Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Jude 1:14-15 New International Version, NIV)

This verse is one of many verses about the second coming of Christ; His return to earth. However, some people get confused with certain passages and what is meant by His second coming. The best way to explain it is to say that the second coming of Christ will actually be accomplished in two stages, or two events, that combine together to form the second coming of Christ, or the Lord’s return.

First of all, we know that the first coming of Jesus Christ was when He came to earth as a man, was crucified, buried and rose again. The second coming is what we are looking forward to as part of what we call end time events.

For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. I Thessalonians 4:14-17 (New Living Translation, NLT) emphasis mine

Stage One, or the first part of His second coming, is the rapture of the church, which takes place prior to the tribulation. To understand why the rapture will take place before the tribulation, see our post “Taken Out Before the Tribulation.” At the rapture, or the catching away of the saints, Jesus appears in the clouds, and the saints of God who died will be resurrected and reunited with their bodies and will rise to meet Him. And we who are still alive will also rise up to meet Him in the air. As we do, all of our bodies will be transformed instantaneously, into glorified eternal bodies. At this time, Jesus Himself does not actually set His feet on the earth, but He does return to earth’s atmosphere. He takes the Church, His Bride, with Him to take part in the marriage supper of the Lamb, which will occur in heaven while the earth is experiencing the tribulation. This is the first phase of the second coming, or the first event that makes up the second coming of the Lord. This is what believers are commanded to look forward to, stay ready for, and be eagerly awaiting. Those who are raptured will not be on earth during the horrors of the tribulation.

But keep alert at all times [be attentive and ready], praying that you may have the strength and ability [to be found worthy and] to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man [at His coming].” Luke 21:36 (Amplified Bible, AMP)

Stage Two is what was prophesied by Enoch (see above). This takes place at the end of the Great Tribulation when Christ returns to initiate His thousand year rule on the earth called the Millenial Kingdom or Millenial Reign of Christ. He will return physically to earth with His saints at the battle of Armageddon and defeat the Antichrist, the beast and the false prophet to set up His thousand year reign.

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. Revelation 19:11-16 (New Living Translation, NLT)

The second coming of the Lord has not occurred yet, but we are occupying until He comes to catch us away with Him. At that time, the rapture, which is the first part of His second coming, will take place. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!