A chronology of the Rapture

If we were going to take all of the Rapture events listed throughout the New Testament and put them in the order they will occur, this is what it would look like. If you want every reference to the Rapture in the New Testament, you can find that here:

Jesus will descend from Heaven, where he has been preparing a place for us since he returned there after his resurrection. He will return with a loud command, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet call of God to gather all of his true followers to himself. God will raise to life through Jesus any believer who has died and bring them together with him when he comes. Then those who are still living when the Lord comes for the Rapture will join them with him for a big reunion in the air before we are all taken to Heaven. From that time forward, even when Jesus returns to Earth at the end of the Tribulation, we will always be where he is. When Jesus is in Heaven, we will be. When he returns to Earth, we will too. And we will all be together at the end of the Millennial Kingdom when New Jerusalem comes down out of Heaven and is joined with New Earth.

But while the Tribulation is going on here on Earth, we will be in Heaven. The first thing that will happen is the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is NOT a judgment to determine salvation. The Judgment Seat of Christ is for believers only and will determine the amount of reward or loss individual believers will receive for their good works done with proper motives or lack thereof. For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10). For no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test each one’s work quality. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, per what he has done, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10).

After the Judgment Seat of Christ comes the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The last thing to happen in Heaven before Christ returns to Earth and we go with him will be this wedding feast. Jesus is the bridegroom, and the church is his bride. It will be the most lavish celebration of all time up to that point.