I think this is one verse that destroys the pre-trib rapture doctrine, but there are others. Maybe if this one bothers you enough to ask the question, seeing them all together will bother you enough to change your mind.
Let me ask you this. Do you think "the rapture" and the resurrection are two separate events? Or are they the same event?
lastseven,
1. The rapture of 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 is composed of the dead in Christ and Christ bringing them from heaven and meeting the living earthly people from the earth in the clouds. This rapture is a resurrection of which Paul showed what was a mystery 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 to the old testament people for they had no knowledge of the church.
2. The second resurrection in Revelation 20:4-6 are only those who are a part of the blessed dead of Revelation 14:13 who didn't take the mark of the beast and were martyred and are seen in Heaven in Revelation 15:1-2 which is before the 7 vials are poured out Revelation 16:1. This is the last of any believers resurrected.
The souls under the altar were martyrs from the first half of the tribulation that were told to wait for those who were later be killed for Christ and that was the blessed dead.
3. The seals, trumpets and vials are consecutive one after the other.
So the rapture of Revelation 20:4-6 are only the dead in Christ and Christ is not bringing them back from Heaven to meet living saints for the living saints are already in Heaven and coming out of Heaven with his saints including those resurrected dead of Revelation 15:1-2 and 20:4-6 which are the same. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 is not the same as Revelation 15:1-2 and 20:4-6.
4. John 17:15 was talking about the disciples in their day because he knew they would be persecuted like him and would be martyred outside of John and they were.
Matthew 10:16-20 was in the context of the KOH that Christ was offering to the jewish nation at that time that they rejected in Matthew 10:1-15. But the disciples were not persecuted in the manner of these verses for the most part in the 60's A.D. before Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D.
5. Verses 21-23 is prophetic to the time of the KOH in the future concerning the jewish nation being persecuted and restored.
6. These verses prove that the KOH will have the jewish nation at the head of the nations and not the church of today.
7. It also proves that the spiritual jew being gentiles as well is only true spiritually but not physically and not taking their place in the KOH.
8. The last day was an old testament doctrine of the resurrection John 11:24, Hebrews 6:2.
9. Jesus knew the jews would reject him for it was prophesied they would and he knew they would Isaiah 53:18; John 1:11.
10. There will be a last day of jews killed that will not take the mark of the beast and will be raptured before the Wrath of God on the beast kingdom Revelation 15:1-2; Revelation 16:1.
11. So there is no resurrection of dead in Christ coming from Heaven with Christ and living believers coming from earth and meeting them in the sky as a post trib rapture as is shown in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.
12. The resurrection of the dead in Revelation 15:1-2 and Revelation 20:4-6 are the same but is separate from 1 Thessalonians 15:-17 according to the context of the scriptures and plain scriptures and by comparison. Jerry kelso