I was looking at some posts on christianforums.com and there is a debate in some of the threads on when and how Jesus will return. Particularly if the rapture is something seperate from the second coming. In some cases, it seems different and in some ways it seems the same. Looking at one passage in Matthew 24:29-30
"But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened; and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken, and then the sign of the Son of Man wll appear in the sky,and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory."
One thing I noticed from this is that similiar to when Jesus was crucified the sun refuses to shine. Those are the only two instances that I know of where that was the case. Because this is a time of victory for the saints, but also a time of judgment for those who are lost. That may be why those who see Jesus will mourn.
Unlike what I have heard about the rapture, this event happens after the tribulation that is mentioned in this chapter in verse 15-28. Some have interpreted these verses 15-28 as already been fulfilled and having happened to Israel. To some extent that is true. The persecutions and false prophets have already been seen in abundance, from the Davidian compound in Waco to other nuts who claim to be Jesus or a prophet.
Also unlike what I have heard about the rapture, this is a visible appearance. There is no simple disappearance of the saints who are present. There are some present because verse 31 says that God will gather the elect from one end of the sky to the other. The lost will see him clearly and realize they made a mistake. The saved will see God and rejoice. He will end the tribulation upon his return.
Even though this will be a visible return, it will also be a sudden return. "For just as the lightning comes from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be." Matthew 24:27. Which means there will be no time to get ready, but his return will be instanteous. This will happen Jesus says when "For this reason the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will." Matthew 24:44. In other places it suggests that the return of Jesus will be something that most people scoff at in the end times as a myth or folklore. This is true in many circles today.
It goes back to the fact that you need more than intelligence to understand the Bible. You need the Holy Spirit as your teacher. The natural person doesn't understand scripture. In 1 Corinthians 1:18 "For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." So, the world is not always going to applaud when believers open their mouths. In fact, we should be concerned if that is the case. The gospel is salt and light in the world. It is light in the sense that it says to those who think they are good enough, "Your deeds are like filthy rags." It says to the world that you are evil and need to repent. In a world that says that God is only love and never demands holiness this sounds too harsh to be believed. God is love, but God is also holy.
