Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

It’s “the dead in Christ” who “shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16 KJV).

And “the dead in Christ” means Christians.

According to 1 Thessalonians 4:14, it’s not only the martyrs that died for the sake of Christ, and his Gospel; nor merely those who die in the lively exercise of faith in Christ but all Christians, spiritual and carnal.

So, all Christian believers who are alive, along with resurrected believers, will rise "in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air."

January 23 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

James Kraft 74 year old retired pipeline worker

Everyone who has at one time believed the gospel, First Corinthians 15:1-4, and were sealed by that Holy Spirit of promise. Ephesians 1:13-14. Our guarantee of eternal life. 

Romans 8:9. Without the Spirit there is no salvation. With the Spirit we have eternal life. 

Hebrews 13:5 He will never leave us or forsake us. 

Even if we never believe it again. Second Timothy 2:13. 

John 3:18 John 6:40, and John 6:29.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, and we all sin, and we all die, but the GIFT of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

First Corinthians 15:51-53 and First Thessalonians 4:13-18. 

We are to comfort one another with these words. Those that have trusted Jesus alone apart from works. Romans 11:6. Romans 3:26-28.

January 23 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Karen Zorger Christian Wife, and Mom, Florida

Our Sunday small group has just finished a study of Thessalonians, and this is what we discussed, and what I have learned: The Christian meaning of the word "rapture" is the belief that both living and dead believers will be alive with Christ in Heaven. 

Our class noticed that there were some risen at the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection according to Matt. 27: 50-53. Specifically, v52: “The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.” (CSB) I notice that this says "many" and not "all". I believe these are believers of Jesus who had died before his crucifixion. 

There will be a rapture of the Christian church saints prior to the tribulation, according to 1 Thess. 4:16, 17: "For the Lord himself will descend from Heaven with a shout...and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." This is Paul's message of the Rapture to the Thessalonians. With the rapture of the church, the presence of the Holy Spirit will leave the earth and the tribulation will begin. 

After the tribulation, when Satan is bound for one thousand years, Heaven will be on earth, with Christ and the Saints sitting on the throne. Ezekiel 36:7-11 describes God's plan to restore Israel after the nations around them have "endured their own insults", (after the battle of Armageddon). Ezekiel 37 describes the Lord resurrecting the OT saints, restoring them to their land, and their prospering at the end of the tribulation. Also see Daniel 12:1-2.

Finally, Rev. 20:4-6 shows that the saints who had not taken the mark of the beast during the tribulation are resurrected to reign with Christ through the millennium.

It appears to me that the rapture of the entire church will occur over a short period of time. My small group class agrees we are anxious for that moment and all the saints we will meet at that time. 

Blessings to all who are working hard to understand and share the work of Christ with others.

May 23 2022 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report