Few topics in Bible prophecy create as much discussion among Christians as the timing of the rapture. Some believe the Church will be taken away before the tribulation begins, while others believe believers will go through the tribulation before Christ returns.
One of the biggest questions raised against the pre-tribulation rapture comes from comparing two passages:
- The Bible describes a resurrection of believers and the catching away of the saints.
- The Bible describes another resurrection and calls it “the first resurrection.”
This leads many Christians to ask:
If Revelation 20 is the FIRST resurrection, then what exactly happened in 1 Thessalonians 4?
Another major question involves the trumpet:
- Paul mentions the “trumpet of God” and the “last trumpet.”
- Revelation also contains trumpet judgments.
Are these the same trumpet?
Let us carefully walk through these passages and understand why sincere believers arrive at different conclusions.
What Happens in 1 Thessalonians 4?
Paul writes:
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NIV)
This passage describes several important events:
- Jesus descending from heaven
- The dead in Christ rising
- Living believers being caught up
- Believers meeting the Lord in the air
Paul ends the passage by saying:
“Therefore encourage one another with these words.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:18
For those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, this event is understood as Christ coming for His Church before the tribulation begins.
Many Christians see this as a message of comfort and hope rather than judgment.
If you have read our article on living as citizens of heaven, you will notice a similar theme throughout the New Testament — believers are constantly reminded that this world is not our final home.
Read more here: Living as a Citizen of Heaven
What Is the First Resurrection in Revelation 20?
In Revelation 20, John writes:
“They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years… This is the first resurrection.”
— Revelation 20:4–5
At first glance, this appears to create a problem for the pre-tribulation view.
If this is the first resurrection, how could believers already have been resurrected in 1 Thessalonians 4?
This is where pretribulation teachers make an important distinction.
They believe the “first resurrection” is not referring to one single moment in time, but to an entire category of resurrection — the resurrection of the righteous.
They compare it to saying:
- “the first harvest” = one harvest season with several stages
- not one single second in time
In this view, the first resurrection unfolds in stages:
- Jesus Christ as the firstfruits
- The Church at the rapture
- Tribulation martyrs after Christ’s return
- Old Testament saints
Support for this idea is often drawn from:
“But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:23
According to this interpretation:
- the “first resurrection” includes all believers,
- while the second resurrection refers to the resurrection of the wicked for judgment later in Revelation 20.
In other words:
| Resurrection | Who |
| First Resurrection | All the righteous |
| Second Resurrection | The wicked dead |
So 1 Thessalonians 4 would be considered one phase of the first resurrection. This is how pre-tribulation believers reconcile the two passages.
Are the Trumpets in Thessalonians and Revelation the Same?
Another major debate centers around the trumpet.
Paul writes:
“In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” — 1 Corinthians 15:52
Meanwhile, Revelation describes seven trumpets during the tribulation.
This causes many Christians to ask:
Is the “last trumpet” the seventh trumpet of Revelation?
Those who reject the pre-tribulation view often believe the answer is yes.
However, pretribulation believers usually give several responses.
1. Paul Wrote Before Revelation
One common argument is that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians before the book of Revelation was written.
Therefore, the Corinthian believers would not have known about Revelation’s seven trumpets.
Because of this, pretribulation teachers argue that Paul could not have been referring to the seventh trumpet in Revelation.
2. The Trumpets Have Different Purposes
The trumpet in Thessalonians is associated with:
- resurrection
- hope
- gathering believers
The trumpets in Revelation are connected with:
- judgment
- wrath
- destruction upon the earth
Because the purposes are very different, many pretribulation teachers see them as separate trumpet events.
3. “Last Trumpet” May Mean the Final Call for the Church
Some compare it to ancient military trumpet calls.
For example:
- one trumpet gathered soldiers,
- another prepared them,
- the last trumpet signaled departure.
In this interpretation, the “last trumpet” simply means the final trumpet call for the Church — not necessarily the final trumpet in all of Bible prophecy.
Why Many Christians Still Struggle With the Pre-Tribulation View
Even with these explanations, many believers still find the passages difficult to separate.
There are undeniable similarities between:
- 1 Thessalonians 4
- Matthew 24
- Revelation 20
All of them mention:
- Christ coming
- trumpet sounds
- resurrection
- gathering of believers
For example, Jesus said:
“Immediately after the distress of those days… He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect.” — Matthew 24:29–31
Many Christians believe this sounds very similar to 1 Thessalonians 4.
Because of this, post-tribulation believers generally conclude:
- there is one visible return of Christ,
- one resurrection of believers,
- and one final gathering of the saints.
This is why sincere Bible-believing Christians sometimes arrive at different conclusions about end-times prophecy.
What Matters Most About the Return of Christ
While prophecy discussions are important, the New Testament places even greater emphasis on being spiritually ready.
Jesus repeatedly told His followers to:
- stay awake,
- remain faithful,
- endure persecution,
- and be prepared for His return.
The danger is not simply misunderstanding prophecy. The greater danger is becoming spiritually asleep.
In many ways, Christians today can become so focused on debating timelines that they neglect prayer, holiness, evangelism, and intimacy with God.
As we discussed in our article on spiritual warfare, the enemy often distracts believers from living watchful and victorious lives.
Read more here: Spiritual Warfare
The return of Christ should not produce fear in believers. It should produce urgency, purity, hope, and faithfulness.
Whether one holds to a pre-tribulation or post-tribulation position, every believer agrees on these truths:
- Jesus Christ is returning bodily,
- believers will be resurrected,
- evil will be judged,
- and Christ will reign forever.
That is the blessed hope of every Christian.