Rapture Perspectives (Essay Sample)

RAPTURE PERSPECTIVES
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Armageddon is the name used to refer to the second coming of Christ. This event has been prophesied for a long time in the Holy Bible and other religious scriptures. Christians await the Armageddon regardless of not knowing the exact time for the return of Christ. During the event, it is believed that Christ will come down to earth to Judge the antichrist. The Rapture and second coming of Christ are similar but are considered separate. Rapture refers to the end-time event where believers believe Christ will come and take them from the earth into heaven. The hope of every Christian is to experience Christ’s second coming and to be with their savior forever. The biblical perspectives about the second coming of Christ have ideological contrasts with many popular ideas about the rapture.
Christians believe that those who had died in Christ will be resurrected from the dead and go to the skies. Similarly, the believers who will still be alive will follow them into the skies as they ascend to the heavens. There is a lot of unpredictability around the time that the rapture is supposed to take place. According to scriptures, the tribulation will happen after the rapture. The second coming of Christ will happen at the end of the tribulation, unlike the rapture. It is clear in the both events there will be tribulation despite their difference in the occurrence.
Nonbelievers are removed from the earth as an act of judgment in the second coming of Christ while in the rapture; believers are taken from the earth as a show of redemption and deliverance. While the rapture will be a hidden event, instantaneous, the second coming of Christ will be seen by everyone as heaven will break loose, and everything will be brought to light. The rapture is believed to happen at any time irrespective of time or event. However, the second coming of Christ will happen after a series of certain events have taken place.
Christ is referred to as the lord of lords (coronation of Lords) according to His second coming whereas Christ is referred to as a bridegroom (wedding ceremony) in the rapture. This clearly indicated that in the second coming of Christ, Christians will be separated so that there will be believers and nonbelievers. As Christ leaves with the believers, the nonbelievers will be left to face the wrath. In the Bible, the New Testament warns against speculations and fixation on dates in anticipation of the rapture. The scripture also indicates that the coming of Christ may happen later than expected by many. Therefore, it is required of a believer to live a righteous life in accordance with the gospel and not worry or speculate about the rapture.
Many saints and theologians of scriptures do believe in the coming rapture of the saints. It is evident that the translation of the church is different from the time of the returning of Christ to establish His kingdom. Tribulation will happen during the rapture where Christ will not be visible like in the Pentecost, but within His body, but in the second coming He will appear where the governments reign will follow Him. After the occurrence of the rapture, there will be a new world order, famine, pestilence war and sorrow. However, the second coming will...