Actually, how can the Bible make it any clearer?  Most of our knowledge concerning the end including the Rapture comes from 2 sources.  The Lord Jesus gives us a summary of His coming in what we know as the Mt Olivet discourse, and also in different chapters within the Revelation itself. Then the Apostle Paul gives us information in various places within his epistles.  All of it must and, in fact, does agree. 

For example Jesus tells us that no one will come to the Father but by Him.  Paul say in that same vein: that the resurrection to life comes one way only “in Christ”.  He says sin and death came by Adam and resurrection to new life comes only through Christ (1 Cor. 15). They do agree.  

There is no other way. 

Then Jesus tells us that we are not to look for Him where men tell you that He is:

Matthew 24:26  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. (KJV)

Then Jesus says that His coming to meet with us will be as lightening flashing.  Paul says in 1 Cor 15 that it will be in the twinkling of an eye.  They are speaking of the same instant of Jesus coming and of our being changed into immortality.  Jesus then says something strange:

Matthew 24:28  For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. (KJV)

Remember He is talking about His coming and He has told us not to listen to men who say that He is here or there, but He will gather us where Eagles fly in the sky when they gather to dine.  Paul tells us that He will come with the resurrected dead saints and then:

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. (KJV)

Remember the Lord and Paul, both are speaking of His coming or returning and the place of our meeting with Him. So they both agree that the gathering is in the air where Eagles gather to dine.  Why does Jesus likely use this interesting illustration of carcasses . This gathering is for a wedding Feast, we know that this is the time of the wedding because His entire bride has now made herself ready. 

Revelation 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (KJV)

And then Paul adds that we will then always be with Him.  The bride and the groom are one.  He is coming back to rule and we will be resurrected to rule with Him; and for that there will be a wedding and a feast. 

So before Jesus returns following the Tribulation of those days of which Christ speaks, it is then that every man who will ever live eternally from Adam’s generation, who will reign with Christ (all who are in the Lambs book of life) must come to new life in Christ.  

Revelation 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (KJV)

Jesus is the only way to salvation.  These Tribulation Saints are in Christ, they must resurrect first before the Rapture of any who remain alive in Christ, and they will reign as part of His now completed bride.  This is the order of the prophesied events in Scripture. And Paul tells us that all of those who have died in Christ must first be Resurrected and then those left alive, are  Raptured before this event (the event of His Coming). 

It is not because anyone would want it to be this way.  It is this way because God has told us so. He has seen the events of man, and the response of man not only to Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but He has seen man’s response to Satan and to sin. He has seen a Church divided, a Church that will only become one, when on its knees forced there due to persecution. 

We are entering this Biblical time. A time that tells us plainly that Satan is unleashing deception upon the minds and yes the hearts of man. A time when only the Word of God will give mankind clear direction. And when only His Spirit in us will allow one to remain in the truth of that word. 

So ask yourself once the pre-Trib Rapture would occur (were it to occur), and then more of those in the Lambs book of life, who are of necessity (in Christ) in order to be saved, who then also will die in the Lord, because they have chosen to endure in Christ, no matter what, and these are enduring under the Antichrist’s rule; so, wouldn’t their non resurrection create a contradiction with this order given us in Scripture?  

This is a time of deception only known to us now; because it is written by God’s Spirit to us, and it becomes a very difficult dilemma to resolve when we are not paying attention, and when we go against what is written.  God does not create dilemmas.  He teaches us with His Word.  The last Trumpet is clearly stated in His word. There is no question that it is the last:

Revelation 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (KJV)

With it’s sounding I t is now over for the evil of this world on this day of His coming:

In the next post we will look at what Scripture says about what is occurring around these days of His Return.