It just struck me this morning that in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 …“the dead in Christ shall rise first” that it says rise first not ascend first, and we ascend together!  Thanks Jim for pointing this out.

Dave,

-------------------------------

I am confused about the rapture of the dead and we which are alive having a time lapse.  I always believed both would happen in the twinkling of an eye.  Doesn't the sentence continue without a pause - stating that we would be caught up TOGETHER with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.

God Bless.

John G - Tampa, FL

 

I used to think the resurrection and the rapture would happen simultaneously.  That is, until I looked more closely at the apostle Paul's exact wording.  He said:

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).

Carefully note that he said "the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up."  There are two events described here.