How do the dead in Christ rise at the rapture, and are they raised like Lazarus was?
At the rapture, the dead in Christ hear the voice to come forth and rise first in resurrection power. They come out of the grave with new bodies and are drawn up to meet Him in the air. This is like Lazarus, but they emerge in resurrection power.
Les explains that the Lord Himself will 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 in resurrection power. When they hear the voice to come forth, it is just like Lazarus, only 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 are caught up together with them. Les notes that rapture is not in the text, but caught up carries the same meaning. Those raised have already received their new bodies coming out of the grave, and believers join them to 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:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
What happens when the dead in Christ hear the voice to come forth?
When the dead in Christ hear the voice to come forth, they rise first in resurrection power. Like Lazarus, they come out of the grave with new bodies and are drawn up to meet the Lord in the air, going before the living, who are then caught up to join them.
Who goes first at the rapture—the dead in Christ or those still alive?
The dead in Christ rise first. At the Lord's descent, with a shout, archangel's voice, and trump of God, they hear the voice, come forth in resurrection power like Lazarus, and are drawn up to meet Him in the air. Then the living who remain are caught up with them, so all are ever with the Lord.
More Questions
When does the rapture happen relative to the resurrection of the dead?
The rapture of living believers occurs after the resurrected saints are reunited with their new bodies and souls/spirits Christ brought.
Do the dead in Christ rise before living believers are caught up at the rapture?
At the rapture, the dead in Christ rise first, and then living believers who remain are caught up together with them to meet the Lord.