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According to Paul, the dead in Christ will rise first, then those of us who are alive will be caught up. “According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15–17) Looks to me like it will be all at once.

Extra credit:

If you compare texts, Jesus says in Matthew 24:4–29 that God’s people will face terrible tribulation until, in vss 30–31, “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” Then, in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” In chapter 1, verse 10, we read, “and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” Finally, in Revelation 11:15, the seventh trumpet is sounded:

“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:

“The kingdom of the world has become

the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,

and he will reign for ever and ever.”

Note what one of the things the 24 elders proclaim in vs 18:

“The nations were angry,

and your wrath has come.

The time has come for judging the dead,

and for rewarding your servants the prophets

and your people who revere your name,

both great and small—

and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

The next few chapters are “asides”, like cul de sacs. The seventh trumpet actually announces the seven angels with the seven last plagues in chapter 15—“last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.” (vs 1) Indeed, the seven last plagues are the the Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath.

What does this tell us?

1. There will be a period of tribulation for God’s people (Matthew 24:4–29)
2. This will not be God’s “wrath”, for we are told in 1 Thessalonians 1:10 that we will escape God’s wrath. His wrath is reserved for those who ultimately reject him even after absolute proof of his existence is presented and “for destroying those who destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:18)
3. The trumpet of God will sound (Matthew 24:31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 11:15).
4. The dead in Christ will rise.
5. Those Christians left alive will rise.
6. Finally, God’s wrath will be unloosed on all who remain.
7. Armageddon
8. The final fall of “Babylon the Great”.
9. The “Beast” is defeated.
10. Christ’s thousand year reign.
11. Judgement of Satan
12. Judgment of the dead
13. New heaven and new earth
14. New Jerusalem
15. The marriage feast: Christ and his Bride, a pure and holy, spotless Church!
16. Eden restored!