People who believe in an early rapture, that is, the snatching up of believers either before, during or straight after the Tribulation, often point to 1 Thessalonians 4:15–18. They read it as teaching that the dead in Christ rise first to meet with Christ, and then immediately afterwards, those who are alive are caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So, a rapture for all believers who are both dead and alive and they meet with the Lord in the air.
But Jesus Himself taught something different. Several times, He said believers are raised on the last day and not before. This is the end of earthly time, when He judges the world at the Great White Throne judgment.
John 6:39 – And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last day.
John 6:40 – For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:44 – No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:54 – The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 11:24 – Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.”
So, when does anyone rise before the last day? Only in the case of the martyrs. Revelation 20:4-6 speaks of an early resurrection for those who are killed for their faith. They are given white robes (Rev 6:9-11) and are raised and reign with Christ for 1,000 years, but the rest of the dead are not raised until the last day of time.
With this in mind, 1 Thessalonians 4:15–18 makes sense: “the dead in Christ” are raised first (the martyrs), and then at the last day of time, those who are left alive (and anyone in the grave) are caught up to meet the Lord in the clouds and all go to judgment at the GWT judgement.
It is clear, then, that all believers are raised on the last day, while only martyrs are raised early.
On the last day, the dead, both believers and unbelievers alike, are raised and judged.
Acts 24:15 confirms this when it says "a" resurrection: “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” This points to a single resurrection of all the dead, not two separate resurrections.
And Jesus also said that there will be a time when all believers and non-believers are raised and judged. In John 5:28–29 He says: “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”
