In a moment, the dead shall be raised and the living caught up to meet them-those, that is, who are in Christ. Does the Bible tell us exactly when this moment of change will occur? Yes, it does. This change, which includes our bodies, will not take place until the coming of Christ; it does not happen to some especially “spiritual” people in advance (Romans 8:18-25). This moment of change is specified as being at “the last trump.”  

 In the book of Revelation, from chapters 8-11, we are told of the sounding of seven trumpets. Each of these trumpets are sounded in sequence by angels. When the seventh or last trumpet sounds, it will announce the coming of Christ (Revelation 11:15-19). Several events accompany the sounding of this last trumpet:  

 a. Great voices declare that the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever (v. 15). 

 b. Twenty-four elders proclaim that Christ has taken to himself His great power and has reigned (v. 17). 

 c. The nations become angry and God’s wrath is poured out. The experiencing of His wrath means great tribulation for those left on Earth (v. 18). 

 d. The Judgment Seat of Christ determines the reward of God’s servants, prophets, saints, and those who fear God (v. 18). 

 e. The Temple of God in Heaven is opened and the ark of the covenant is seen. This means the restoration of access into God’s full presence (v. 19). 

Two other Scripture passages mention the sounding of the last trump: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and I Corinthians 15:51, 52. All of these are in harmony with one another. The actual sequence of Christ’s coming and the catching away of those alive in Christ along with the raising of those who died in Christ is given in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17:  

(1) Christ shall come down to Earth from Heaven, accompanied with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God (v. 16).  

(2) The dead in Christ shall rise first (v. 16).  

(3) We which are alive in Christ at that time will be caught up together with those resurrected, to meet the Lord in the air (v. 17).