How do I know that Paul in 1 Cor. 15:51 is referring to the Rapture? Well that's simple: CONTEXT.
1 Corinthians 15:47-58
Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
[SUP]47 [/SUP]The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. [SUP]48 [/SUP]As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [SUP]49 [/SUP]And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
[SUP]50 [/SUP]Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [SUP]51 [/SUP]Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [SUP]52 [/SUP]in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [SUP]53 [/SUP]For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [SUP]54 [/SUP]So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. [SUP]55 [/SUP]O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [SUP]56 [/SUP]The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. [SUP]57 [/SUP]But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [SUP]58 [/SUP]Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:47-58
Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
[SUP]47 [/SUP]The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. [SUP]48 [/SUP]As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [SUP]49 [/SUP]And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
[SUP]50 [/SUP]Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [SUP]51 [/SUP]Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [SUP]52 [/SUP]in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [SUP]53 [/SUP]For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [SUP]54 [/SUP]So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. [SUP]55 [/SUP]O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [SUP]56 [/SUP]The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. [SUP]57 [/SUP]But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [SUP]58 [/SUP]Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Everybody can understand that 1Cor 15:47-58 Talks about two things:
1. Resurrection of the Dead
2. Changing of the living to immortality.
Nothing about the Rapture...on the other hand, the above passage is one of the event prior to Catching away...
THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST.
He does in this passage:
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18
Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18
Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
[SUP]14 [/SUP]For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [SUP]15 [/SUP]For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [SUP]16 [/SUP]For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [SUP]17 [/SUP]then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [SUP]18 [/SUP]Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Underlined for clarification...the dead in Christ shall rise FIRST...
The Pre-trib. Rapture is a comforting Hope.
look back at the verses....THE COMFORTING WORDS ARE THOSE WHO WERE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE AGAIN...
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
THAT IS WHY THE BRETHREN WERE COMFORTED...THE HOPE THAT THOSE WHICH WERE ASLEEP SHALL RISE AGAIN.
If Christians were going to have to go through the time of Jacob's trouble, then Paul would not have written "wherefore comfort one another with these words."
But because Paul knew that the Rapture of the Body of Christ was and is before the time of Jacob's trouble (7 year tribulation), he wrote that we were to comfort one another with the words he had written in 1 Thess. 4. under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Especially verses 13 to 18.
But because Paul knew that the Rapture of the Body of Christ was and is before the time of Jacob's trouble (7 year tribulation), he wrote that we were to comfort one another with the words he had written in 1 Thess. 4. under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Especially verses 13 to 18.
Again...those who sorrows the dead are comforted...because There is HOPE that THEY WILL RISE AGAIN...
Well Plain, let me ask you this, why does Paul have to mention the changing in the other passage of Scripture concerning the Rapture?
He already described the changing and transformation/translation of born again believers in 1 Cor. 15:51-58, whey would he have to mention it again in 1 Thess. 4?
What I believe Paul does is he mentions some aspects of the Pre-trib. Rapture in 1 Cor. 15:51-58, while in 1 Thess 4:14-18, he mentions the other aspects of the same event (Pre-trib. Rapture).
He already described the changing and transformation/translation of born again believers in 1 Cor. 15:51-58, whey would he have to mention it again in 1 Thess. 4?
What I believe Paul does is he mentions some aspects of the Pre-trib. Rapture in 1 Cor. 15:51-58, while in 1 Thess 4:14-18, he mentions the other aspects of the same event (Pre-trib. Rapture).
In the Millennial Kingdom; all Christians will have their glorified bodies. Why? because every Christian received their glorified body at the Rapture.
The transformation occurs at the sounding of the Last trumpet: As you have quoted from 1 cor 15
1. Resurrection of the dead
2. Changing of the living to immortality...
remember the Dead in Christ shall rise FIRST...
NOW IF THE LIVING ARE CHANGED TO IMMORTALITY....
THEY ARE NO MORE SUBJECT TO DEATH...SO EVEN IF THEY GO THROUGH YOUR TRIBULATION...THEY SHALL NOT BE AFFECTED...
THEY NEED NOT TO ENDURE ANYTHING...FOR THEY SHALL BE IMMORTAL...
Let me ask you, If you are immortal by that Time, would you not want preach the Gospel even more?
While the Tribulation saints which endured unto the end of the tribulation and made it through without dying will be permitted to enter into the Millennial Kingdom with their earthly bodies (See Matthew 25:31-46).