And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven

 Gather the elect:

 

Mark 13:27

27     “And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.

     

 

Matthew 24:31

31     “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

 

            These verses demonstrate that no matter where we are when Jesus returns, His angels will collect us together to be with Him. This is true whether we’re dead or still alive when He returns. Like most doctrines in the Church there is debate and disagreement as to what this actually means. In this case, there is much dispute as to when this will happen. A very popular view is that this will happen right before the Great Tribulation that is mentioned in the verses prior to these two passages. Thus, the believers, dead or alive, will be “raptured”, receive their glorified bodies, and be taken to Heaven to be with Jesus for the seven years of the Tribulation. Some believe it will occur half-way through. Others believe it will be at the end of the Tribulation. And still others believe it won’t happen until after the Millennium … the thousand year reign on earth by Jesus during which Satan is chained. In the end, we shouldn’t be concerned about when it will happen. We should get our lives in order so that if He comes before the Tribulation, we’ll be ready to meet Him in the air. If it’s during or afterward, we need to be prepared to rely on Him to supply our every need. That’s because it’s going to be rather nasty during it.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "The time is soon coming when my trumpet will sound. It will be a blast heard round the world. No one can escape it. It will be a sound of great joy to you, but a sound of terrifying expectation for those who do not know Me. I have chosen you, and I will come to gather you together on that Day. It will not come as a surprise to you, for I will announce My coming to you My people. I will tell you when I am about to come. I will signal you through those who listen to My Spirit. I will not hide it from you. If you diligently harken unto My Spirit, you will know when I am about to come. I will not hide it from you, but will tell you as the time approaches. Do not hesitate to prepare yourself for Me. Those that wait will lose their desire to please Me. They will turn back from the plow. They will say it is not time and is not worth the loss of freedom. What they don’t understand is that My yoke is actually one of freedom. Accept My guidance in your daily life, and you will come to know My peace. It is one that worries not at the future, but looks eagerly forward to My coming and My Kingdom.”

 

            106. When Jesus returns He will send forth His angels and gather His elect, which includes me, from wherever we are located in Heaven, on earth, or under the earth.