The Second Coming of Christ is a sound biblical fact prophesied by Daniel - Dan .7:13 - and foretold also by Paul - 1 Tim. 6:14 - and by the angels as well in Acts 1:10-11.

 Christ will definitely return in a public, personal revelation of Himself to the world. This return will be in four phases: the Rapture, Christ pouring down His wrath during the Great Tribulation, Christ fights the Anti-Christ at Armageddon and the Millennial Kingdom set by Christ Himself. May the Holy Spirit Himself guide us into all truth in Jesus' name. Amen.

Rapture simply means to seize or be caught up. It is a moment of time when true and faithful Christians, dead or alive will in the twinkling of an eye rise to meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the air - 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:23, 51, 58; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Jn. 3:1-3; Lk. 21:34-35. The rapture is also referred to as the translation of believers or transformation of believers - 1 Thess. 4:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-58 - as in the case of Enoch - Gen. 5:22-24; Heb. 11:5 and Elijah in 2 Kgs. 2:11. The believer at rapture is changed from mortality to immortality, from natural body to spiritual body - 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:23, 51- 58; Phil. 3:20-21; Lk. 24:39. The rapture will precede the tribulation - 1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9; 2 Thess. 2:1-12.

WHY THE RAPTURE?

Some of the reasons for the rapture include the following:

(a) To resurrect the just of all ages from among the dead so that they may fulfil the purpose for which God has saved them - Ps. 50:1-6; 1 Thess. 4:13-17.

(b) To take the saints out of this world before the great tribulation - Lk. 21:34-36; 2 Thess. 2:7-8; 1 Thess. 1:10. 

(c) That Jesus might present to Himself a Church without spots or wrinkles - Eph. 5:27; Jn. 14:1-3.

(d) To change the bodies of all faithful saints from mortality to immortality -1 Cor. 15:21-23, 51-58.

(e) To assemble the saints at the marriage supper of the Lamb - Rev. 19:1-10.

(f) To allow the revelation of the Anti-Christ - 2 Thess. 2:1-8.

WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE RAPTURE?

Those who will qualify at rapture must be those who belong to Christ - Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 5:17 - and earnestly desiring His appearing - Tit. 2:13; Phil. 3:20. Those whose citizenship is in Heaven - Phil. 3:20; Eph. 2:16. Those who will live holy even as He is holy - 1 Pet. 1:16 - because without holiness no man shall see God - Heb. 12:14; 1 Jn. 3:1-3.

CONCLUSION

The rapture, like all biblical prophecies, will be fulfilled. However, the Lord Jesus Christ is coming for a Church without spots or wrinkles, getting herself ready. The Lord's coming will be as a thief in the night. Are you ready? Pray to God today that you would be ready to meet with the Lord.

culled from RCCG Sunday School Manual