It is very important to know what is written directly to the church, the body of Christ; and what is written to Israel. The above passages again reference the rapture of the church (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). The trumpet sounds, the dead are raised first, and then we, too, are changed and taken into heaven with them, evermore to live with the Lord. Sin is defeated, death is defeated. Unfortunately, far too many churches and pastors teach that the church is included in Jesus’ passages in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The gospel records apply only to Israel and those who remain for the tribulation; this does not include or have anything to do with the church. We do not need to fear the coming threat of war, pestilence, poverty, the Antichrist, the Mark of the Beast, or any of the horrific things that will happen to those remaining when the church is taken. Be careful in scriptural dealings, and apply scripture correctly to whom it belongs. And take great comfort in the fact that the church will be in heaven, enjoying the company and fellowship of other believers and most of all, the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father.

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; not does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”