In the New Testament, the second coming of Christ is referred to often in the epistles (the letters written by Paul, James, Peter, Jude, and John). While there is a common belief among some evangelicals that there are two futuristic comings of Christ (at the rapture, and the second coming 7 years later), no writer in the New Testament teaches this. There is only one second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Below we’ll consider some of the texts in the epistles which speak of the coming of Christ.  The coming of the Lord is sometimes referred to as his appearing.

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom… ~ 2 Timothy 4:1

His appearing and his kingdom means his appearance and the appearance of his Kingdom. The Interlinear Bible says, by the appearing of him and of the kingdom of him. So when Jesus comes, his Kingdom is going to appear. And I might add, take over!

According to Paul, Jesus will judge the quick (the living) and the dead. This is one of the themes that repeatedly arises when the coming of the Lord is referred to in the Bible. Consider for example, the words of Jesus from John 5.

For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. ~ John 5:21-29

Jesus speaks of the resurrection of both the just and the unjust occurring at the same time. They that have done good will be raised to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation. Jesus’s words should be the plumb line for how we interpret and understand scripture regarding the coming resurrection of the just and the unjust.

In Acts 24 Paul says something that aligns with the words of Jesus.

But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to always have a conscience void to offense toward God, and toward men. ~ Acts 24:14-16

Notice that Paul refers to a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.

Now, consider how we might read Paul’s words differently, in 1 Thessalonians 4, if we read them in view of Paul’s belief that there would be a resurrection of the just and unjust, while also considering Jesus’s words that the resurrection of the just and unjust occurs at the same time.

Consider with me that when Paul describes the resurrection of the saints in 1 Thessalonians 4, that just maybe he is describing the same event that he mentions in Acts 24.  If not, we would have to conclude that Paul believed in more than one resurrection of the saints, and there is nothing in the New Testament that would lead us to this conclusion. 

We’ll consider 1 Thessalonians 4 shortly, but first let’s look again at the wording in 2 Timothy 4:1.

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick (the living) and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom… ~ 2 Timothy 4:1

Notice that this judgment happens when the Lord appears, and when his Kingdom appears. With this in mind, consider Peter’s description of the coming of the Lord and notice how it aligns with Jesus’s words from John 5, and Paul’s words from Acts 24. Remember that Paul says, herein do I exercise myself, to always have a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men, because of his belief that there would be a resurrection of the just and unjust.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. ~ 2 Peter 3: 9-14

Notice that Peter’s exhortation regarding the coming of the Lord is to be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. This matches Paul’s conviction, herein do I exercise myself, to always have a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.

When the coming of Christ is studied from the New Testament epistles, the message to believers is not that we should engage in political conspiracies while looking for various fulfillments of prophecy in current events. The message is to always be ready and to keep our hearts pure before God. This is a recurring theme. 

As we move forward, we will see this recurring theme, but first, consider Peter’s reference to the coming of the Lord as a thief in the night. Paul actually uses this language within the flow of thought in his description of the coming resurrection in 1 Thessalonians 4 & 5. The reason this is often missed as part of the flow of thought is that it appears in chapter 5, and rapture eschatology often stops at the end of chapter 4. Sometimes 5:9 (God hath not appointed us to wrath) is tacked on. Rapture eschatology doesn’t often lead people to read Paul’s entire thought process about the coming of the Lord as it is laid out in chapters 4 and 5 as one flow of thought.

Let’s look now at the Thessalonians section of scripture.

Before Paul gets into what is often viewed by some as the “rapture verses”, Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to pursue godliness and purity, which, as already stated, is a theme that appears over and over in conjunction with the coming of the Lord.

In chapter 3, Paul says, Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. ~ 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

Notice the words in bold in the text above, and take note how they align with Paul’s words regarding having a conscience void of offense towards God and towards man in Acts 24. Notice also how they align with Peter’s words to be diligent to be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Paul wanted the Thessalonians to have hearts that were blameless in holiness when the Lord Jesus comes again. He specifically refers to it as the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Paul then speaks of possessing our body in holiness in chapter 4 and this is what leads into what is referred to by some as the rapture verses. Seriously though, Paul isn’t introducing an escape from this world and from the antichrist. Rather, he’s going into detail about the very same thing he speaks of in Acts 24, namely, the resurrection of the just and the unjust. The only difference is he details what will happen with the just. Notice the comparison in Paul’s description with that of Peter’s.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 

Notice that Paul describes this event as happening at the coming of the Lord, rather than 7 years before the coming of the Lord. Paul is not teaching a secret escape (rapture) of believers into Heaven. He’s revealing what will happen when the just are resurrected.

Let’s continue.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Notice that Paul says, so shall we ever be with the Lord. He does not say we will be whisked away into Heaven.

According to Paul, the second coming of Christ and our gathering to him will resemble that which occurred in ancient times when a King who had journeyed to a far away land returned. The citizens under his ruler-ship would go outside the city or country to meet him and escort him back into the country.

This aligns more with the whole of scripture than vanishing from the earth for 7 years. Remember that Peter exhorts us to be blameless and holy, looking for the new heavens and new earth at the coming of the Lord. Peter does not mention vanishing from earth into Heaven for 7 years.

Let’s continue.

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Notice that Paul is still talking about the same event (in the same timeframe) and he calls it the day of the Lord just as Pater does, and the timing as a thief in the night just as Peter does. Paul then says the following:

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Notice that Paul tells the church at Thessalonica that they are not in darkness, so that that day should overtake them as a thief. Why would Paul even say this if he was teaching them that they would have already been taken out of this world 7 years prior?

Do you see the problem in interpreting Paul’s word in 1 Thessalonians 4 and a secret escape from this world before the coming of Christ? I certainly do!

According to Paul, believers are going to experience resurrection at the coming of the Lord, on the day of the Lord when the Lord’s coming overtakes those in darkness as a thief in the night. This is exactly what Peter is teaches as well.

Paul continues:

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Watch and be sober of what? For the coming of the day of the Lord which is going to come suddenly as a thief in the night and overtake those in darkness.

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

When the entire flow of thought is read together, it becomes clear that Paul is not setting forth a rapture doctrine that occurs 7 years before the coming of the Lord, but a revelation of the resurrection of the just at the coming of the Lord.

In 1 John we read the following:

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. ~ 1 John 2:28-3:3 

The words, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is, echoes Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:12

This matches Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Corinthians 15: 51-57 

Paul’s words above reveal how those who have not yet died physically will experience the same resurrection as those who have died in Christ. We will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and according to Paul’s words in chapter 13 we will be changed into Christ’s likeness for we will see him face to face.

Now consider Paul’s words to the Colossians:

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. ~ Colossians 3:1-4 

All these verses are talking about the same event from different angles. Paul tells Titus, the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ … ~ Titus 2:11-13 

To Timothy, Paul exhorts, But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ…  ~ 1 Timothy 6:11-14 

In 2 Timothy 4:8 there is a crown of righteousness, laid up for those who love his appearing. In Hebrew 9:28 He will appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Peter also speaks of his appearing as the motivation for our perseverance in the faith.

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory… ~ 1 Peter 1:6-8

A few verses later Peter says, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ… ~ v.13

Finally, consider Peter’s words to those who are faithful to shepherd the sheep.

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. ~ 1 Peter 5:1-4

The flow of thought throughout the New Testament, with regards to the coming of the Lord is not conspiratorial. It is the day of the Lord, when both Jesus and his Kingdom appear, and the new heavens and new earth commence. It is the time in which those who have followed him are changed completely into his likeness by resurrection power. It is also the day when those in darkness are overtaken as a thief in the night.

Many have not rightly divided the word of truth, and misinterpret Jesus’s prophesy concerning the fall and destruction of Jerusalem and the temple which occurred in the first century, as end times yet to be fulfilled. This has led to much confusion, division, and much vulnerability to conspiracy theories, looking to everything but Jesus. Yet we who love him are to be looking for His appearing with blameless hearts!

Heavenly Father, take what I have written here, and encourage the seeking heart and those searching for the truth.