Regarding 1Thessalonians 4:13-17 ***** 1Th. 4:13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 1Th. 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 1Th. 4:15 According to the Lord�s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 1Th. 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 1Th. 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. ***** Now, here again, Paul is speaking to the �Brothers� (Christians) who were concerned about fellow brothers (Christians) who had already passed away. In 1Thessalonians. 4:14, God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. In 1Thessalonians 4:15, God is talking about those who remain on the earth. Now, this is all happening at the end of the Tribulation, again, when Jesus comes down in the clouds (like lighting). Why would God tell us... not to worry about the one�s who have already passed not to worry and the one�s still remaining on the earth but leave out the one�s who remain after the supposed �rapture�? Why, because THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE A RAPTURE of any kind. Listen and read the scripture again. God is telling us clearly that there will be two kinds of Christians during the above-stated and referenced period of time or event. One type of Christian will be dead and will be raised to be with the LORD and The Other type of Christian will rise and will be with the LORD. This does not state anything about some Christians changing before the Tribulation and some others changing after the Tribulation. God only speaks about one changing. This only happens once, AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION. Now, knowing this read 1Thessalonians 4:16 again. 1Th. 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Okay, notice specifically.....with a loud command....This is going to have noise to it. We are all going to hear this and see Jesus coming (the lightning). This �trumpet call� is not the same as in Revelations. It is clear in Revelations, that the trumpets are judgements. This is called �trumpet call of God�. This is not the same as the trumpets mentioned in Revelations. |