In the previous part of First Corinthians, there was talk in the church that there was no resurrection of the dead. During Jesus' ministry, there were the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection and the Sadducees believed there was no resurrection. It is very possible that many converts in the Corinthian church were Sadducees, or they were once indoctrinated by them. There were also groups who had a distorted view of the gospel. Paul explained  the importance of the resurrection. If there is no resurrection, Jesus Christ could not have risen from the dead. And if He did not rise from the dead then our faith is useless, and we are still in our sins. If we are still in our sins, we have no hope and we are still destined to spend eternity in hell! 

In this study, we will examine the pre-trib claims:

• The church will raptured into heaven before the tribulation;
• The "first-phase" coming will be unnoticed by the non-believers;
• There are two resurrections of the just.

Paul writes in First Corinthians Chapter 15:

And just like as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the Man from heaven.

I declare to you. brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the imperishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I well tell you a mystery, we will not sleep, but we will all be changed --in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will all be changed. For the perishable must cloth itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:

"Where O death is your victory?

Where O death is your sting?" (Hosea 13:14)

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

          First Corinthians 15:49-55 NASB

In the above verses, Paul  continued his discussion of the resurrection. He told them that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Neither will the perishable inherit the imperishable.  The kingdom Paul referred to is the Millennial Kingdom. The Kingdom Christ will set up after the tribulation when he comes to destroy the Anti-Christ and his enemies at Armageddon. And He will also send Satan to prison during His Millennial reign.

Paul revealed a mystery:

• "we will not sleep, but we will all be changed."

There are those who will be still alive and will not go through death (sleep), but their bodies will be changed..

Paul says this will happen:

• in a flash,
•  in the twinkling of an eye, 
• at the last trumpet. 

He said that a trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and the ones who are still alive will be changed. The perishable must  clothe itself with the imperishable and the mortal cloth itself with immortal. In essence, at this time, our bodies which are perishable will replaced  with imperishable bodies. We will be changed from mortal to immortal.

 The pre-tribbers believe Paul is describing a "pre-trib" rapture because there are terms used such as "changed--in a flash in a twinkling of an eye." They claim since this happens so fast, this will be unnoticed by non believers .So let's look at this part of scripture very closely.

Does Paul say in this part of scripture that we will be caught up to meet Jesus and go to heaven with Him? Does Paul mention they are going anywhere in the above verse? Does he say this will go unnoticed? Does he say this will happen before the tribulation? Therefore, can we conclude Paul is describing a pre-trib rapture?

 Paul told them their bodies will be changed in a moment in a twinkling of an eye. He didn't say "in a moment in a twinkling of an eye, they will be zapped upstairs."  Will this happen at the same time as First Thessalonians chapter four? I believe it will. But this verse does not describe a pre-tribulation rapture of  the church or even a rapture of any kind.  For further study, please read "With a Shout."

When did Paul say we will be changed? He said "at the last trumpet." When is this last trumpet? Is there anywhere in scripture the last trumpet sounds? Does Revelation describe a last trumpet? In Revelation there are seven trumpets (8:2). And John describes the seventh and last trumpet:

"And the seventh trumpet sounded; and there arose a voice loud voices in heaven saying,

'the kingdom of earth has become the kingdom of our Lord and of  his Christ; and he will reign forever and ever.'"

Revelation 11:15 NASB

What did Paul say in First Corinthians? He said "I declare to you brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God..." Remember, he said the ones who are alive will be changed at the last trumpet?  And John described  seventh trumpet in revelation, a voice said "the kingdom of earth has become the kingdom of our Lord and of  his Christ..." Doesn't this seem more than just a mere coincidence that Paul said flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, we will be changed at the last trumpet, and in Revelation, at the seventh trumpet, the Kingdom of this earth becomes the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ (meaning the kingdom of God)? So this is clear that we will be changed when the seventh and last trumpet in Revelation sounds.

 However, the pre-tribbers believe the last trumpet Paul refers to is the last trumpet that sounds before the tribulation. Can they show in scripture that there are trumpet sounds that lead up to a "pre-trib" coming? And if this is the last trumpet, can we assume there will be other trumpet sounds? We must conclude since this happens at the last trumpet, there are no other trumpet sounds after the last one. 

 Pre-tribbers believe there will be two resurrections for the righteous. The first before the tribulation (the ones who died in Christ up to then), and the second after the tribulation (the old testament Jews and the martyred tribulation saints).

Referring  to the resurrection, which is a key part of this scripture, Paul said at the last trumpet, the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable.  When will the dead be raised? What does scripture say about the resurrection?

Earlier in First Corinthians, Paul explains the order of the resurrection:

"But Christ has in dead risen from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes through another man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But Each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when He comes those who belong to him. "

First Corinthians 15: 20-23 NIV

Paul in an essence was saying that Christ has risen from the dead and is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Death came from a man, Adam all will die. The resurrection of the dead comes through another man, Christ who all will be made alive (the resurrection). The resurrection comes in his own turn:

• Christ, the firstfruits;

then

• When He Comes those who belong to him.

Referring to verse 23, when does He come? Does Paul say  "before the tribulation when He comes those who belong to him, and after the tribulation He comes those who belong to Him?" In verse 23 there is only one reference to His coming and resurrection. 

Jesus, in the book of John, referred to the resurrection:

"...And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that all He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father that everyone who beholds the Son and believes Him, may have eternal life; and I myself will rise him up on the last day."

          John 6:39-40, NASB

Jesus said that everyone who beholds Him and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and He will rise him up on the last day. If Jesus said everyone who believes in him, doesn't this include the tribulation saints? Martyred tribulation saints cannot be risen before the tribulation.  Therefore, all believers in Christ will be risen at the last day, after the tribulation. 

Since the all of the dead in Christ will rise at the resurrection, at the last day, we must conclude there is no pre tribulation rapture of the Church. 

Looking back at verse 49 in the 15th chapter of First Corinthians, Paul  said;

 "And just like as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the Man from heaven."

When will we bear the likeness of the Man from heaven? John Wrote:

"Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we will see shall see Him just as He is."

First John 3: 2 NASB

John said  when He (Jesus) appears we will be like Him. 

"And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears, we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

 First John 2:28 NIV

John said to continue in Him so when He (Jesus) appears, we may be confident and unashamed before him at His coming. Clearly, this is after the tribulation.

Paul in Second Thessalonians referred  to Christ's appearance:

"And then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of his mouth and bring to and end by the appearance of his coming..."

Second Thessalonians 2: 8 NASB

Paul said that Jesus will slay the lawless one (Anti-Christ) by the appearance of His coming, which is after the tribulation.

"But who can stand the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap."

  

                                                                                                                          

Malachi 3:2 NIV