strongmeat wrote:Aineo asked for my thoughts on Rev.20:4-6. This passage speaks of the first resurrection and of believers who shall be killed during the tribulation period. Perhaps,special mention is made of them because unlike other Christian martyrs these would have faced the Antichrist directly. John 5:28-29 speaks of two resurrections: the first resurrection (of all believers) is unto life, the other resurrection which comes 1000 years later is unto damnation. There is no second resurrection of believers. In fact a look at your concordance will show you that the phrase second resurrection does not exist. First resurrection is used because there is another resurrection but it will be of the unbelieving dead. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection.
This is all fine and good but in your anaylysis of the rapture you left out what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 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, shall 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 shall rise first. 17 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. NAS
Now add this with Revelation 20 and you have the full picture of when the church will be raptured.