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.
Les explains that the order is clear: the dead in Christ shall rise first in resurrection power. When they hear the voice to come forth, like Lazarus, they come out and are drawn up to meet Him in the air. They go first, then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up. Those two words, caught up, comprise the cliche word rapture; the word rapture is not in the text, but caught up is, and it has the same meaning. The departed saints have already received their new bodies coming out of the grave, and the living will join them to meet the Lord and those departed saints in the air. Then, as Paul says, so shall we ever be with the Lord. These words are given for mutual comfort.
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 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.
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.
More Questions
How fast will the rapture happen?
The rapture will happen suddenly, in a split second, with believers instantly taken out of here.