I think this verse is one of the most exciting verses in the Bible, but for years I misread it.
I Corinthians 15:51-55
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 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.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Notice it’s the change in our bodies from mortality to immortality that takes place in the twinkling of the eye. We can’t go to meet Him in our physical bodies, we must be changed into the kind of body He has.
The rapture is not mentioned in this chapter because the topic of the chapter is the resurrection of the dead. However, it is clear from Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians that the rapture occurs after the dead are resurrected. These verses in I Corinthians 15 are simply clarifying what happens to our bodies before the rapture.
So often we hear this verse used as a proof text for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. But there is nothing in this verse that places this event before the Tribulation. In fact, it says that it happens “at the last trumpet”.
This is one of those passages that is commonly used to add in a secret, silent rapture that takes place seven years before the coming of Jesus. The part about the last trumpet is conveniently left out in order for it to fit with the Pre-Tribulation Rapture teaching.
It’s important to stay within the bounds of Revelation 22:18-19 when reading and interpreting God’s Word and this passage is a classic example.
Revelation 22:18-19
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.