Target Israel by Tim LaHaye

Author:Tim LaHaye
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736964500
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

CHAPTER 10

The Triumphant Return of Israel’s Messiah

We’ve spoken about the rapture and the many judgments that will take place during the seven years of the Tribulation. But when will Christ make His return to earth? At what point will His glorious appearing take place?

For Christians, the second coming of Christ is the most highly anticipated event in the history of the world. The “glorious appearing” (Titus 2:13) is the ultimate fulfillment of Christ’s promised return. When He returns, there will be no need to debate His claims or His message. The arrival of the King will end all speculation and usher in a time of unprecedented worship by His followers.

The account of this glorious appearing, which appears in Revelation 19, is among the most dramatic chapters in the Bible. It stands as an exclamation mark at the end of the redeeming work of Christ. In Revelation 19, Jesus Christ returns to earth to crush His enemies and establish His kingdom. It is at this time that the fulfillment of the many yet future prophecies regarding His reign will finally come to pass.

The Events of the Glorious Appearing

To be clear, the glorious appearing is not just a single event but rather a series of events that will take place at the end of the seven-year Tribulation. The following activities appear to best represent the predictions made throughout Scripture for this time:

1. It takes place immediately after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29).

2. Cosmic phenomena will occur in the sun, moon, and stars (Matthew 24:29).

3. The sign of the Son of Man in heaven will be seen by everyone (Matthew 24:30), and Christ will gather His elect (verse 31).

4. Heaven will open and Christ will appear on a white horse (Revelation 19:11).

5. Christ will be followed by the armies of heaven (Revelation 19:14), prepared to judge the ungodly (Jude 4-15).

6. Christ will come in power and great glory (Matthew 24:30).

7. Christ will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:3-5).

8. Unbelievers will mourn, for they are not ready (Matthew 24:30).

9. The beast (Antichrist) and his armies will confront Christ (Revelation 19:19).

10. Christ will cast the beast and false prophet into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).

11. Christ’s rejecters will be killed (Revelation 19:21).

12. Satan will be cast into the bottomless pit for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-3).

13. The Old Testament and Tribulation saints will be resurrected (Matthew 24:31; Revelation 20:4).

14. Christ will judge the nations and establish His kingdom (Matthew 25).

Are the Rapture and the Glorious Appearing the Same Event or Two Different Events?

The return of Christ will have two phases—the rapture, in which the church is taken up to heaven before the Tribulation, and the return, in which Christ and the church will descend victoriously upon the earth. That there are two phases is very evident when we observe that there are at least 15 differences in the descriptions of Christ’s coming that cannot be reconciled into one event.

The 15 Differences Between the Rapture and the Glorious Appearing

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