Many doctrines of men are being preached on what happens at Christ's second coming and our gathering to Him. Some are taught Christ is going to secretly 'rapture' us to Heaven before the tribulation, with leaving the rest of peoples on earth. Some believe only Gentile Christians are going to be raptured while Israel and the wicked are left on earth. Some who believe our gathering to Christ is after the tribulation also believe only His saints will be resurrected to Heaven while the unbelieving remain on earth in flesh bodies. Sincere Bible study on this matter reveals none of the above ideas are totally correct, but instead have pieces of God's Truth mixed in with the leaven doctrines of men.
1Thes 4:16-17
16 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:
17 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.
(KJV)
Some totally disregard Apostle Paul's teaching in 1 Cor.15 of what the resurrection is, and with what type of body it comes when covering this 1 Thess.4 Scripture. Both Scriptures must align and agree with each other though, for they both are about the same event, the raising of the dead at Christ's coming. In the 1 Thess.4 Scripture, Paul reveals that believers alive on earth shall not "prevent" (preceed per the Greek) those in Christ who have already died, those who sleep in Jesus. At the sound of the 'trump', Christ will bring the asleep saints with Him, and those saints who remain on earth still alive will then be gathered with them and The Lord.
The idea of Christ bringing those asleep saints with Him when He returns is specifically written by Apostle Paul...
1Thes 4:14
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
(KJV)
That begs the question then, just 'where' is He going to bring those alseep saints with Him to? That should immediately cause a warning flag with the doctrine of men that teaches our Lord Jesus stays where He is now at this event. Afterall, we were specifically told Christ will "descend from heaven" back at the 1 Thess.4:16 verse. But where to? Hold that thought.
1 Cor 15:51-53
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(KJV)
In the 1 Corinthians 15 Scripture, Apostle Paul gave us more details of that event of Christ's second coming and our gathering to Him. Paul also covered the type of body that will manifest with that event of Christ's coming at the sound of the trumpet, the resurrection being about a change of those who remain on earth to a "spiritual body", a body of incorruption. And those who are dead being raised to that body of incorruption also. He also went to the depth of showing that all will put on the body of incorruption, but not all will put on immortality through Christ Jesus.
Will the wicked who are on earth at that event be changed also, but not gathered to Christ? Yes. The wicked will also go through that change at the twinkling of an eye Paul speaks of. Our Lord Jesus revealed it through His Apostle John...
John 5:26-29
26 For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself;
27 And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
(KJV)
The saints will be of the "resurrection of life", but the unjust will be of the "resurrection of damnation". That John 5 Scripture shows both groups will be raised at the same time when Christ comes, but with a separation of resurrection type. That aligns with what Paul was teaching in 1 Cor.15 that to be saved in Christ, one must go through both a change to a body of incorruption, AND a change of "this mortal" putting on "immortality". The first change is about our body. The second change is about our soul condition, for it also must be made alive through Christ, being "born again" by The Spirit.
Because there will be a "resurrection of damnation", that reveals the unjust or wicked will also be resurrected to the body of incorruption at Christ's coming, but their part that is "this mortal" will still be mortal, and liable to perish later at the end of Christ's thousand years reign in the "lake of fire" (Rev.20).
But where does our Lord Jesus return to, since Paul mentioned He will "descend from heaven", and bring the asleep saints with Him when He comes?
I have been very surprised in all Bible study groups I've attended that very few had even read the following prophecy from the Old Testament prophet Zechariah. It is about this timing of 1 Thess.4 and 1 Cor.15 about our Lord Jesus Christ's second coming, and the gathering of the saints to Him:
Zech 14:1-21
1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.
Apostles Paul and Peter especially covered this timing of the day of the LORD linking it to Christ's second coming (see 1 Thess.5; 2 Thess.2; and 2 Peter 3:10). Our Lord Jesus covered this event of armies surrounding Jerusalem in Luke 21. In Zephaniah 3, God said it is His intent to gather the nations together in order to pour out His wrath upon them. Per Ezekiel 38-39, and in Rev.16 & 19, a great army out of the northern quarters of the earth are to come upon the mountains of Israel on the last day of this present world, and God will rain down fire, brimstone, and great hail, to destroy them. This is that "battle" spoken of here in Zechariah 14. This is about Christ going forth to this earth, to earthly Jerusalem, for that battle.
4 And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
In Acts 1, Christ's Apostles saw Him ascend up into Heaven with clouds. After they saw it, two men (angels) asked them why they wondered, for Jesus is to come in like manner as they saw Him ascend into Heaven. They were upon the Mount of Olives; that's where our Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven from. And in Zechariah 14 we are given the manner of His return upon that same Mount of Olives on this earth.
When Christ's feet literally touch down upon the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem (on this earth), that mount is going to split in two parts. Half the mount will move to the north, and the other half will move to the south. It will form a great valley running east to west. Now we definitely know just where our Lord Jesus will descend from heaven to. It will be literally to the Mount of Olives which is just east of Jerusalem.
5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with Thee.
After that great valley of the mountains is formed by Christ's feet touching down there, that is when the saints shall flee to that spot, on earth. That is WHERE we shall be caught up to, to be with Christ Jesus forever more. But that great valley will be formed first, which will involve The Lord's wrath upon the armies gathered around Jerusalem. It involves the valley of Jehoshaphat spoken of in Joel 3:2, an area between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives.
6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
This is where our Lord Jesus was quoting from that no man knows the day of His coming, but The Father only.
8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one.
This happens at Christ's return to this earth. He will return to earth in Person like how He ascended into Heaven. And HE only, shall be King over all the earth with no other gods. Those "living waters" is about the River of waters of Life mentioned in Ezekiel 47 and Revelation 22. That River is shown on this earth, both here in Zechariah 14, and in Ezekiel 47. It is NOT a myth, nor a spiritual slogan which doctrines of men have toyed with. It will be an actual River manifested on earth which will flow from the altar of God's House that will be there in Jerusalem with Christ's coming. It will flow east to the Dead Sea (former sea) and west to the Meditteranean Sea (hinder sea). The tree of life will manifest there with it, as per Ezekiel 47. This is not in Heaven; this is on earth, during Christ's future thousand years reign with His elect kings and priests (Rev.20).
10 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.
11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
That area of the "plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem" is not up in the clouds friends. It's on THIS earth we live on. When Christ comes, that area will be lifted up. Then those who dwell in Jerusalem with Christ The King will dwell in safety. Christ is coming to not only redeem His saints still alive on earth at the event, but also the Jerusalem that is upon this earth. These events reveal there will be some major earth changes in that area at Christ's return.
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.
14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.
This plague shall be upon all those who gather to fight against Jerusalem. God's consuming fire, the event Apostle Peter mentioned in 2 Peter 3:10 that will literally burn up the elements of man's works off this earth at the time of Christ's return, will also burn these inhabitants who fight against Jerusalem.
16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
When the dust has settled, all left of the nations after that event will be required to come up to Jerusalem to worship The KING Christ Jesus, and keep His feast of tabernacles.
17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
During Christ's Milennium reign, not all left of the nations will be willing to come up to keep the feast. This reveals there will still exist some that are rebellious in that time, given the option to obey or not to obey. It points to those outside the Holy City on earth, those who will be outside the "camp of the saints". Revelation 20:7-9 reveals that at the end of that thousand years, Satan will be loosed once more, and he will lead the rebellious upon the breadth of the earth to try and destroy the "camp of the saints" and "beloved city". Then fire from God in Heaven will rain down upon those, the beloved city being protected.
This reveals many left among the nations will still follow Satan at the end of that thousand years, and will perish with him.
What those Scriptures especially reveal, is that our Lord Jesus is coming back to this earth, even to the spot on earth where He ascended to Heaven from. And that is where our gathering to Him will be, but not in the type of bodies we have now, but in bodies of incorruption.
1Thes 4:16-17
16 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:
17 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.
(KJV)
Some totally disregard Apostle Paul's teaching in 1 Cor.15 of what the resurrection is, and with what type of body it comes when covering this 1 Thess.4 Scripture. Both Scriptures must align and agree with each other though, for they both are about the same event, the raising of the dead at Christ's coming. In the 1 Thess.4 Scripture, Paul reveals that believers alive on earth shall not "prevent" (preceed per the Greek) those in Christ who have already died, those who sleep in Jesus. At the sound of the 'trump', Christ will bring the asleep saints with Him, and those saints who remain on earth still alive will then be gathered with them and The Lord.
The idea of Christ bringing those asleep saints with Him when He returns is specifically written by Apostle Paul...
1Thes 4:14
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
(KJV)
That begs the question then, just 'where' is He going to bring those alseep saints with Him to? That should immediately cause a warning flag with the doctrine of men that teaches our Lord Jesus stays where He is now at this event. Afterall, we were specifically told Christ will "descend from heaven" back at the 1 Thess.4:16 verse. But where to? Hold that thought.
1 Cor 15:51-53
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(KJV)
In the 1 Corinthians 15 Scripture, Apostle Paul gave us more details of that event of Christ's second coming and our gathering to Him. Paul also covered the type of body that will manifest with that event of Christ's coming at the sound of the trumpet, the resurrection being about a change of those who remain on earth to a "spiritual body", a body of incorruption. And those who are dead being raised to that body of incorruption also. He also went to the depth of showing that all will put on the body of incorruption, but not all will put on immortality through Christ Jesus.
Will the wicked who are on earth at that event be changed also, but not gathered to Christ? Yes. The wicked will also go through that change at the twinkling of an eye Paul speaks of. Our Lord Jesus revealed it through His Apostle John...
John 5:26-29
26 For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself;
27 And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
(KJV)
The saints will be of the "resurrection of life", but the unjust will be of the "resurrection of damnation". That John 5 Scripture shows both groups will be raised at the same time when Christ comes, but with a separation of resurrection type. That aligns with what Paul was teaching in 1 Cor.15 that to be saved in Christ, one must go through both a change to a body of incorruption, AND a change of "this mortal" putting on "immortality". The first change is about our body. The second change is about our soul condition, for it also must be made alive through Christ, being "born again" by The Spirit.
Because there will be a "resurrection of damnation", that reveals the unjust or wicked will also be resurrected to the body of incorruption at Christ's coming, but their part that is "this mortal" will still be mortal, and liable to perish later at the end of Christ's thousand years reign in the "lake of fire" (Rev.20).
But where does our Lord Jesus return to, since Paul mentioned He will "descend from heaven", and bring the asleep saints with Him when He comes?
I have been very surprised in all Bible study groups I've attended that very few had even read the following prophecy from the Old Testament prophet Zechariah. It is about this timing of 1 Thess.4 and 1 Cor.15 about our Lord Jesus Christ's second coming, and the gathering of the saints to Him:
Zech 14:1-21
1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.
Apostles Paul and Peter especially covered this timing of the day of the LORD linking it to Christ's second coming (see 1 Thess.5; 2 Thess.2; and 2 Peter 3:10). Our Lord Jesus covered this event of armies surrounding Jerusalem in Luke 21. In Zephaniah 3, God said it is His intent to gather the nations together in order to pour out His wrath upon them. Per Ezekiel 38-39, and in Rev.16 & 19, a great army out of the northern quarters of the earth are to come upon the mountains of Israel on the last day of this present world, and God will rain down fire, brimstone, and great hail, to destroy them. This is that "battle" spoken of here in Zechariah 14. This is about Christ going forth to this earth, to earthly Jerusalem, for that battle.
4 And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
In Acts 1, Christ's Apostles saw Him ascend up into Heaven with clouds. After they saw it, two men (angels) asked them why they wondered, for Jesus is to come in like manner as they saw Him ascend into Heaven. They were upon the Mount of Olives; that's where our Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven from. And in Zechariah 14 we are given the manner of His return upon that same Mount of Olives on this earth.
When Christ's feet literally touch down upon the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem (on this earth), that mount is going to split in two parts. Half the mount will move to the north, and the other half will move to the south. It will form a great valley running east to west. Now we definitely know just where our Lord Jesus will descend from heaven to. It will be literally to the Mount of Olives which is just east of Jerusalem.
5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with Thee.
After that great valley of the mountains is formed by Christ's feet touching down there, that is when the saints shall flee to that spot, on earth. That is WHERE we shall be caught up to, to be with Christ Jesus forever more. But that great valley will be formed first, which will involve The Lord's wrath upon the armies gathered around Jerusalem. It involves the valley of Jehoshaphat spoken of in Joel 3:2, an area between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives.
6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
This is where our Lord Jesus was quoting from that no man knows the day of His coming, but The Father only.
8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one.
This happens at Christ's return to this earth. He will return to earth in Person like how He ascended into Heaven. And HE only, shall be King over all the earth with no other gods. Those "living waters" is about the River of waters of Life mentioned in Ezekiel 47 and Revelation 22. That River is shown on this earth, both here in Zechariah 14, and in Ezekiel 47. It is NOT a myth, nor a spiritual slogan which doctrines of men have toyed with. It will be an actual River manifested on earth which will flow from the altar of God's House that will be there in Jerusalem with Christ's coming. It will flow east to the Dead Sea (former sea) and west to the Meditteranean Sea (hinder sea). The tree of life will manifest there with it, as per Ezekiel 47. This is not in Heaven; this is on earth, during Christ's future thousand years reign with His elect kings and priests (Rev.20).
10 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.
11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
That area of the "plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem" is not up in the clouds friends. It's on THIS earth we live on. When Christ comes, that area will be lifted up. Then those who dwell in Jerusalem with Christ The King will dwell in safety. Christ is coming to not only redeem His saints still alive on earth at the event, but also the Jerusalem that is upon this earth. These events reveal there will be some major earth changes in that area at Christ's return.
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.
14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.
This plague shall be upon all those who gather to fight against Jerusalem. God's consuming fire, the event Apostle Peter mentioned in 2 Peter 3:10 that will literally burn up the elements of man's works off this earth at the time of Christ's return, will also burn these inhabitants who fight against Jerusalem.
16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
When the dust has settled, all left of the nations after that event will be required to come up to Jerusalem to worship The KING Christ Jesus, and keep His feast of tabernacles.
17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
During Christ's Milennium reign, not all left of the nations will be willing to come up to keep the feast. This reveals there will still exist some that are rebellious in that time, given the option to obey or not to obey. It points to those outside the Holy City on earth, those who will be outside the "camp of the saints". Revelation 20:7-9 reveals that at the end of that thousand years, Satan will be loosed once more, and he will lead the rebellious upon the breadth of the earth to try and destroy the "camp of the saints" and "beloved city". Then fire from God in Heaven will rain down upon those, the beloved city being protected.
This reveals many left among the nations will still follow Satan at the end of that thousand years, and will perish with him.
What those Scriptures especially reveal, is that our Lord Jesus is coming back to this earth, even to the spot on earth where He ascended to Heaven from. And that is where our gathering to Him will be, but not in the type of bodies we have now, but in bodies of incorruption.