Correspondence: Who Will Be Caught Up When the Lord Comes?

From: Correspondence

Narrator: Chris Genthree

From: Young Christian: Volume 33, 1943

• 1 min. read • grade level: 7

Ques. Who will be caught up when the Lord comes? (1 Thess. 4.)

Ans. All the dead in Christ from the beginning of man's race. (1 Cor. 15:23²³But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23).) Then all the living believers will be changed, and caught up with all that their faith takes in. (Acts 16:31³¹And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).)

We see in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, 2:10-12 that those who hear "the gospel of the grace of God" and reject it, do not get another chance. Satan has blinded them. They have put away God's precious salvation for the pleasures of sin which were but for a season.

To whom will the gospel be preached after the rapture of the heavenly saints?

The "gospel of the Kingdom," the news that Christ is coming to reign (Psa. 2:10-12¹⁰Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. ¹¹Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. ¹²Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2:10‑12)), will be preached to Israel (Matt. 10:5-7⁵These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: ⁶But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 10:5‑7)); and to all nations, i.e., Gentiles; and those who receive that gospel, will be Christ's subjects on earth. We find a direct testimony also sent to the worshippers of idols in Revelation 14:6-7⁶And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, ⁷Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:6‑7).

The everlasting gospel is creation's testimony (Psa. 19:1-6¹<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork. ²Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. ³There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. ⁴Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, ⁵Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. ⁶His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. (Psalm 19:1‑6)) to the God who created all things, and this specially is sent to warn all such. God cares for the idolaters also.

Even in the Millennial period, when Christ is reigning, and Satan is bound, we find men making feigned obedience to Christ, the Head of the heathen. (Psa. 18:43-44⁴³Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me. ⁴⁴As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. (Psalm 18:43‑44). See margin.) A multitude comes up in rebellion against God and His earthly people, whenever Satan is loosed out of his prison.

Such is man, all men, unless through grace they are born again. How easy it is to let present things blind us to the truth.

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.