The dead in Christ will be raised first, then together with living believers, will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
The Lord Himself descends from heaven with a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God. At that signal, the dead in Christ rise first in resurrection power. Then believers who are alive and remain are caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — Directly describes the order of events: the dead in Christ rise first, then living believers are caught up together with them.
In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, Paul writes that the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God. Then the dead in Christ shall rise first. After that, we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. This shows that the dead in Christ are not left behind; they are given priority in the resurrection.
Les Feldick explains that at the return of the Lord, the souls and spirits of departed believers are brought from heaven by God, reunited with their resurrected bodies, and then they ascend to meet the Lord in the air. He emphasizes that the living believers will not precede the dead in Christ; rather, the dead rise first. Les also notes that this event involves only church-age believers, not Old Testament saints, and that the meeting place is in the air, not on Mount Olives, which is reserved for the second coming.
According to 1 Thessalonians 4, the Lord descends from heaven with a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ rise first, in resurrection power. Then believers who are alive and remain are caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. This sequence ensures that the dead are not left behind.
Believers meet the Lord in the air, not on Mount Olives. Les Feldick points out that the meeting is in the atmosphere, as stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. He contrasts this with the second coming, when the Lord's feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, as described in Zechariah 14.
Les Feldick teaches that when a believer dies, the body is placed in the grave, but the soul and spirit go to be with the Lord. At the resurrection, God brings those departed souls and spirits of believers down to the atmosphere, where they are reunited with their resurrected bodies. This applies only to believers, not unbelievers.
What Happens at the Rapture? 1 Corinthians 15 Explained
repentance and baptism, it's in what? Believing the Gospel. It's too simple for most people, and yet I've said over the years, this Gospel, this power of it is so complex I can't understand it, and I don't think any other human being can, but we take it by faith. Now read on, verse 4. I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins.
The Lord Descends and Dead in Christ Rise First
Les explains that the dead in Christ are resurrected first, being brought out of the tomb and reunited with their soul and spirit which God brings from His presence.
The Rapture and the Judgment Seat
Les shows that after meeting the Lord in the air, believers go to heaven for the judgment seat of Christ and the marriage of the Lamb, and later return with Him at His second coming.
Resurrection Power and the Rapture
Les emphasizes that the dead in Christ rise in resurrection power when they hear the voice to come forth, and they are drawn up to meet the Lord in the air first, then living believers are caught up.
Souls Brought from Heaven
Les explains that God brings the departed souls and spirits of believers from heaven down to the atmosphere, and that these are only believers, not unbelievers.
The Last Trump and Change
Les clarifies that at the last trump, the dead in Christ are raised incorruptible, and living believers are changed, being caught up together with them.
The Rapture Secret Most Christians Miss — 1 Corinthians 15:51
"...we who 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." Now just for a quick comparison of Scripture, I want to bring you all the way back. First let's stop in Acts chapter 1. Here they are on the Mount of Olives, the same Mount of Olives that we visit every time we go to Jerusalem.
Meeting the Lord in the Air
Les contrasts the rapture meeting in the air with the second coming to the Mount of Olives, noting there is no cataclysmic judgment at the rapture.
1 Thessalonians 4:15: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
Paul assures that living believers will not precede the dead in Christ.
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 verse gives the order: the Lord descends and the dead in Christ rise first.
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 verse describes the living believers being caught up together with the resurrected dead.
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.
Paul describes the sudden change that occurs at the resurrection of believers.
Yes, according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, the dead in Christ rise first, and then living believers are caught up together with them.
Believers meet the Lord in the air, as stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. This is not on the Mount of Olives, which is associated with the second coming.
At death, the soul and spirit of a believer go to be with the Lord. At the resurrection, God brings them down to the atmosphere to be reunited with their resurrected body.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens at the Rapture? 1 Corinthians 15 Explained