The Scriptures do not state exactly what will transpire during the period of time between the appearing of Christ in the air and the ascending of the saints to meet Him in the clouds. But it is probable there will be an interval of time between the sounding of the trumpet of God and the summoning of the Lord's army to meet Him in the clouds.

The believers who are alive on the earth at the time of the Lord's return have important decisions to make if they would be saved.

Some of the Lord's parables concern those Christians who are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord.

Let us look at the events of the Day of the Lord, in order to pinpoint the period of time, and the group of people, of which we are speaking.

The shout of command. The voice of the archangel. The trumpet of God. The dead in Christ come forth from their graves.

The living saints are changed in a moment from mortality into immortality. All God's elect are caught away in clouds to meet Christ in the air.

Sudden destruction falls on the world government of Antichrist. The Battle of Armageddon results in the destruction of Antichrist.

Christ sits on the Throne of David in Jerusalem. The thousand-year rule of Christ and the saints commences.

Now, let us go back to the third item above:

It is our point of view that after the trumpet of God sounds, the living believers in Christ will be required to take certain appropriate steps if they are to be saved—steps that can be taken only if proper preparation has been made beforehand. It is not possible that one can lead a careless Christian life and then be able to go to meet the Lord when the trumpet blows. The return of Christ will be sudden. There will be no opportunity for a change of heart in that moment.

The following considerations apply to the period of time after the trumpet of God sounds and before the living believers are changed into immortality and caught away with all the elect to join the slain Lamb in the clouds.

Having lived the Spirit-filled life in preparation (the ten virgins). Not looking back, covetousness, entanglement with the world (remember Lot's wife).

Selectivity based on our abiding in Christ (two will be at the mill).

If a believer who is alive on the earth at the return of Christ is to be successful in being changed and caught up with the resurrected army, he or she must pass the test of prior preparation, the test of entanglement, and the test of abiding in Christ.

Failure in one of these areas will result in inability to respond to the summons of Christ.

The Lord Jesus warned us in the parable of the ten virgins to keep ourselves prepared for the sudden appearing of the Lord from Heaven:

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. (Matthew 25:6,7)

After the trimming of the lamps there followed a discussion concerning oil.

It is obvious that the announcement of the Lord's coming will necessitate decision-making and action on the part of the Lord's people. In the above instance, some of the believers were not able to go to be with the Lord.

The "lamp" represents the Christian testimony, the Word of God. The "oil" represents the Holy Spirit.

To be continued.