Will the saints hear the trumpet at the time of the rapture?

Answer Request:

If only the saints hear the trumpet at the time of the rapture, will they witness the angel blowing it as well?

To answer your question in short, I believe in the rapture of the Body of Christ, and that it is imminent, BUT I will not be on earth to hear the trumpet. Why? Because, according to my interpretation of the rapture event, I will be in heaven at least 7-years before the trumpet is sounded.

My interpretation of the rapture event is based on the two scriptures below, but I see the WHOLE rapture sequence taking place in stages and over at least a 7-year period of time.

If you are interested in a more detailed answer, I'll explain a bit more below.

The general understanding of the rapture for most Christians is that Jesus will appear in the clouds with a shout, at the voice of an archangel and at the trump of God. Then the dead in Christ will rise first and after that, those who are alive will be caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. This understanding, that most Christians hold to, is taken from the following passages,

1 Thess. 4:16 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: 17 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.

and

1 Cor.15:51 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.

Most Christians interpret these verses are one instantaneous event. But I would like to challenge your interpretation and tell you that there is evidence in scripture that the event can happen in three stages over 7-years.

STAGE 1: At the shout and in a moment

The body of Christ is instantaneously translated into heaven before the 7-year tribulation (which starts at the signing of a peace covenant between Israel and the Antichrist). There is no resurrection and no visible fanfare at this rapture. The shout will only be heard by the Body of Christ (similar to Paul's experience on the Damascus road). For the rest of the world this is a silent rapture and it will contribute to the world falling into delusion and confusion, assuming aliens have abducted the "scourge of the earth".

STAGE 2: At the voice of the archangel and at the twinkling of an eye

This happens at the mid-point of the tribulation. According to Rev.12:5, Israel gives birth to a man-child and this man-child is caught up unto God and His throne.

Rev.12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Notice, not to heaven but to the throne of God which is the city from heaven, the New Jerusalem, that has come down from heaven and appears in the skies above (or in proximity) to earth. (See Heb.12:22-23)

This is the visual resurrection of the church of God (the "little flock") or the church that was built on the rock (of Christ) under Peter, that existed between 30AD and 70AD,

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Interestingly, the Tribulation saints, who give up their lives and die at the hand of the Antichrist during the tribulation, are joined to this group of "little flock" saints who are raptured up into the New Jerusalem.

Revelation 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them [the "little flock"; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren [Tribulation saints], that should be killed [during the Trib.] as they were [in the 1st century], should be fulfilled.

STAGE 3: At the trump of God

At the end of the tribulation, just before the inauguration of the Millennial Kingdom, there is a great resurrection of the multitudes of saints across all time from all of the Old Testament up until Pentecost in Acts 2, (excluding of course the Little Flock and the Body of Christ). Saints resurrected here will enter into the Millennial Kingdom.

So, as you can see, according to my interpretation of the WHOLE return of Christ across the 7-years of the tribulation, we who are raptured at the Shout will not hear the trumpet which occurs at least 7-years later.