Here are three facts that you should know about the second coming of the Lord Jesus:
(1) Jesus spoke about his own return                                                   (2) Angels foretold it 
(3) The early Christians encouraged one another with it 

Jesus says, his coming will be preceded by: Worldwide war; earthquakes and famines; False Christs and false prophets; Ecological disasters; Signs in the sky; The return of Jerusalem to Jewish hands; An abomination in the temple of God; The Gospel preached to every nation. 

Seven Special Years before the End? Most scholars agree that Daniel 9 describes a seven year period that has to occur before Jesus final return - sometime in the future: He (Antichrist) will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.This passage tells us a Jewish temple will be rebuilt, as the antichrist will desecrate it. Daniel 12 specifies a time frame of 1290 days and 1335 days. Jesus refers to the "abomination" of the antichrist as well. Revelation 11:2-3 and 12:6 specifies a 42 Months/ 1260 day period. 

What is the Tribulation? Jesus spoke of the tribulation in the end-times. He said: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." Most agree it will be the seven year period spoken of in the book of Daniel and is describes in Revelation 6-20. There are some that say that only the last 3½ years of the 7-year period is the tribulation. 

Who is the Anti-Christ? Some people describe him like this: "No commerce can be done without his approval. He will be ... seen as an economic genius, a foreign policy genius."  Many believe that, because Daniel chapter 9 says: "The people of ruler, who is to come, will destroy Jerusalem and the Temple." (Romans 70AD). Means that the antichrist will come from Europe (restored-roman-empire). The Bible refers to him as the "Beast", "Little Horn" "man of lawlessness," or "son of perdition." He will say unheard and contempt full things against God." 

Battle of Armageddon: Daniel 11 describes battles that many believe will take place in the end times. The king of the south and the king of the north will engage the antichrist. Arabia will escape, but not Northern-Africa. Once camped between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean sea, he will find himself suddenly in the battle  Armageddon and he will be defeated by the armies from Heaven. That final battle is also describes in Revelation 19.

Rapture & 2nd coming are different? Many believe that the Rapture will occur before the 7-year tribulation, when Jesus Christ returns for his church. This is when all true believers in Christ will be taken from the earth by God into heaven. The Second Coming takes place after the seven years of tribulation when Jesus Christ returns with the church to defeat the antichrist, overthrow evil and then establish His thousand year reign.

Rapture = 2nd Coming? There are also many who believe that the "Rapture" and "2nd Coming" are identical. They believe everyone will go through the 7-years of tribulation and just before the end the believers will go up in a twinkling of an eye and meet Jesus in the air and join Him for the battle of Armageddon.

View-point that Rapture & 2nd coming occur after the  tribulation:                                                                                               1) Jesus compares the end times with the time of Noah & Lot. Judgment came as a suprise to the unbelievers but not the believers (Noah/Abraham).                                                                                  2) Paul says that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (sudden),” but you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.”                                                                                                       3) Thirdly Paul writes to the church in Thess. that they should not be anxious about the Lord's coming, as the man of lawlessness comes first. This only makes sense if the church of Thess. was going to see the antichrist. 

What is the "Millenial Kingdom?" After the battle of Armageddon we read in Revelation 20 that the antichrist and his false-prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire. But Satan will be bound and Christ will reign for 1000 years. This reigns is describes in Isaiah, as the lion and the lamb laying next to each other and no harm will be done. After this Satan will one more time let loose. It ends with fire coming out of Heaven and destroying Satan and it's armies. Revelation 20 also describes how people who did not believe/rejected God will be judged based on their works. This is referred to the judgment  of the great white throne.

Do we know what/who/when? Many people have tried to put dates to the end of the world. They have accused many goverments, presidents, dictators, religious leaders to be the antichrist. Some have drawn detailed maps of sequences of events. However many of these views/maps had to be revised and many of these predictors have been disappointed.  Jesus clearly stated, that this is not for us to know, but for His Father. Gabriel also told Daniel that the word of the prophesy is sealed until the end. In other words we probably won't know when, until it is actual happening.