Every believer is changed at the Rapture—the dead in Christ are raised incorruptible, and living believers are transformed in an instant.
Paul reveals in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 that believers will not all die but will all be changed at the last trumpet. Les Feldick emphasizes that this change happens in a split second for every member of the Body of Christ, with the dead raised first and living believers caught up with them.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 — This is the central passage Les uses to explain the change of every believer at the Rapture.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — This gives the order of events Les cites—dead in Christ rise first, then living believers are caught up together.
Scripture clearly describes what happens to believers at the coming of the Lord for His own. In 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, Paul writes: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; 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 trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." This states that not every believer will die; those who are alive will be changed, and the dead will be raised incorruptible. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Paul gives the order: the Lord descends from heaven with a shout and the trump of God, "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." Scripture therefore shows both a resurrection of the dead and a transformation of the living at the same event.
Les teaches that at the Rapture, every believer—not just the most spiritual—will be changed instantly. Those believers who have died (the dead in Christ) will be raised with incorruptible bodies, and those who are alive will not die but will be transformed in the same split second. He uses 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 to explain that this corruptible body must put on incorruption and this mortal body must put on immortality, so believers receive a body fit for eternity—flesh and bone activated by the Spirit rather than flesh and blood. Les points out that this is a mystery revealed through Paul, and he stresses the change is so instantaneous that believers leave no trace behind except their clothes and material goods. He also notes that the Old Testament saints are not in view here—it is the church-age saints, the members of the Body of Christ, who are raised and changed at this event. The dead in Christ rise first, and then those alive are caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air.
According to Paul, "the dead shall be raised incorruptible" at the last trumpet. Les explains that these are the dead in Christ—church-age saints, not Old Testament saints—and that they will be brought out of their tombs and reunited with their soul and spirit. They rise first, and then living believers are changed and caught up with them.
Believers who are alive at the Rapture will not sleep or die first. Instead, "we shall all be changed" in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. Les says they will suddenly take flight and go up with the resurrected dead to meet the Lord in the air. The change is so rapid that they receive their new body before they even reach the ceiling.
The change happens "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." Les emphasizes that the Greek implies the smallest part of time—about a thousandth of a blink of an eye. It is a split, split second, not a gradual process. Believers are instantly gone, leaving no dead body behind.
The body at the Rapture will be incorruptible and immortal. This corruptible body puts on incorruption, and this mortal body puts on immortality. Les teaches that the body will lose the flesh and blood concept and become flesh and bone, activated by the Spirit, fit for eternity.
Les clarifies that the resurrection at the Rapture is for church-age saints, those who are in the Body of Christ. He specifically notes that Old Testament saints, such as Daniel, have to wait; they are not part of this particular resurrection and change. Every believer in the Body of Christ will be changed, not just a select few.
Paul Writes to the Body of Christ
Les explains that Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15 are written to Gentile believers in the Body of Christ, establishing that this passage applies to believers today.
Dead in Christ Rise First, Living Believers Changed
Les states that the dead in Christ will be raised incorruptible at the last trump and that living believers will be changed and caught up with them.
Instant Change in a Split Second
Les uses 1 Corinthians 15:52 to show that believers are changed in the twinkling of an eye, receiving their new body on the way up.
Corruptible Puts on Incorruption
Les explains that the dead rise first with new bodies and that living believers are changed because the corruptible must put on incorruption and the mortal must put on immortality.
New Body of Flesh and Bone Activated by the Spirit
Les teaches that the new body loses the flesh and blood concept and becomes flesh and bone activated by the Spirit, putting on incorruption and immortality.
The Rapture Is a Mystery Revealed in Paul
Les explains that the Rapture is part of the mystery revealed through Paul, showing that dead believers are raised and living believers are caught up in a split second.
Every Believer Changed in an Instant, No Trace Left Behind
Les emphasizes that every believer is changed—not just the most spiritual—and that the change is so instant that only clothes and material goods are left behind.
Sequence: The Lord Descends, Dead in Christ Rise First
Les outlines the order: the Lord descends with a shout and the trump of God, the dead in Christ rise first, and then living believers are caught up together.
1 Corinthians 15:51: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
This verse introduces the mystery that not every believer will die; all believers 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.
This describes the instant nature of the change and the resurrection of the dead in Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:53: For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
This explains why believers must receive new bodies—to be fit for eternity.
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:
This gives the sequence that the dead in Christ rise first at the Lord's descent.
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 shows that living believers are caught up together with the resurrected dead to meet the Lord.
The dead in Christ will be raised first with incorruptible bodies. Les explains that they are brought out of their tombs and reunited with their soul and spirit, then caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
They will not die first but will be changed instantly in a split second. Their corruptible body will put on incorruption and their mortal body will put on immortality, allowing them to be caught up with the resurrected dead.
No. The change is so instant that believers leave no trace except their clothes and material goods. Their bodies are transformed, not left behind.
It happens in the twinkling of an eye—the smallest part of time. Les describes it as about a thousandth of a blink of an eye, a split second instant change.
Les teaches that the Rapture is for church-age saints, the Body of Christ. Old Testament saints like Daniel have to wait for a later resurrection.
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