Why then do the saints ascend to meet the Lord in the air? It is because the Lord is coming as King of all kings to destroy the wicked of the earth and to establish His Kingdom of justice, righteousness, and mercy.

The dead in Christ have come with Him and picked up their bodies from wherever they have been "sleeping." They then have stood on the earth in resurrection life. The living saints have been changed from mortality to immortality. Apparently the Lord Jesus has remained in the air, from which location He will make His descent in the attack of Armageddon.

And I saw heaven [probably the sky] opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11)

Before the Lord Jesus descends He will call to Himself His officers and men and place them in their appointed ranks in preparation for the invasion of the earth.

It no doubt is true that many of Christ's officers have spent much time with Him in Heaven as the plans have been made for the attack. The placement of each company of warriors and their commanders has been determined.

Remember that the army from Heaven that returns with the Lord will be very much larger than the remnant of believers still alive on the earth.

The believers still on the earth have not had the opportunity to learn of these plans. When the Lord calls up His warriors, each one will be placed in the position assigned to him.

Also, they will be mounted on the white war stallions.

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Revelation 19:14)

The attack of Armageddon will be a cavalry charge. It will be a fierce, violent attack. The legions of Antichrist will be destroyed.

Down from the heavens will hurtle the Lord Jesus followed by a large, powerful army of saints in immortal bodies. The sight of them will be terrible beyond belief.

The Prophet Habakkuk trembled when he saw the Lord's army in vision.

When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. (Habakkuk 3:16)

We are caught up in the clouds so we may take our appointed place in the Lord's army. We do not turn around and go to Heaven. We return from the air to the Mount of Olives and from there attack the armies of Antichrist that have invaded the city of Jerusalem. It appears the battle will be fought in the plain of Megiddo. A sea of blood (the Mediterranean) will be at Antichrist's back. Retreat is impossible. Antichrist and his armies shall be totally destroyed.

This is the coming of Christ, the Day of the Lord, the crushing of Satan's forces in the earth.

Now we understand why there will be a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God.

To be continued.