Last week, we saw that in the popular passage about the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), Paul essentially repeated the very words of Jesus regarding His return in Matthew 24:29-31. In both passages, Jesus and Paul gave the unique characteristics that will mark Jesus’ initial return to the earth following His death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. Jesus also noted that this very return, which is associated with the resurrection of the righteous and the rapture will occur after the great tribulation(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 24:21-31).
When the saints meets with Jesus in the air following the rapture, we do not make a u-turn to earth with Jesus. Rather, the saints go with Jesus for the marriage of the Lamb, which the Bible specifically says takes place in the third heaven (Revelation 19:1-10). We are shown this in Revelation chapters 11, and 15-19. Following the blowing of the last trumpet at which point the saints are resurrected and raptured (Revelation 11:15-19, Luke 14:13-14, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52), John reported seeing the saints who had been victorious over the beast and his mark standing before the throne of God in heaven (Revelation 15:1-2; Revelation 4:6). While these saints are in heaven, the bowls of God’s wrath are poured out on the earth on sinners and the anti-Christ and his kingdom (Revelation chapters 15-18). After this, heaven opens, and John sees the marriage of the Lamb, between Jesus and His faithful saints taking place in heaven (Revelation 19:1-10).
After the marriage of the Lamb, John saw heaven open, and reported the following: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11–16). From this text, we are shown that Jesus does not leave heaven alone after the marriage of the Lamb. Rather He returns to rule on the earth with His armies in heaven clothed in fine linen. While there are angels that put on fine linen (Revelation 15:6), we also learn from this same chapter (Revelation 19) that the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints, which the Bride of Christ clothes herself with (Revelation 19:7–8). I believe this clearly emphasize that the armies who follow Jesus on white horses, from heaven to earth, include angels and the bride of Christ (God’s faithful saints). While heaven opened, and Jesus was descending from heaven to the earth, John also noted that: “And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:19–21).
So, in Revelation 19 and in Matthew 24:29-31 (also repeated in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; the famous rapture passage), the Bible gives two distinct appearances of Jesus, with distinct purposes, and mutually exclusive characteristics. First, at the rapture, the saints are caught up from the earth to meet Jesus in the air and they are taken to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 11:18–19, and Revelation 15:1–2). Whereas after the marriage of the Lamb in Revelation 19, Jesus and His saints rather return from heaven to the earth. Second, at the rapture the saints are caught up, or pulled up with force (Greek word: harpazo), to meet Jesus in the air. There are no horses involved in carrying the saints from the earth to meet Jesus in the air. However, after the marriage of the Lamb in Revelation 19, the saints and Jesus return from heaven to the earth on white horses. Third, the appearing of Jesus at the rapture is accompanied by the blowing of the last trumpet which brings about the resurrection of the dead in Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52; Matthew 24:29-31). But after the marriage of the Lamb in Revelation 19, we don’t find the blowing of the last trumpet to signal Jesus’ return to the earth and neither does Jesus’ coming in Revelation 19 result in the resurrection of the dead in Christ. Rather, in Revelation 19, the dead who have already been resurrected follow Jesus to the earth. Fourth, when Jesus appears at the rapture, His feet do not touch the earth or the ground. He appears in the air, and His saints are caught up to meet Him in the air, whereas after the marriage of the Lamb in Revelation 19, Jesus and His saints come to this very earth, and Jesus defeats the anti-Christ and His army on the ground, not in the air.
So clearly, there is no sameness between these two appearances of Jesus in Matthew 24:29-31(also repeated in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) and in Revelation 19 for us to classify them as one and the same event. According to the Scriptures, both appearances serve different purposes, and they also happen at different times after the great tribulation.
Dr. K. Omari
March 8, 2023.
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.