Albert DeBenedictis Supporter Retired computer programmer

I believe the events in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 are referring to Christians who will receive immortal bodies and will dwell with God forever. I believe the Apostle Paul is writing to fellow Christians, so I believe he is describing events that will occur to Christians during the resurrection.

It is difficult to determine exactly when the events described in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 will occur. There are differing views as to whether this event will occur before the tribulation, midway through the tribulation, or after the tribulation ends. It is possible that the events that occur in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 are the same as those mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Both passages mention the dead rising (1 Corinthians 15:52-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:16) with the sound of a trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16).
To determine actually when the events in 1 Corinthians 15:52-53 will occur, it depends on when one believes the rapture of the church occurs and when the Great Tribulation ends. This is a very complicated subject and could takes volumes to discuss. But to summarize some of the basic argument for a pre, mid, and post tribulation rapture, I will provide some main points. 

Pre-tribulation Rapture: Those who believe the rapture occurs before the Great Tribulation occurs, believe the rapture occurs sometime before Chapter 4, as the church is not mentioned in any chapter between 4 - 18. Some who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture view believe the rapture and the Second Coming are the same event, while others believe they are two different events. Those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture base their views on Romans 5:9. They believe that the Church (those who have been saved) are promised to be exempt from God’s wrath. The tribulation is for the unsaved, not the saved. 
Revelation 3:10 and Revelation 6:17. Pre-tribulation rapture advocates believe the rapture can occur anytime, as the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2. They argue that if the rapture occurs at anytime during the tribulation, they would have some idea when it will occur, based on the information provided in the Book of Revelation and other passages, such as Matthew 24:3-8. 

Mid-tribulation Rapture: For those who believe in a mid-tribulation rapture of the church, they believe the rapture occurs sometime during Revelation 19, when Jesus returns with “the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” (Revelation 19:14, NKJV). They believe the rapture takes place before the Sixth Seal is opened in Revelation 6:12, where the situation appears to be much more intense. They believe the Book of Revelation is not chronological, as they believe the sixth seal described in Revelation 6:14 begins the events that are included in the last half of the tribulation.

Post-tribulation Rapture: For those who believe the Rapture will occur after the tribulation believe that Christians have always experienced tribulations and the Great Tribulation will be no exception. They believe that Christians will be protected from God’s wrath but will be present through it. Those who believe in a post-tribulation rapture believe the saints mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 3:13 & 4:14-15 states that the saints will be coming with Jesus at the time of the rapture. Those who believe in a Post-tribulation rapture believe this event mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-15, occurs the same time as Revelation 19:12-14. Those who hold to a post-tribulation rapture believe that 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 refers to the time when the believers will rise to meet the Lord in the air, only to return immediately to earth. They believe that the events in 1 Corinthians 15:52 occur the same time as the events that occur in Matthew 24:31. Both 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and Matthew 24:31 mentions a trumpet sound. It is clear that the events described in Matthew 24 will occur after the tribulation, as Matthew 24:29 states.

August 02 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Rhonda Bentley Supporter

Jesus Christ himself said in Matthew 24:29-31: Immediately AFTER THE TRIBULATION of those days, shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from Heaven, and the powers of Heaven shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of a man in Heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other. 

But just before that, he warns you to not fall for false christs coming to swoop you up, “For whither the carcass is there will be eagles gathered together also”, meaning they came to eat the flesh of them that followed the antichrist.
So antichrist comes first. Don’t fall for it. 

Christ comes after the tribulation:
* All the dead in Christ will rise.
* He will be coming with all his angels in Heaven. You won’t miss it. 
* He will gather His elect from the four corners of the earth. 

To read more about what Jesus does when he comes back, see Revelation 19 and 20:
* He throws the antichrist and false prophet in the lake of fire.
* He chains Satan up for a thousand years. (Why only a thousand years? See why in chapter 20).
* The first resurrection takes place, of which the second death hath no power. (Why is there a second resurrection? Keep reading in chapter 20). 

I hope you find this helpful and as interesting as I have. I love Jesus Christ. I hope you find him and love him too. Happy Learning.

December 30 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report