1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 states, “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. 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. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Along with that, let’s read 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, “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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

Both of these passages refer to the same event…the rapture of the Church.  1 Thessalonians 4 speaks of the dead being raised and taken to Heaven at the same time as those who “are alive and remain.”  1 Corinthians 15 speaks of the physical changes that occur that will give believers incorruptible and immortal bodies that are fit for Heaven.  Both are instituted by the blowing of a trumpet.  Notice that this event happens “in the twinkling of an eye.”  Someone has estimated that to be about 1/60 of a second.  Incredibly fast.  With the speed of this occurrence, I don’t believe that unbelievers will hear it.  In fact, the trumpet is a call for the believers to ‘move out’ and go to be with the Lord in the air.  The trumpet sound is only meant for believers, so it is unlikely that unbelievers will hear it.

For a very sobering warning, let’s read 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  This passage also refers to the rapture of the church, and what occurs afterwards.  Those who “received not the love of the truth” are those who heard and rejected the glorious Gospel of salvation.  They will be left behind after the rapture and will “believe a lie” concerning the rapture.  There will certainly be some great and outrageous explanation as to what happened to so many people who went to meet the Lord in the clouds.  Those who rejected the Lord as their savior will believe that lie “they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  In other words, there is no second chance for those who have rejected the Gospel after the Lord comes to take out His church.  It is SO IMPORTANT that if you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior that you receive Him now before it is eternally too late.  2 Corinthians 6:2 is quite clear, “…NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.”  (366.6)