The Rapture will occur at the Second Coming of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:23), at the Last Trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:52), at the Resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17) on the Last Day (John 6:54, 11:24). The Christians alive and remaining on the Day of the Lord are those that will be caught up in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
The Rapture will occur at the Second Coming of Christ, not before or after. This same day that Christ returns is also known as the Last Trumpet and the Last Day when the Resurrection will occur. First, speaking of the glorious resurrection, the Apostle Paul states:
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:20,23-28,51-54).
The Apostle speaks of the Resurrection and Rapture as being, “at his coming.” Jesus was the firstfruits being the first that God raised from the dead. Afterword, Christians will be raised from the dead “at his coming.” “We shall not all sleep“, that is, not all Christians will die because some Christians will be alive when Christ returns. At the Second Coming, “we shall all be changed.” In other words, all Christians will put on immortality and incorruption at the Second Coming of Christ. Notice, the “dead shall be raised” (the Resurrection) and “we shall be changed.” Those that will be changed at the Resurrection will be Christians still alive at that time (Raptured) and Christians raised from the dead (the Resurrection), on the same day of Christ’s return, the Last Day of the Last Trumpet.
We’ve already established that the Rapture will occur on the Day of the Lord. Furthermore, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 informs us that there will be Christians alive and remaining on that day. These are those Christians that will be raptured:
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 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” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
Notice Paul says, “that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord . . . shall be caught up together with them in the clouds.” This passage is clearly speaking of the event known as the Rapture. When will this occur? At the Resurrection, of course, when “the dead in Christ shall rise first.” When is the Resurrection?
“Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24). Notice Jesus doesn’t correct Martha when she speaks of rising again on the last day. Furthermore, Jesus Himself speaks of the Resurrection being on the Last Day or the Day of the Lord: “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:39,40,44,54).
This answers our question. The Resurrection is on the Last Day. This means that the Rapture also will occur on the Last Day, according to (1 Corinthians 15:20,23-28,51-54 & 1 Thessalonians 4:17) at the Second Coming of Christ. Thus, the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout on the Last Day, with the voice of the archangel, and with the last trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first at the Resurrection on the Last Day: 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.