Believing that Jesus died and rose again is the only qualification for being part of the Rapture.
Les Feldick points to 1 Thessalonians 4:14 as the qualification, saying this is all you need. Those who believe are either raised from the dead or changed in a moment at the last trumpet, without any additional requirement.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 — This verse directly says that belief in Jesus' death and resurrection is the basis for God bringing believers with Him at the coming of the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 says, '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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.' The condition given is belief in Jesus' death and resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 reveals the mystery: '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.' This shows that living believers will be changed and the dead will be raised at the last trumpet.
Les Feldick says that 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 is the qualification for the rapture. He states, 'This is all you need to be in that great company that one day soon is going to be called out of here, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again.' He also teaches that the dead in Christ are church-age saints in the body of Christ, not Old Testament saints, and that living believers who know the Lord will be changed in a split second. Les emphasizes that the Rapture is imminent, pointing out that even in Paul's day believers were admonished to be prepared. He teaches that the souls of departed believers are in God's presence, waiting for the resurrection day, and that when Christ descends, the dead in Christ rise first and then living believers are caught up together with them.
Les Feldick explicitly calls 1 Thessalonians 4:14 the qualification for the rapture, saying 'This is all you need.' That qualification is believing that Jesus died and rose again. In these passages, he does not state any other condition for being included.
Les explains that the dead raised at the Rapture are those who have died as believers in Christ and are part of the body of Christ, not Old Testament saints. Believers who are still alive will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
Les teaches that the souls of departed believers are in heaven in God's presence, and that when Christ descends He brings these souls with Him. The dead in Christ rise first, and then living believers are caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the Rapture has always been imminent, even in Paul's day. He notes that no date is set, and while he personally thought it could happen before the end of the year, he also said his faith would not be shattered if it did not.
The Trumpet, the Dead, and the Imminent Change
Les explains that at the last trumpet the dead in Christ are raised incorruptible and living believers are changed; the event is imminent and could happen at any time.
The Dead in Christ Are Church-Age Saints
Les clarifies that the resurrection at the Rapture is for the church-age saints in the body of Christ, not Old Testament saints like Daniel.
The Qualification: Belief in the Gospel
Les calls 1 Thessalonians 4:14 the qualification for the rapture and says that if we believe Jesus died and rose again, that is all we need.
Living Believers Will Not Precede the Dead
Les explains that believers who are alive and remain will not go ahead of the dead in Christ; the dead rise first.
Instant Change for Living Believers
Les teaches that believers alive at the Rapture are changed in a split second, receiving a new body on the way to meet the Lord.
The Mystery of the Rapture
Les emphasizes that the Rapture is a revealed mystery, hard for the mind to comprehend but promised to believers.
The Church Called Out and Reunited
Les summarizes that the church is called out, living believers are changed, and departed church-age believers are resurrected to meet the Lord in the air.
Departed Saints Await the Resurrection
Les describes how the souls of departed saints are in Christ's presence in paradise, waiting for the great resurrection day.
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.
This verse is the basis for Les's statement that belief is the qualification for the Rapture.
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 describes the order at the Rapture: 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 promises living believers will be caught up with the risen dead to meet the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52: 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.
Paul reveals the mystery that living believers will be changed instantly, and the dead will be raised incorruptible.
Believing that Jesus died and rose again. Les Feldick points to 1 Thessalonians 4:14 and says this is all you need to be in that great company.
Les teaches that the dead raised at the Rapture are church-age saints in the body of Christ, not Old Testament saints. He notes that Daniel, for example, is told he has to wait.
Yes. Les says that in a split second — the twinkling of an eye at the last trump — believers who are alive will be changed and receive a new body.
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