“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep (die) but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Cor. 15:51-52)
“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 (who died).
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.” (1 Thess. 4:15-17)
Here is the order:
- The last trumpet sounds.
- The resurrection of the righteous.
- Believers caught up into the sky (‘Rapturo’ in Latin) to be with those resurrected and with the Lord.
a. The “last” Trumpet indicates there are others preceding it, but no others after it. Seven Trumpet blasts are described in Revelation chapter 8.
d. There is only one resurrection of the righteous. It simultaneously occurs when the believers are caught up in the sky. The resurrection of the unrighteous happens after Christ rules the earth one thousand years: Rev. 20:4-6.
e. In Rev. 20:4 we see that those martyred during the time of the Antichrist are included in this first resurrection, which happens when believers are caught up into the sky. This is proof the catching up will not take place until after the Antichrist has killed believers (but not all, for many remain until the catching up).
f. If there were a catching up into the sky before the Antichrist, then, that would mean there are two resurrections of the righteous. But there is reference to only one resurrection of the righteous in scripture.
(Just presenting notes here. Not claiming to fully understand the Book of Revelation and how the very last days will pan out.)
Ian Vincent 
August 26, 2021 at 12:39 am
“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years”
(Revelation 20:4-6)
This is proof the rapture and resurrection doesn’t happen until after the Beast is in power.
If the rapture and resurrection took place before the Beast comes, then there would need to be a second resurrection for these mentioned here who are martyred by the Beast.
July 31, 2022 at 1:24 pm
I am no expert on this but have learned the following during the Bible study in our church….
Luke 21:36 – Lord promises escape from tribulation also in Rev 3:10.
The first fruits were brought to the temple in the OT but the main harvest was gathered into the store rooms.
Enoch walked with GOD and was raptured.
I feel those who are absolutely ready (overcomers) for The Lord’s coming will be raptured first and escape the tribulation. Just as in Rev 12 , the male child represents the overcomers who escape the dragon and was caught up to The Throne of GOD.
Those left will have to face TRIBULATION but will become overcomers during the trials and will be raptured as and when they get ready as we see in Rev 7 :14 and they stand before The Throne of GOD.
These are the FIRST FRUITS who exhibited faithfulness to The Lord in their lives on earth but in different proportion and stages of their lives.
The main harvest will take place during the 7th trumpet and 6th bowl – The General rapture of 1Cor15, 1 Thess 4
The rest who could not qualify will stand before The Great White Throne judgement…
again i would say i am not an expert on this….but ready to learn
February 28, 2023 at 3:00 am
The thing about 2 raptures is that such a teaching was not taught by the Lord or His Apostles.
The gist of prophecy is to be ready to suffer for His name if God deems it.
And the certain hope we are not under the wrath of God when He pours it out on the earth.