The rapture and the second coming are separate events. Let me contrast the rapture and the revelation.
At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air to go to the third heaven [John 14:3; 1 Thess. 4:17]. At the second coming, believers return with the Lord to the earth [Rev. 19:14].
The rapture occurs before the tribulation [1 Thess. 5:9; Rev. 3:10]. The second coming occurs after the tribulation [Rev. 6-19].
At the rapture, Christ comes to rescue saints from the tribulation and take them to the Judgment Seat for reward [Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; 5:9; Rev. 4:4, 10]. At the second coming, He removes unbelievers as an act of judgment and reigns in His kingdom [Matt. 24:40-41].
At the rapture, Christ gathers the elect church [1 Thess. 4:13-18]. At the second coming, the angels gather God’s elect Israel [Dan. 12; Matt. 24:31].
The rapture will be secret and instant [1 Cor. 15:50-54]. The second coming will be visible to all [Rev. 1:7; Matt. 24:29-30; Zech. 12:10].
The rapture is imminent; it could take place any moment [Titus 2:13; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:50-54]. The second coming will not occur until after certain other end-times events take place [2 Thess. 2:4; Matt. 24: 15-20; Rev. 6:18].
At the rapture, He comes as a bridegroom, while at the revelation, He comes as “the wrath of the Lamb.”
The Blessed Hope and the Day of the Lord are different Events.
