2 Thess. 2:1-7

What do we understand from Scripture regarding the 2nd coming of our Lord Jesus Christ?

DURING the last week of September 2025, there was widespread speculation that Christian believers would be caught up in a secret rapture during the Feast of Trumpets on 22/23 September.
In the following video pastor Keith Malcomson of Limerick City Church opens up some vital understandings and equally-vital misunderstandings relating the Rapture doctrine.

Note: This article published some time ago looks into the Greek behind a critical verse regarding the 'taken out of the way' scenario. It carries responses, but responses or questions relating to Keith's talk can be given below.

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Feedback:

	Nigel Hall	02/10/2025 15:10
We found this talk fascinating but it opens more questions than answer for us. For instance Keith seemed to teach that the rapture cannot happen until the Antichrist has been revealed. That must mean a rapture during the tribulation , early tribulation even? Does anyone else understand where Keith is coming from re the timing of the rapture? I must admit I am confused!
	(Guest)	02/10/2025 18:42
I got the impression they Keith interpreted ‘that day’ in verse 3 as the rapture, not the second coming. Is that where confusion has arisen because there appears if he’s wrong (I’m not sure what he is saying!) there appears to be no reason for the rapture not to happen pretrib. ?????
	Nigel Hall	02/10/2025 18:44
That was me again, not a guest! ??
	The Editor (Guest)	03/10/2025 11:44
Nigel, Keith may answer himself, but I believe that his view is that the sequence is as follows - the appearance of the antichrist (in God' timing) followed by a later and physical return of Christ (called the rapture) who will destroy the antichrist.
	Jenny Yates	26/01/2026 09:24
I agree that Keith was somewhat vague about the timing of 'the rapture,' perhaps deliberately. I've looked up the Limerick City Church website, and in the 'What we Believe' section, found this: "We believe in the literal return of Christ to the sky; then His visible and physical return to the earth when He shall set His feet upon the Mt. of Olives. The second Coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints (catching away), which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years. We also believe that the Bride of Christ is to make herself ready for translation. All date–setting, annual predictions or surmising concerning the date of Christ’s return and the identity of Antichrist is to be avoided at all costs." So it seems they do postulate some sort of interval between 'the rapture' and the second coming, but avoid giving any suggestion as to its length, or what happens to the Church during it. Limerick City Church is Pentecostal, and Pentecostals do usually believe in a pre-trib 'rapture.' Personally, I do not, and consider such teaching to be a dangerous deception!
	Editor	02/02/2026 16:10
Note your comments Jenny. If we look at the three Greek words used concerning Jesus' appearing they all speak of a welcoming party going out to greet an arriving guest. Concerning Limerick City Church being Pentecostal I wouldn't make assumptions. They are not pre-trib.