"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow
not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God
bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,
that we which are alive and remain unto the coming
of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet
the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

This answered the questions some of the believers had
about those who had already died as believers and what
would happen to them at the rapture.
And it answers the questions that we have today about
the same thing.

Believers will escape the wrath to come,
unbelievers will not.