Pre-tribul​ation rapture vs 2nd coming

(email reply to a Church of Christ fellow who sent me an article on a-millinialism)

"Today's rapture theory says that Jesus is going to return to earth two more times: once before and once after "the tribulation." Some refer to the supposed two future events as "the rapture," followed by "the second coming." Others prefer to teach "two phases" to the "second" coming. None seem willing to openly admit that they really believe in: a "second" and "third" coming. "  
INSIGHT INTO BIBLE PROPHECY #78 THE RAPTURE by David Vaughn Elliott

This is terrible. Nobody says that Christ is going to return to the earth "two more times".

The rapture of the body of Christ (church) is a "mystery" "by the word of the Lord" and it is the members of Christ being gathered together unto Him in the AIR to HEAVEN (1 Cor. 15:51-58, 1 Thes. 4:13-18, 2 Thes, 2:1, Col. 3:1-4, Phil. 3:18-21). It is also before the tribulation (Rom. 5:9, 1 Thes. 1:10, 5:9)

Like the 1st coming of Christ, the 2nd coming will also be TO THE EARTH. Christ will gather believing Israel together from where He scattered them in His wrath (time of Jacob's trouble) and He will then RULE IN JERUSALEM. (Jeremiah 30:1-24, 31:31-34, 32:36-42, Ezekiel 36:24-33, Joel 2:11-32, Matthew 24:1-44, Revelation 6:12-17)

 

There are not "two 2nd comings" and there are not "two phases" to the 2nd coming--we're dealing with two entirely different types of raptures to two different places (heaven vs earth) and two different people are being raptured (believing Israel, Rom. 11:26-27, vs the body of Christ, Col. 3:1-4). --Eli Caldwell