Since the first resurrection contains saints from the great tribulation and the first resurrection occurs before the rapture (per 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) then the first resurrection and and rapture occur after the great tribulation, just before the millenial kingdom per Revelation 20:4-6.
You are identifying the first resurrection as taking place once and at a particular time. The term 'First' does not mean 'only.' As I demonstrated in the last post, the first resurrection began with Christ as the first fruits of those who rise from the dead, but each group in his own turn. The next group to take part in the first resurrection, will be believers within the church at the Lord's appearing. After that, the two witnesses will also be resurrected as part of the first resurrection, as well as the Male Child/144,000 who will not be resurrected, but will be changed and caught up like the living church will have been. Then after the Lord returns to the earth to end the age, the great tribulation saints will resurrect. The church will have already resurrected and the living changed and caught up at least seven years prior to the great tribulation saints, which both phases of the first resurrection taking place per group.
The first resurrection is not restricted to a specific occurrence, but takes place in stages or phases. The phase of the first resurrection were church is caught up, will be specifically for those believers within the church. Where the other phase of the first resurrection which takes place in Rev.20:4-6 will be only those who were killed during the great tribulation. So, the 'First Resurrection' is made up of stages/phases of resurrections which all fall under the banner of 'first resurrection.'
The term 'First Resurrection' has always thrown people off, because they take the word 'First' to mean 'only' resurrection, which is impossible. But the main reason why the church can't be at that resurrection mentioned in Rev.20:4-6, is because it would put the living church through the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments (the entire wrath of God), which believers, who are watching and ready for the Lord's appearing, are not appointed to suffer. The reason that the great tribulation saints are on the earth during that time, is because these are those who will not have been believers prior to Christ's appearing and therefore will not be gathered with the church. However, they will become believers after the church has been gathered and during the time of God's wrath.
The order of the resurrection:
1 Corinthians 15:20-25
20But now is
Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21For since by man
came death, by man
came also the resurrection of the dead.
22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23But
every man in his own order:
Christ the firstfruits;
afterward t
hey that are Christ's at his coming. 24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
* Christ the first fruits - If you are first fruits, then there others to follow, but each in his own turn/order
* Afterward they that are Christ's at His coming (The church)
* Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Where and when is Death destroyed?
"Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire." - Rev.20:4-6
The destruction of death takes place after the thousand years and during the great white throne judgment. So, Paul here is not speaking chronologically, because we know that those at Christ's coming will be the church and following that is the entire tribulation period. At the end of the that we have the Lord returning to the earth to end the age, with the beast and the false prophet3 being thrown alive into the lake of fire and Satan being cast into the Abyss, which is then followed by the millennial kingdom. My point being that, the end doesn't come right after those who are resurrected at Christ's appearing.
-Christ alone is known as the singular firstfruits resurrection.
It states that Christ is the first fruits of the first resurrection of those who rise from the dead, which means that there are others who belong to the first resurrection, which has stages to it. Christ the first fruits of the first resurrection, then those (the church) at His coming (John 14:1-3, 1 Cor.15:51-53, I Thess.4:16-17). After God's wrath and when Jesus returns to the earth to end the age, then those who were killed during the great tribulation will be resurrected, also being a part of the first resurrection. Every resurrection which takes place prior to the end of the thousand years, is a phase of the first resurrection. Bless and holy are those who take part in the first resurrection, for on such, the second death has no power.
First Resurrection includes:
* Christ the first fruits
* The church at the Lord's appearing
* The two witnesses
* The Male Child/144,000 (living and caught up to God's throne)
* The great tribulation saints (after the Lord returns to the earth to end the age and establish His kingdom)
