Similar things happened with Lot and his family.  There was great evil in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  God sent His Angels to tell Lot that he must leave Sodom because God was going to destroy the city.  Lot and his family were “taken” out of the city to save them from certain death but those who were “left” in the cities were destroyed. Lot and his family were given strict instructions not to look back on the doomed cities as they left.  As Lot and his family left Sodom, God reigned fire and brimstone upon the cities.  But Lot’s wife went against God’s instructions and looked back.  Instantly, she was turned into a pillar of salt for disobeying God.  By these two Old Testament stories, God is revealing what will happen at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  Those people who are ready to go to heaven when Jesus comes will be those who are “taken”.  Those people who have chosen not to accept the gift of salvation will be those who are left lifeless on the earth.  The Bible teaches that there will be two resurrections.  The first resurrection will be for all those people who died knowing Jesus and with the hope of His coming.  When Jesus comes again, there will be people who will be right with God and who will be lifted off of earth to meet Jesus in the air along with those people who had been resurrected. “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 *  *  New King James Version