Revelation 19:11-18 (NIV) I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”
Joel 2:11 (NIV) The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?
Zechariah 14:4-7 (NIV) On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. It will be a unique day - a day known only to the Lord - with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light.
Matthew 24:27 (NIV) For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Acts 1:10-11 (NIV) They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Revelation 1:7 (NIV) "Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him." So shall it be! Amen
The rapture, which will occur prior to the 7-year tribulation period, is a totally separate event from the return of Jesus. Jesus is not visible during the rapture. Christians will disappear in a twinkling of an eye in the rapture, but Jesus will not be seen. He will be in the clouds waiting to welcome his children (ref. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). But his triumphant return to earth, following the battle of Armageddon, will be dramatic and will be seen by everyone on the planet. “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” The book of Revelation confirms that “every eye will see him.” If it were not for his return World War III would lead to an extinction event (ref. Matthew 24:15-22)!
