"During the rapture when the dead in Christ rise first, will we be with our loved ones and will they know us?"

There is strong evidence that we will recognize one another after death. See Luke 13:28 and 16:23.

The word "rapture" is not found in the Bible. It means "a catching up." It is probably taken from I Thessalonians 4:17. Please read I Thessalonians 4:13-18. We see from this that the living and resurrected dead will all ascend into Heaven at the same time. See also John 5:28-29, which tells us that all the dead will be resurrected in the same hour.

Revelation 20 mentions the first and second resurrection. The first resurrection is the resurrection from the water grave of baptism. See Romans 6:3-5. The second resurrection is the bodily resurrection from the dead.

The 1,000 year reign is the period of time that Christ is reigning which began in 33 A.D. See Acts 2:30. Christ began to reign when He was raised from the dead and will reign until the last enemy is destroyed, which is death. See I Corinthians 15:24-26.

One thousand stands for the total. See Psalm 50:10-12. Numbers in the book of Revelation are symbolic, such as the 10 days mentioned in Revelation 2:10.

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

Roy Dunavin
13 November 2000

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