Greetings Doves:

 

I believe the Bible is very clear on who the Bride of Christ is and who will be the ones to go to meet Jesus in the air.

 

We see that Paul is addressing the brethren (Christians, True Believers)...  Then, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NASB), 13 "But we do not want you to be uninformed brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.  14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again (See also Rom. 10:9-10), even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.  15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.  16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.  17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.  18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words." (Parens and bold emphasis mine)

 

I believe this clearly shows that those who are truly in Christ will be caught up (raptured) to meet Him in the air.

 

True Believers will not enter the Tribulation period. Notice the Church is not mentioned in Revelation after chapter 3 and just before John said, "after thes things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things', (Rev. 4:1, NASB)"  

 

Then we have 1 Thessalonians 5:8-9-10 (NASB), "But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.  9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him."  The Tribulation period is a time of God's wrath according to Revelation 6:16-17 (NASB), "16 and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, 'Fall on us and hid us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17 for the great day of their wrath has come; and who is able to stand?" [Bold emphasis mine.]

 

And, Revelation 15:1, "And I saw nother sign in the heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished." [Bold emphasis mine.]

 

People often site the parable of the 5 foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) and the parable of the improperly dressed guest (Matthew 22:1-14) as referring to the people who will be raptured.  But in Matthew 25:10, it tells us that they were invited to the Wedding Feast (NASB) and in Matthew 22:3 we see that it was the Wedding Feast for the guests (See also Matt. 22:11).  The guests and the Bride are NOT the same.  The guests are the Tribulation Saints.  That is why they are warned to be ready for the Bridegroom's return.  When He comes out of the Bridal Chamber (Heaven) with His Bride (See Rev. 19:7) and comes to earth (See Revelation 19:11-14), then the Wedding Feast will happen and the guests that have the garments of righteousness will be able to attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Wedding Feast), most likely in the Millineal Kingdom.  Those who do not have the proper garment will be cast into outer darkness, and eventually the Lake of Fire.

 

If you want to be sure you will go in the Rapture, then be sure that you have confessed Jesus as Lord and are following Him.  Our works do not save us, but are evidence of the genuine proof of salvation which God has granted us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Shalom.

Leisa P.