Editing Rapture (section)

=== One or two events ===

Most premillennialists distinguish the Rapture and the Second Coming as separate events. Some [[Premillennialism#Dispensational school|dispensational premillennialists]] (including many [[Evangelicalism|evangelicals]]) hold the return of Christ to be two distinct events (i.e., Christ's second coming in two stages). According to this view, 1 Thessalonians 4:15–17<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Thessalonians|4:15–17}}</ref> is a description of a preliminary event to the return described in Matthew 24:29–31.<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|24:29–31}}</ref> Although both describe a coming of Jesus, these are seen to be different events. The first event is a coming where the saved are to be 'caught up,' whence the term "rapture" is taken. The second event is described as the second coming. The majority of [[Dispensationalism|dispensationalists]] hold that the first event precedes the period of [[tribulation]], even if not immediately (see chart for additional dispensationalist timing views).<ref>{{Cite book|title=Lectures in Systematic Theology|last=Thiessen|first=Henry C.|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans|year=1979|isbn=0-8028-3529-5|location=Grand Rapids|pages=[https://archive.org/details/lecturesinsystem00thie/page/355 355–356]|url=https://archive.org/details/lecturesinsystem00thie/page/355}}</ref> Dispensationalists distinguish these events as a result of their own literal<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pre-trib.org/articles/dr-thomas-ice/message/some-problems-with-postribulationism/read|title=Some Problems with Posttribulationism|last=McAvoy|first=Steven|date=12 December 1995|work=Pre-Trib Research Center|access-date=6 December 2019|page=16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/58822023.pdf|title=Myths of the Origin of Pretribulationism (Part 1)|last=Ice|first=Thomas D.|date=May 2009|work=Liberty University Article Archives|access-date=11 December 2019|page=3}}</ref> understanding of Paul's words.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Understanding End Times Prophecy: A Comprehensive Approach|last=Benware|first=Paul N.|publisher=Moody|year=2006|isbn=978-0-8024-9079-7|location=Chicago|pages=215, 224}}</ref>

Amillennialists deny the interpretation of a literal thousand-year earthly rule of Christ. There is considerable overlap in the beliefs of amillennialists (including most Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, and Lutherans), postmillennialists (including [[Presbyterians]]), and [[Historic premillennialism|historic premillennialists]] (including some [[Calvinist]]ic [[Baptist]]s) with those who hold that the return of Christ will be a single, public event.

Some proponents believe the doctrine of amillennialism originated with [[Alexandria]]n scholars such as [[Clement of Alexandria|Clement]] and [[Origen]]<ref name="r-Lindsey-1989"/> and later became Catholic dogma through [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]].<ref name="r-Keeley-1982"/>