You don't understand. The term pre-tribulation rapture does not mean pre-great tribulation rapture. Pre-tribulation rapture means pre-70th week rapture, as the proponents of the Pre-tribulation rapture view erroneously consider the entire 70th week as "tribulation".
Here is a chart of the pre-tribulation rapture view. The pre-tribulation rapture view is that the rapture takes place sometime before the 70th week of
Daniel 9:27 begins.
Whether you call it “pre-trib” or “pre-70th week,” the problem is the same: the text never states such a removal.
The resurrection of the great tribulation martyrs Revelation 20:4-6 is called the first resurrection relative to the millennium.
The next resurrection will be after the millennium is over and is the resurrection in Revelation 20:11-15.
On this point, I actually agree with you.
Revelation 20:4-6 identifies the first resurrection as the resurrection of the martyrs only to reign with Christ during the millennium. The next resurrection occurs after the thousand years at the very last day as Jesus said, and everyone, believer and non-believer, alive and dead will be raised and go to the Great White Throne (Rev 20:11–15).
Where we still differ is that your system requires another resurrection of believers somewhere before this, prior to the millennium, which Revelation never describes. Revelation consistently highlights the martyrs as those who are raised to reign, not a prior, separate resurrection of all believers.
So, while I agree that the “first resurrection” is defined relative to the millennium, I do not see any biblical basis for inserting an earlier resurrection/rapture of believers before it. There is only the resurrection of the martyrs before the 1000 years and then lastly on the last day, those in the grave and those that are alive will be raised and judged.
No, escape do not mean to endure, nor does it mean stand "vindicated" before the Son of Man.
Escape means not having to go through the great tribulation by being raptured out of this world, taken to heaven, where is Jesus is.
Luke 21:
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Matthew 24:
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
1) “Escape” in Luke 21 does not mean removal from the earth
Luke 21:36 says believers are to pray to “escape all these things” and to “stand before the Son of Man.” The verse itself defines the result of escape as standing, not evacuation. Nothing in the text says “taken to heaven” or “removed from the world.”
Throughout Scripture, God’s people often “escape” judgment by being preserved through it, not removed from it (Israel in Egypt, Noah through the flood, Daniel in Babylon).
2) The context of Luke 21 is endurance and alertness, not rapture
Jesus repeatedly warns believers to watch, endure, and remain faithful so that the Day does not overtake them unprepared. If the teaching were rapture-escape, the warnings to flee, endure, and stay alert would be unnecessary as they will be swiftly taken away out of harm's way. There would be no need to stay alert.
3) Matthew 24 must be read in its full context (vv. 15–22)
In Matthew 24:38-39, Jesus says those who were “taken” in Noah’s day were taken away by the flood in judgment, not rescued. Noah was the one who remained alive. This fits the earlier context of Matthew 24:15–22, where Jesus warns believers that when the abomination of desolation appears, those in the field must flee immediately. Jesus later gives an example of this, if there are two in the field and one is taken, he is taken to tribulation by the AoD army.
The danger is not missing a rapture, but being caught and taken by tribulation and death.
NOTE: Check out verse 18. It specifically talks about the person in the field. If he procrastinates, he will be taken. So, two are in the field, one procrastinates (gets his cloak) and is taken while the other person survives because he did not procrastinate. He listened to Jesus' warnings and fled.
So, when Jesus later says, “one will be taken and one left” (vv. 40–41), the immediate context already defines what “taken” means, - being seized in judgment, not being removed to safety.
Reading “taken” as rapture ignores the flow of Jesus’ warning and reverses the meaning He just established.
Luke 21 and Matthew 24 teach readiness, endurance, and vindication at Christ’s coming, not removal from tribulation. Interpreting “escape” or “taken” as rapture imports a theological system into the text rather than drawing meaning from it.
Ultimately, Matthew 24 calls believers to be ready in Christ and not to procrastinate in life. To live faithfully, remain alert, obey His warnings, and endure through trials. Not to expect removal from tribulation. Readiness means a real relationship with Jesus expressed in perseverance, vigilance, and obedience until His visible return.
