Those who sleep in Jesus will rise from the dead in incorruptible bodies. The saints who are alive at that time will pass from flesh-and-blood life into resurrection life without the benefit of having died first. No doubt this transition will require a great deal of faith if the believer is not to draw back in dismay.

How long a period of time will transpire between the time the dead are raised and the army is caught up into the air to be with the Commander in Chief we cannot say. There were a number of days between the Lord's resurrection and His ascension. We believe there also will be a number of days between the resurrection of the saints and their ascension to be with the Lord so that they may have time to appreciate what has happened and to have fellowship with one another.

There will be no need to hurry. Antichrist can hurt them no longer. Tribulation cannot touch them. They have been raised from the dead in the first resurrection, the resurrection of the royal priesthood. They are God's sons and kings and they will rule with Christ for the eternity of eternities.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

When the appropriate moment arrives, the great multitude of victors will be caught up to be forever with the Lord. No doubt the light radiating from them will be as the lightning that shines from horizon to horizon. Notice how Isaiah anticipates this moment.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

Indeed the Bride of the Lamb will be adorned with the Glory of the Lamb, and the Lamb will be adorned with His Bride for whom He has waited so patiently at the right hand of the Father.

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. (I Thessalonians 4:17)

We shall meet the Lord "in the air." Why in the air? Because the spiritual thrones that govern the earth are located in the air above the earth's surface.

Satan is the ruler of the authority of the air.

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:2)

"The prince of the power of the air."

The thrones of the air will have been vacated because Michael and his angels have driven Satan and his angels from the heavens. This victory has been possible because the saints through Christ will finally overcome the accuser of the brothers.

To be continued.