For information related to this topic, check out
Bob Yandian’s series entitled “Understanding the End Times”

Following are some common views dealing with the return of Christ:

Common Millennial Views:

• Pre-Millennial: The Second Coming of the Lord precedes the 1000 year Millennium (all three Tribulation views all apply to this)
• Post-Millennial: The Lord’s Second Coming occurs after the Millennium (this is often referred to as Kingdom Theology)

Common Tribulation Views:

• Pre-Tribulation: The “Rapture” of the Church occurs before the seven year Tribulation
• Mid-Tribulation: The “Rapture” occurs at the mid-point of the Tribulation (Pre-Wrath)
• Post-Tribulation: The “Rapture” occurs immediately preceding the Second Coming

We believe in the Pre-Millennial/Pre-Tribulation view of Christ’s return. Let me explain.

In understanding the end times it is important to see that God deals with humanity in time periods or “dispensations.”

Ephesians 1:10:
That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Ephesians 3:2:
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

There are many other verses that speak of dispensations or God’s time periods.

Each time period/dispensation is based upon covenants God has made with man. The purpose of these dispensations has been to teach man about God and ultimately lead him to salvation. There are seven dispensations mentioned in the Bible.

1) Innocence: before the fall of Adam and Eve (Gen. 1:26-3:6)
2) Conscience (Gen. 3:7-6:7)
3) Human Government (Gen. 6:8-11:9)
4) Promise or Patriarchal Rule (Gen. 11:10-Ex. 18:27)
5) Mosaic Law (Ex. 19:1-Acts 1:26)
6) The Church or dispensation of grace (Acts 2:1-Rev. 4)
7) The Millennium: 1000 year reign (Rev. 20:4-15)

In properly interpreting scripture it is important to know the group of people and the dispensation being referenced. Scripture written to the Jews under the Law does not necessarily apply to the Church, although we can reap principles from it. There are three main groups of people the Bible specifically addresses in scripture and they should not be confused. The three classes are the Jews, the Church, and the nations or Gentiles. We see this distinction in the following passage:

1 Corinthians 10:32:
Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Many take the scriptures relating to the Jews or the Gentiles and apply them to the church. We must rightly divide the Word and keep scripture in the context of who is being addressed and to which time period they refer. There is much confusion today about the return of Jesus because some confuse scriptures addressed to the Jews with scriptures addressed to the Church and lump them all together.

Many see the rapture and the Second Coming or Second Advent as the same event. Scriptures in the Old Testament, the Gospels, the epistles, and Revelations are blended together with the result of confusing the Rapture of the Church with the Second Coming. However, the rapture deals with the Church and the Second Coming primarily deals with the Jews and the nations or Gentiles.

It is important to see that the church age or the dispensation of grace has been a mystery from the beginning of time:

Ephesians 3:9:
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (KJVR)

The church was a mystery to those who lived under the Old Covenant. They did not know about the coming age of grace. The Old Testament had shadows and pictures of the church, but it nowhere plainly taught of an age of grace and of the church. In Jesus’ day, His disciples thought Jesus would deliver Israel and bring in His thousand year reign as promised in the Old Testament. They had no knowledge of the church age.

Many passages in the Old Testament speak of the first coming of Jesus, which was not a mystery because it was plainly foretold. There are also many Old Testament scriptures speaking of the Second Coming, of judgment, wrath, and rule of the Earth. There is no mention in the Old Testament of 2000 year period (the church age) between Jesus’ death on the cross and the Second Coming. This entire dispensation was a mystery. The rapture of the church, which is the culmination of the church age, is called a mystery.

1 Corinthians 15:51:
Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.

However, the Second Advent is plainly taught in the Old Testament scriptures. See Zechariah 14, one of many scriptures in the Old Testament on this subject.

The rapture of the church will end the dispensation of the church or the age of grace. It is its culmination. This event will usher in the tribulation period of seven years. In Daniel we see this seven year period is the culmination of Jewish time.

Daniel 9:24-27:
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

God determined that the Jewish nation had 70 weeks or 490 years to bring everlasting righteousness or God’s full kingdom on the Earth. The Hebrew word for “weeks” means periods of seven.

Verse 25 says from the time the commandment was given to rebuild Jerusalem (after Babylon took them away and destroyed Jerusalem) until the coming of Messiah would be 483 years (69 weeks or sevens). The passage goes on to say the Messiah would be cut off, but not for Himself (this refers to Christ dying for us on the cross). In verse 27, it states that the Anti-Christ will make a peace covenant with Israel for 7 years (completing the 490 years). What is not mentioned is between the 483rd year and the start of the final seven years (490 years) there would be 2000 years of the Church! God hid this; it was a mystery to later be revealed. It was as if God has the nation of Israel on a stop watch. Once the commandment came to rebuild Jerusalem God began clicking off 483 years until Messiah would come. However, there are seven more years on the stopwatch before the completion of Jewish time at 490 years. Jesus was crucified at the end of the 483rd year. It was as if God clicked off the stopwatch of Jewish time that had been running and picked up another stopwatch for the Church and clicked it on at the day of Pentecost. It has been running for almost 2000 years. At the rapture of the church, which will end the mystery or church age, God will click the Church stopwatch off and click the Jewish stopwatch back on for the final seven years of Jewish time, called the Tribulation (Matthew 24:21). At the end of this dispensation, Jesus will return—the Second Advent—judge the earth and set up his throne in Jerusalem. This will begin His 1000 year reign known as the Millennium.

Below are some comparisons of differences between the Rapture and the Second Coming:

Rick McFarland
Director/Singles Director
Grace Church