1 Thessalonians 4, last several verses. We will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air...
In a Jewish Wedding 2000 years ago, the Proposal was NONE VERBAL, so when the Bridegroom would like ask the girl to marry HIM, had to make a contract with her Father, then HE would go to the house during the family sit down Supper, and pour a glass of wine, and sit it in front of HIS prospective Bride. She knew what it meant. They are called Bride and Bridegroom from the moment when the Bride took a drink from the Betrothal Cup of wine. He would then announce,
"I go to prepare a Place for you." He then would leave the old dwelling place of the Bride, NOT TO RETURN UNTIL THE NEW DWELLING PLACE WAS FINISHED. ONLY HIS FATHER, has the right to determine when the New Dwelling Place is FINISHED. The interpretation of your above Post,
if you do not know already; is in the Jewish Customs for a Wedding, the Bridegroom could not travel all the way to the Brides Old Dwelling place. He would get close, then would have to CHOOSE a member of HIS wedding party, to go on ahead, stop near the old dwelling place of the Bride, and SHOUT,
Matthew 25:6 (NASB)
6
"But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 (HCSB)
15 For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
The Archangel, has been CHOSEN to SHOUT. I am not going to argue about the timing of this event with anybody, but I think it very well could be Pre-Trib, and if you believe Mid-Trib, or just ahead of:
Revelation 19:7-9 (HCSB)
7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself.
8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, “Write: Those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb are fortunate!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.”
I have no problem with that either. I will not get into the debate on the timing. I think it is wise to believe in Pre-Trib, why? Then You keep ready for the Bridegroom to come at ALL TIMES. If it is not Pre-Trib, I will be equally ready at the Mid-Trib; and if it is not Mid-Trib, I will be equally ready Just before the fulfillment of
Revelation 19:7.
Either way, I am convinced the Dead in Christ rise first (Which Includes the Old Testament SAINTS), the ASSEMBLY HE HAS BUILT; then Born Again Believers will be CHANGED, and
WE ARE GOING TO THE WEDDING OF THE LAMB. You did know the word CHURCH was added to the BIBLE about 200 AD., look up the word?
Matthew 16:18 (YLT)
18
`And I also say to thee, that thou art a rock, and upon this rock I will build my assembly, and gates of Hades shall not prevail against it;
HE also called the Old Testament Saints, His
Assembly too.
John 10:16 (HCSB)
16
But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. [At the CALLING OUT OF THE BRIDE.]