Yes — every believer will be raised or changed at the Rapture and will forever be with the Lord, so death itself holds the confident hope of being present with Christ.
Paul's plain words are that believers who have died are not without hope, because God will bring them with Jesus. At the last trumpet the dead in Christ will be raised incorruptible and living believers will be changed in a moment. Afterward all will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 — Paul directly describes what happens to believers who have died and to those who are alive at the Lord's return.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 — Paul reveals the mystery that believers will not all sleep but will all be changed at the last trumpet when the dead are raised incorruptible.
2 Corinthians 5:8 — Paul states plainly that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13, Paul says believers should not be ignorant concerning those who are asleep, so that we sorrow not even as others which have no hope. He then gives the reason: if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. Paul goes on to say that the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, and 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. Paul also reveals the mystery in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. In 2 Corinthians 5:8, Paul says he is confident and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Scripture's answer is that believers are never separated from Christ, either in death or at the Rapture.
Les Feldick teaches from Paul's letters that the believer's future is a blessed hope, not something to fear. He says believers can live and die knowing "the best is yet to come," and he notes that one of the old Reformers said the greatest thing that can happen to a believer is to die, even though we naturally do not like to face death because of loved ones. Les explains that at the Rapture the church-age saints will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, the dead in Christ will rise first, and living believers will be caught up together with them. He emphasizes that Christians do not need to weep and wail over believing loved ones who have died, because believers will see them again. He also describes departed believers as being in a place of bliss and blessing without a body until the resurrection day, when their soul and spirit are reunited with a new body. Les connects all of this to 2 Corinthians 5:8, where Paul says he would rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord. For Les, this is the great event immediately after the Rapture, and he stresses that the only condition for being part of this departure is believing that Jesus died and rose again — not baptism, church membership, or any other work.
Believers who die are not lost. Paul says we are not to sorrow over them as others who have no hope, because if we believe Jesus died and rose again, God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Les Feldick adds that departed believers are in a place of bliss and blessing without a body until the great resurrection day, when their soul and spirit are reunited with a new body and they are caught up with the living believers.
Living believers will not all sleep or die. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 that we shall all be changed in a moment at the last trumpet, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible. Les Feldick explains that when the trumpet sounds, the dead in Christ rise first and then living believers are suddenly caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that he would rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord. Les Feldick points out that this is the blessed hope — the best is yet to come. Believers do not have to live and die like a dog with no prospect, and they do not have to face eternal doom. Instead, they can face death knowing they will be with the Lord.
Paul makes it simple: for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul does not say "if we are repenting and baptizing" or "if we have joined the church" — he says "if we believe." That belief in the gospel is what tells believers they will not be left behind in the awful tribulation days.
Why Carnal Believers Are Still Blameless — 1 Corinthians 1:8-9
Because what was the danger? Well, they were getting puffed up, and they would say, well, I was baptized by Peter. I was baptized by Apollos. I was baptized by Paul. Paul said, don't you ever do that with my name. I thank God I baptized none of you for that very reason. And then he comes back on a second thought, and he's, now wait a minute, I guess I did baptize the house of Crispus.
Death Brings the Best Yet to Come
Les reassures believers that death is not the end; it is the prospect that the best is yet to come, and one Reformer said the greatest thing that can happen to a believer is to die.
Change at the Last Trumpet
Les walks through 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, showing that not all believers will die, but living believers will be changed in a moment and the dead in Christ will be raised incorruptible.
Christians Do Not Sorrow Like the Heathen
Les points to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 to show that believers do not need to sorrow like those who have no hope, because God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
Hope for Those Who Have Lost Believing Loved Ones
Les contrasts the falling-apart grief of pagans with the Christian hope that we will see believing loved ones again.
Blissful Intermediate State Until Resurrection
Les explains that departed believers are in a place of bliss and blessing without a body until the resurrection day, when their soul and spirit are reunited with a new body.
Absent from the Body, Present with the Lord
Les connects the Rapture to 2 Corinthians 5:8, saying Paul would rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord, which is the great event after the Rapture.
Believing Is the Only Condition
Les emphasizes that Paul's condition for being part of the resurrection or Rapture is simply believing that Jesus died and rose again — not repentance, baptism, or church membership.
1 Thessalonians 4:13: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
This is the foundational promise that believers who have died are not without hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Faith in Jesus' death and resurrection is the basis for knowing God will bring departed believers with Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:16: 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:
The Lord's descent triggers the first rising of the dead in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:17: 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.
This is the blessed outcome of the Rapture — believers are forever with the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:51: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
Paul reveals that not every believer will die, but every believer will be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:52: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
The last trumpet brings both the resurrection of the dead and the transformation of the living.
2 Corinthians 5:8: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Paul's direct statement that death brings the believer into the Lord's presence.
It refers to physical death, not to a soul in an unconscious state. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 that we should not be ignorant concerning them which are asleep. Les Feldick explains that these believers are in a place of bliss and blessing without a body until the resurrection day, when they are reunited with a new body.
No. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:51 that we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, at the last trumpet, the dead in Christ will be raised incorruptible and living believers will be changed and caught up together with them.
Paul gives the simple condition in 1 Thessalonians 4:14: if you believe that Jesus died and rose again, God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. Les Feldick emphasizes that this belief, not water baptism or church membership, is what assures a believer of being part of the departure.
Because Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Les Feldick points out that this is the blessed hope — the best is yet to come, even though people naturally draw back from leaving loved ones.
Watch the Teaching: Why Carnal Believers Are Still Blameless — 1 Corinthians 1:8-9