REVELATION 20.4 I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 20.5 The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 20.6 Blessed and holy is he who has 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 one thousand years. -WEB
Revelation describes the resurrection of the dead as two events:
- There will be a resurrection of the dead at the beginning of the Millennium for those who were martyred for Christ.
- There will be a second resurrection at the end of the Millennium for everyone else, at which time the Day of Judgment will take place.
The book of Revelation doesn’t mention a Rapture event at all. The only clue we are given is the timing of the resurrection of the dead.
I THESSALONIANS 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. WEB
Since the “first resurrection” happens at the beginning of the Millennium and the other resurrection happens at the end of the Millennium, I don’t know what to say about the Rapture. It’s probably best to leave that in God’s hands and trust his timing.
EPHESIANS 5:14 Therefore he says, "Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
IMAGE CREDIT:
- Angel of the Resurrection by artist Louis Comfort Tiffany, 1848-1933
- Source: Wikipedia Loves Art photo pool on Flickr
- Author: Wikipedia Loves Art participant "Opal_Art_Seekers_4", February 2009
- Permission: This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Generic license.