It will be private
1. Christ will return from heaven just as He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11)
It will be personal
2. Christ Himself will descend from heaven to the earth's atmosphere with a shout, voice and trumpet (John 14:3; 1 Thess 4:16-17)
It will be powerful
3. The souls of those already dead will return with Christ (1 Thess 4:14; 2 Cor 5:6-8)
4. The bodies of the dead will be raised immortal and incorruptible and be reunited with their souls (1 Cor 15:42-44,52-53; 1 Thess 4:14-16)
5. The bodies of the living will be changed to become immortal and incorruptible (1 Cor 15:51-53)
6. Both the dead and the living will be caught up together to meet Christ in the air (1 Thess 4:17; John 14:3)
It will be purposeful
7. Together all will return with Christ to His Father's house in heaven to be with Him always or at all times (John 14:2-3; 1 Thess 4:17, 5:10)
It will be preparatory
8. As the church is raptured, the Holy Spirit will also be taken away from the earth (2 Thess 2:7)
It will be prompt
All this will take place suddenly: caught up (1 Thess 4:17), in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Cor 15:51-52)
