[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by theophilus

This is not speaking about the Second Coming but of the Rapture. Here is a more detailed description of this event.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 ESV

This will be followed by a 7 year period known as the Tribulation. After this Jesus will return along with those taken out in the rapture, and establish a kingdom on earth which will last for 1,000 years.

NICE DISCUSSION