I have pondered it as well... Consider the following:
~ The "grammar of the language" allows for "unmentioned" people in the 'scene'. The phrase "and [I saw] the souls of them..." does not mean that they were the only ones who were present or could be seen in the 'scene' - only that they were seen and mentioned. Others could have been there also...
~ This description is speaking
strictly of those who were beheaded for not accepting the mark of the beast -
which would actually not include the apostles themselves - nor "the souls under the alter" ( Revelation 6:9-11 )...
~ Is not the
bride supposed to be at His side during the 1000 years? Who-all then is in the bride?
Yes, the grammar does allow for the unmentioned to be inclusive. But, I don't think it is inclusive of all believers. I do think it
could be inclusive of all martyrs, such as Paul, even though he wasn't beheaded in relation to the Great Trib Beast, but he was beheaded. I don't think beheading is the key, just being martyred. Look at this from Rev 2:11
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Crown implies RULING. Ruling where? During the Millennium because after that there is nothing left to rule.
Now consider this. Rev 13:
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
This happens AFTER the 7th Trump. If all saints who remain are taken at the 7th trump, why include the qualifier, "all who dwell... whose names have not been written?" They would be the only class left. Why mention patience and faith to saints if they have been taken? Again, maybe not all saint are taken. Perhaps just the martyred and or the 144,000.
We see the 144K on Mt. Zion with the Lord in Rev 14:
1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.
But the 144K are not mentioned with Him in Zech 14:
4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south. 5 Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the Lord my God will come, And all the saints with You.
The scene above has the Lord here on the Mt. of Olives (not Mt. Zion), and he isn't "taking" or "rapturing" anyone, instead He is providing an escape. And this escape is clearly for the saints. Remember what is said to the Churches in Rev 1-3?
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-- 27 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
So it seems that if a saint makes it through the Tribulation, he will rule the nations with the Lamb. Now consider the martyred seen in heaven after the 6th seal. Doesn't it sound like they are also with the Lamb who we know dwells amongst them during His 1,000 year reign?
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Back to Zech 14:
8 And in that day it shall be That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, Half of them toward the eastern sea And half of them toward the western sea; In both summer and winter it shall occur. 9 And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be-- "The Lord is one," And His name one.
Doesn't it appear these passages tie?
I now think it possible that all martyrs will be resurrected and they, along with those who make it through the Tribulation will be given glorified bodies and live and reign with Christ 1,000 years. Then the rest of the dead will be raised and judged at the Great White Throne.