The Last Day , and the Last Trumpet The Rapture , a Question of Timing William R. Kimball
The Last Day
“ Martha confronted the Lord and acknowleded that her brother would “rise again in the AT THE LAST DAY” (John 11:24)
It is import to note that Martha’s resurrection perspective was not based upon empty Jewish tradition or vain speculation, for Christ repeatedly confirmed this truth as well:
And this is the Father’s will which hath sent , that of ALL which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should RAISE IT UP AGAIN AT THE LAST DAY (John 6:39).
And this is the will of him that sent me, the EVERYONE which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY (John 6:40)
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY ( John 6:44).
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY ( JOHN 6:54 )
Certain obvious conclusions can be drawn from from these statements. Since the catching up of the saints is synonymous with the resurrection of the dead in Christ ( 1 Thess. 4: 16, 17 ), it is plain to see that the rapture will take place “ AT THE LAST DAY, “ and not seven years prior to the last day. Furthermore , the language in these verses leaves little room for uncertainty. Jesus used the words “all” and everyone” when referring to those believers who would be resurrected, and also specified that it would happen on the “last day”. Certainly He didn’t imply “ all with some exceptions”, everyone minus a pretrib company, or “last day” give or take seven years. “All doesn’t leave much room for omissions. Neither does “last day” leave room for last day plus seven years !
“The Last Trumpet”
The scriptures not only associate the resurrection with the last day, but also tie it to the sounding of the “last trumpet”. In the two key rapture passages we read:
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with voice of the archangel, and with the TRUMPET 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( 1 Thess. 4:16,17 NKJV )
Behold , I tell you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed __in a moment, in the twinkling of and eye , at the LAST TRUMPET. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible , and we shall be changed ( 1 Cor15:51,52 NKJV )