If you are waiting for the “rapture” you better check the graves first

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

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One thing that people ignore when they say they believe in the rapture being before the tribulation and before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, is that the resurrection from the dead comes first. For them, all they would have to do is go around and check the graves of Christians to see if they have been resurrected yet. When the graves of Christians are empty, then they would know that the rapture is just ahead. As quoted, “And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17

What 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 actually says is that the resurrection from the dead and the “rapture” is a single event which happens at the same time. It happens when our Lord Jesus Christ returns, and the resurrection happens in less than a millisecond before when all those still alive are taken up in the air to be with the Lord.

The resurrection from the dead and the “rapture” happens when the Seventh Trumpet blows signifying the end of all things and the return of Jesus Christ. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God...And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17b. That is verified in Revelation 11:15 as quoted, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Jesus says that He returns after the global tribulation, and that is when He gathers His people to be with Him, ““Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” Matthe w24:29-31

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen ^[b]asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who ^[c]sleep in Jesus. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17