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The nature of events at Christ's posttribulational coming (Mat 24:31)
radically differs from that of the rapture (1Th 4:16-17).
| RAPTURE | SECOND COMING |
|---|---|
| 1. Christ gathers His own (1Th 4:16-17) | Angels gather the elect (Mat 24:31) |
| 2. Resurrection is prominent (1Th 4:15-16) | No mention of resurrection |
| 3. Christ comes to reward (1Co 3:11-17; 2Co 5:10) | Christ comes to judge (Mat 25:31-46) |
| 4. Believers depart the earth (1Th 4:15-17) | Unbelievers are taken away (Mat 24:37-41) |
| Unbelievers remain on the earth (implied) | Believers remain on the earth (Mat 25:34) |
| 5. No talk of setting up the kingdom | Clear talk of Christ coming to set up a kingdom (Mat 25:31,34) |
| 6. Believers receive glorified bodies (1Co 15:51-57) | No one receives glorified bodies |
| 7. Christ comes in the air (1Th 4:17) | Christ comes on the earth (Mat 25:31-32) |
|
Additionally, parables in Matthew 13 confirm differences between the rapture and the final event of Christ's second coming.
|
|
| 8. Believers are removed from among unbelievers (1Th 4:15-17) | Tares (unblievers) taken out from among the wheat (believers) (Mat 13:30, 40) |
| 9. Believers are removed from among unbelievers (1Th 4:17) | The bad fish (unbelievers) removed from among the good fish (Mat 25:31-32) |
Taken from Dr. Richard Mayhue, “Why a Pretribulation Rapture?” in Christ’s Prophetic Plans, John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue (Chicago, Moody Publishers, 2012), 93-94.
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