The Bible describes Christians being called away when Jesus returns. Two particularly favorite verses are in Matt 24:40-41 and 1Thess 4:16-17.
Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. (Matt 24:40-41)
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 1Th 4:16-17
So there will be a “rapture” in the sense that people will be called away when Jesus returns — something to really look forward to. But there’s a lot that isn’t clear, from the fun questions like, “what if you’re driving when it happens?” through to the very much more serious questions like “what is the sequence of events at that time”?
The Bible describes repeated cycles of gathering, judgment, redemption, subjugation of the world to God’s will. There’s a number of tantalizing verses that hint at what might happen, such as in Revelation 20:
Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. Rev 20:4-6
There are a lot of different ways to understand the many verses about events around Jesus’ return, and many different ways to tell the story. So any answer to the question has to be tentative. But almost all sequences of events I’ve ever read have the first resurrection here after the “rapture” (usually immediately after). And it’s clear that there is a second resurrection:
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:12-15)
So the answer is that, probably, yes, people will be saved after the rapture of the church, if the rapture of the church is that described above. But much of what is commonly written about the rapture of the church is not based on scripture — be alert: check what they say against the Bible; much of it is just wishful thinking.
A fuller acount of Matt 24:40-41 is found in Luke 17:34-36 “I tell you, in that night there will be two men in bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the othe left.”
Actually, both of these accounts are really parables; they’re not to be taken literally.
1. “Two men in one bed: the one taken and the other left,” is symbolic of the position of those who are dead, resting in graves. There’s two types of people in the grave: One group will rise to eternal life, and other to eternal condemnation.
The dead in Christ shall rise when Jesus returns. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. l Thes 4:16-17.
The dead who are not saved by the blood of Jesus will be condemned to eternal death. Joh 5:28-29 “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”
2. “Two women grinding together…”
Women has always been symbolic of a Church. In this case, the two women represent the “true” and the “false” church. Isa. 54:5-6, Jer. 6:2, Jer. 3:20, Eze 23:2-4, 2 Cor. 11:2, Eph. 5:25-32, Rev. 17:1-3.
The true church keeps the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev. 12:17.
The false church is called a harlot or whore. Rev. 17
3. “Two men will be in the field…” The “field” represents the mission field, where both the “true” and the “false” church are out winning souls.
yes. however it will be very difficult as you will be shown a “great temptation”. Keep in mind that only one of 7 churches is told it will be spared this “temptation”. the other 6 will endure the trial. Read the letters to the 7 churches. Be honest with yourself and put yourself in one of them. Jesus has you under one of those 7 angels. Many are told to repent or else. It is the introduction to revelation for a reason. Worship God daily and seek righteousness is answer. If you are not baptised and not listed under one of these churches then you need to change that fast. The warning shofar has blown and the signs of Jesus arrival is here NOW. The next Jesus you see on earth will be a false one….he arrives on heals of the son of perdition. It is stated and shown that there is no rapture until seal 6 after the son of perdition and false christ arrive first. Will you run after the false messiah to see his miracles? They will be AWESOME..so great to deceive the very elect. Here is your clue. He will claim ALL attributes of christ except being the Son of God. its time to read your whole bible! Why can we read any book handed to us but when we are handed a bible we turn into a baby needing some pastor to spoon feed us like we are dumb. Jesus says he is now our teacher and he is. We have the word tear into it! its awesome!