What is the order of the rapture for the dead in Christ and the living?
The dead in Christ rise first in resurrection power when they hear His voice, coming out of the grave with new bodies. Then those who are alive and remain are caught up together with them to meet the Lord and the departed saints in the air, to be forever with the Lord.
Les explains that the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God. At that signal, the dead in Christ rise first in resurrection power. Like Lazarus, they hear the voice to come forth, but they come out in resurrection power and are drawn up to meet Him in the air. They go first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up. Les notes that the word rapture is not in the text, but “caught up” carries the same meaning. We will be caught up with them, join those already given new bodies coming out of the grave, meet the Lord and the departed saints in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
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:
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