John the revelator says, “…I heard a voice like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “COME UP HERE, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” (Rev. 4:1) I believe the Lord was giving John a preview of what Paul spoke of, “…the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, [saying “come up here”] and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP [harpazō: to snatch out or carried away] TOGETHER with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD.” (1 Thess. 4:16) Just in case you’re wondering, the word, rapture: means being carried away.
Paul tell it like this, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but WE WILL ALL BE CHANGED— in a flash, in the TWINKLING OF AN EYE, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, THE DEAD WILL BE RAISED imperishable, and WE WILL BE CHANGED.” (1 Corin. 15:51-52) The prophet Isaiah explains it like this, “…your dead will live, LORD; their bodies will rise— let those who dwell in the dust WAKE UP AND SHOUT FOR JOY—GO, MY PEOPLE, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you [at the marriage supper of the Lamb]; HIDE YOURSELVES FOR A LITTLE WHILE UNTIL HIS WRATH HAS PASSED BY…(Isa. 26:19-20)
-Bill Stockham