When people learn from scripture that we are going to be living on the earth during the Tribulation, instead of checking to see if it’s true, many times they shiver and say it cannot possibly be true! They may not be able to communicate why it is not possible, but to them it is inconceivable. If it is true, they don’t want to know it!
Often times people will say, “Well if it is true we’re all going to die anyway, so why would I want to know that now?” While it’s true some Christians will die during this time, it is equally true that some will not die. Otherwise, there would be no one for Jesus to rapture on the Day of the Lord.
Paul clearly says:
I Thessalonians 4:14-18 (NASB)
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
The Thessalonians were afraid that their loved ones that had died would miss out on the great reunion with Christ, but Paul reassured them that their bodies would be resurrected just before living believers were caught up in the clouds.
This resurrection is to be the first mass resurrection of believers.
In Revelation 20 this resurrection is referred to as the first resurrection:
Revelation 20:4-6 (NASB)
1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of [b]their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
Notice when the first resurrection occurs. It happens AFTER Satan is bound!
Paul confirms this timing in the resurrection chapter,
I Corinthians 15:20-26 (NASB)
20 But the fact is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man death came, by a Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in [i]Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to our God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
Later in the same chapter is the famous verse that is often quoted by Pre-Tribulationists.
I Corinthians 15:51-57 (NASB)
51 Behold, I am telling you a [w]mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised [x]imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this [y]perishable must put on [z]the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this [aa]perishable puts on [ab]the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Clearly death is not abolished before the Tribulation, and the kingdom is not handed over to God the Father until Satan has been bound.
This all happens at the last trumpet according to Paul (who also wrote I & II Thessalonians). If this is the last trumpet there can’t be a trumpet after it. Likewise, if this is the first resurrection, there can’t be one before it! (Revelation 20:5)
Something to study and think about.