefore we should accept the promise of the last day and reject other teachings as false ideas of men.

Donald Raby 06 10 2006