RAPTURE OF ALL CHRISTIANS

LESSON #1:
Rapture of all Christians--1^st Thess. 4: 13-18; (V-13) “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead) that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”
(V-14)“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which have died in Jesus will God bring with him.” In this portion of the word of God we find the Apostle Paul educating the Thessalonians about their loved ones who are dead and buried. It is very comforting to know that in times of great sorrow and loss you and I can have hope in the fact that we will see our loved ones again. (V-15) “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 (precede or go before) them which are asleep (dead).”
At death the body separates from the soul and spirit and returns to the dust from whence it came, then both soul and spirit returns back to God who gave them. That explains how God can bring them back with Jesus when he comes at the Rapture of the Church. The soul and spirit will then descend into the graves and reunite with their bodies which will instantly be glorified and rise up to the earth and wait until those who are alive receive their glorified bodies, then we will all rise up together to meet Jesus in the air.

There are two thoughts concerning the next three verses (1) That all of the dead in Christ will rise from the grave and come up to the earth and remain until those who are alive and remain receive their glorified bodies and then we all rise together to meet the Lord in the air.

(V-17) (2) The words at the end of V.16 seem to indicate that the dead in Christ will be the first to rise up in the air, but as I previously stated, that very well could mean they rise from the grave up to the earth first, and then rise up to meet the Lord in the air. What ever be the case we will have a glorious meeting somewhere above the treetops when we shake the nail scarred hand of the savior, look upon his blessed face, and be with him forever. (V-18) “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Christians, are we comforting our Christian brothers and sisters with these words? If not, we had better be getting to it for the time for service is running out.(V-16) “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”