Here's a new thought I have to add regarding the holiday of Tu B'Av.

 

(Recap)

Every year on the anniversary of the date of Tish B'Av when the Jews decided to not go into the promised land, they were commanded by Moses to sleep in their graves (according to the Midrash).  The next morning they would awaken to find that a number of the older generation had died in their graves.  Each year this continued to happen until all of the older generation had died off.  On the final year they all awoke and found that none had died.

 

(New)

The remaining Jews continued to sleep in their graves for 5 more days because they weren't sure what else to do.  Finally on Tu B'Av (15th of Av) they realized that their punishment had ended because the dying had stopped and thus they were finally free to enter the promised land under Joshua.

 

Could the initial raising from the dead be on Tish B'Av and the going up to heaven be on Tu B'Av?  We don't really know if there is a short delay between the rising up of the dead in Christ and rapture.  We know only that the dead rise first and then we who are alive will be changed and go up. 

 

These are truly interesting times.

 

YBIC

Bruce Baber