Peace and grace to you Lepidus, Biblically there will be a rapture, question is when will it occur, before, during the Tribulation or after the setting up of the Kingdom and the "books" are opened and everybody will be judged one way or the other.
This is the first vision of the Apocalypse. And, significantly and appropriately, it is a vision of our reigning Lord Christ. On the isle of Patmos rising out of the Aegean Sea, in exile for preaching the Word of God. On the Lord’s Day, John was in the spirit of worship and praise and adoration. And while he was worshiping God, he heard behind him a great voice as of a trumpet. And the one who speaks, first identifies Himself. This is all-important because of the amazing, fascinating chronicle that is to follow.
The signature, the author, the authority, the great voice that speaks as a trumpet is the voice of the Lord God. And twice in these few verses, does He identify Himself. Here in verse 8, and it is the same thing in verse 11—the voice as of a trumpet: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which is, and which was and which is to come, the Almighty” [Revelation 1:8]. So the author of this great Apocalypse is the eternal God—Christ Himself: All of the words of wisdom from heaven and all of the revelations from God are in Him. And the only touch that we have with heaven lies in the Revelation in Christ. He is the sum of the words and the wisdom and the revelation of God.
Then He also said, “What you see, write in a book” [Revelation 1:11]. In the 19th verse, He repeated the same mandate: “Write the things which you have seen, and of the things which are, and of the things which shall be, after these things.” Daniel was commanded not to write, (Daniel 12:4) “Seal up the revelation, until the appointed time. “But here John is commanded to write. It is now, in Christ, an open vision. Write these things for the people of God.
Revelation 4 [SUP]1[/SUP]After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
[SUP]2 [/SUP]Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
This 1st verse in the 4th chapter speak clearly of physical change taking place, physical to spiritual. When Christ returns for the blood-bought, first the dead in Christ will meet Him in the air (flying, neat thought) and then those that are alive, and we're out of here, physical to spiritual in the twinkle of an eye.
Long story short, those found under the thorn are those that are matured for the testimony of the Lamb (5th seal). There are also verses that state that in the end times the Spirit (he controls the spread of evil, holding it back) will be withdrawn, meaning no Holy Ghost, no Holy Ghost no believers, simple one and one or? Be blessed