When Will Jesus Return? .

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When Will Jesus Return?
Introduction
One of the most debated and widely misunderstood topics relates to the Second Coming
of Jesus – even scholars of eschatology are themselves confused. In the book of Revelation, the
Bible provides a prophecy talking of the "end times" or the "day of the Lord." However, most of
the people who go through the scriptures talking about the prophecy, Revelation, in particular,
confuse the prophesied incident to Rapture. With several studies existing on the “return of
Jesus,” it is vital to understand the difference between Rapture and “day of the Lord.” On the
other hand, many debates proclaim that the word “Rapture” is not in the Bible – that is true. The
English version does not have the word “Rapture” used in the Bible as it is. However, the word is
a translation of harpazo – a Greek word meaning away, caught, up. Such a belief is based on the
book of first Thessalonians – with quoted inscriptions in the entire book1. Within the verse, it is
inscribed “...to meet the Lord in the air." The phrase in first Thessalonians then means that Jesus
will not set His foot on earth during such proceeding. Those who believe in Him will be
summoned to meet Him in the clouds. However, in the book of Revelation, - inscriptions of
which are in the entire book, the “Second Coming” is described as Jesus’ return to earth to
conquer the rule of Satan. Revelation also asserts that upon Jesus’ return to earth, He will
reclaiming the Kingdom of God together with His saints2. Mathew – both chapters 24 and 25, an
account is given in which Jesus himself foretells the manner of His return (also referred to as the
“Second Coming.” In the two chapters, Mathew 24, 25, Jesus provides a vivid account on issues
1 Saint Mary's Press, "The Divinity Of Jesus: An Early Christian Debate," Last modified 2018,
https://www.smp.org/resourcecenter/resource/9109/.
2 Jeremy James, "Understanding The Rapture From A Strictly Biblical Perspective" 2, no. 1 (2018): 1-16,
http://www.zephaniah.eu/Understanding%20the%20Rapture%20from%20a%20Strictly%20Biblical
%20Perspective.pdf.

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and events that would precede His return to earth3. As Jesus proclaims about events in which will
have to pass to ascertain His return, it is described (in Matthew) that, "When the Son of Man
returns in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All
the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a
shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." In the verses, Jesus asserts that God will have the
obedient followers removed amidst the unbelievers and pretenders4. Another verse, in John, the
writer quotes the words of Jesus. He says, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." In the same book of John,
Jesus himself proclaims the promise given to His people and told that He is forecasting the issues
that must take place before His arrival so that when believers see such things happening, they
will have to know that He is truthful5. Those that followed and believed in Jesus during His time
on earth knew that He was acclaimed into the heavens and expects that He return to collect them
as he had promised. Contrarily, the promise that Jesus gave only favors those that believe in
Him6.
The significance of the Rapture
Rapture’s definition or meaning associates with the idea that Jesus’ “Second Coming”
will happen in two stages. The first stage involves a secret Rapture – also referred to as the
carrying away of saints to Heaven. However, this stage happens before the seven-year tribulation
period. After the first stage, the Antichrist appears. However, the second stage is the actual return
3 Melvin Rhodes, "Seven Prophecies That Must Be Fulfilled Before Jesus Christ's Return", Beyond Today, Last
modified 2008, https://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/seven-prophecies-that-must-be-fulfilled-before-jesus-christs-
return.
4 Ibid., 2
5 Ibid., 1
6 LILY ROTHMAN, "The Search For Jesus: Inside The Scholars' Debate," Last modified 2014,
http://time.com/3637889/historical-jesus-history/.