Will We Disappear Or Die?

Q

I bought your book (7 Things You Have to Know to Understand End Times Prophecy) and greatly enjoyed it. I was a post Tribulation believer, but I am starting to change my mind. My question is, what will happen right after the Rapture if it is indeed before the Tribulation? Won’t everyone see that by the disappearance of millions of people all of a sudden that the Bible is right and therefore have a Bible believing world? I was thinking that since we won’t have our resurrected bodies til the 2nd Coming that perhaps after the Rapture our spirits will go to be with the Lord and our bodies will be left on the earth. Thus appearing to the people left behind that millions of people have “died” instead of disappeared.

A

I’m glad you enjoyed the book. In 1 Cor. 15:51-53 Paul said we won’t all die but instead will be changed from mortal to immortal in an instant. He was referring to believers alive at the time of the rapture. That means we won’t be leaving our old bodies behind and won’t have to wait until the 2nd Coming to receive our resurrection bodies.

You’re correct in saying our disappearance will convince many people that the Bible is right. These are people who have heard the gospel story, including the teaching on the pre-trib rapture, but for one reason or another will have delayed making a decision about the Lord. Our leaving will be the proof they needed and they will become believers. Rev. 7:9-10 explains that following the first 6 Seal judgments a multitude that no one could count will arrive in Heaven. They will be the first group of believers to die in the end times judgments. We know they’re not part of the Church because the rapture will have happened before the Seal judgments begin. Also, while we’re called kings and priests, this group is described as servants in His Temple (Rev. 7:13-17).