Hello kentapped,
I believe that the rapture and the second coming of Christ are the same event and that there is no chance for salvation at that point
Forgive me for jumping in, but here are some of the major problems with making the events of the resurrection and catching away and Christ's return to the earth to end the age as being the same event:
The wrath of God:
This is an unprecedented time, which was prophesied of by the OT prophets and also by the NT writers. Expositors will claim that the apostles and 1st century church were persecuted and put to death, so why should the church in these last days escape persecution and death? The answer is that, these expositors are using a false comparison in that, what the 1st century church suffered was persecution and death at the hands of men, with the powers of darkness orchestrating in the background. In opposition, what is coming is God's direct wrath which will be poured out upon the entire earth during that last seven years as described in Dan.9:24, 27 and said wrath which is also initiated by the Lamb, Jesus Christ (Rev.6:1).
This coming wrath, also known as "the day of the Lord" and "the hour of trial" is what the book of Revelation reveals will be carried out via the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments. These are meant to decimate the population of the earth and to dismantle all human government in preparation for Christ's millennial kingdom (Dan.2:31-14, Rev.6-18). If anyone has any doubts about that, in regards to the decimation of the population, there are only two places within God's wrath in the book of Revelation that mention the percentage of fatalities, which is at the 4th seal of which a fourth of the earth's immediate population is killed and at the 6th trumpet where a third of the earth's population is killed. With just these two and based on the current population of 7 billion, the fatalities would equal 4.4 billion people killed, and that is not including trumpets 1, 2 and 3 nor any of the bowl judgments. By my questimation, by the time the Lord returns to the earth to end the age, there will be less than 10% of the earth's population and that is being conservative.
Also, regarding this time of unprecedented wrath, specifically the last 3 1/2 years, Jesus said that it would be a time of great distress such as the world has not seen from the beginning of creation, until now and never to be equaled again. And if those days of wrath had not been shortened, no one would be left alive on the earth. Regarding this wrath, scripture states that Jesus rescues believers from the coming wrath (1 Thes.1:10) and also that we are not appointed to suffer that coming wrath (1 Thes.5:9). His promise of rescuing us is found in John 14:1-3 and the event of the rescue can be found in 1 Thes.4:13-18 and 1 Cor.15:51-53. Regarding our being gathered to the Lord, after Paul outlines the resurrection and catching away, he then follows with, "therefore comfort one another with these words." Also, the Lord's appearing and our being gathered is referred to as "the blessed hope." That being said, there would be no comfort, neither would it be a blessed hope if the churches resurrection and catching away was to take place at the same time that Christ returns to the earth to end the age and that because it would take the living church through the entire wrath of God.
Many expositors will cite Rev.20:6 as the their proof that the church is being resurrected here and that because of the words "first resurrection." The first thing to understand is that, the first resurrection does not imply "Only resurrection." There are stages or phases to the first resurrection beginning with Christ as the first fruits, the church at his coming, the male child/144,000 who are caught up to God's throne, the two witnesses and finally the GTS, who are resurrected after Christ returns to the earth. Here are some of the characteristics of the resurrection here in Rev.20:6
Only a resurrection:
Here in Rev.20:6 there is only a resurrection mentioned with no mention of living believers being changed, which is in opposition to 1 Thes.4:13-18 and 1 Cor.15:51-53 which teaches that the dead are raised and the living are changed and will be caught up together with those who will have just resurrected to meet the Lord in the air.
Only the Great Tribulation Saints:
Again here at Rev.20:6, it is demonstrated that this resurrection only involves the great tribulation saints, which can be deduced from the following scripture:
"And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God.
They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
Regarding the above, notice that those who are resurrected are those who will have not worshiped the beast, his image nor will have received his mark, which demonstrates that these are only the great tribulation saints who will be present during that time period.
The Church is not present:
Another important fact to take into consideration is that, from Revelation 1 through the very end of chapter 3, the word "Ekklesia" translated "Church(s)" is listed 19 times. In opposition, the word "Hagios" translated "Saint(s) is never used within those chapters. Likewise, from Revelation 4 onward, you will never see the word "Ekklesia/Church" within those chapters, but only the word "Hagios/Saints" to describe a believer. The importance of this is that, the church is never mentioned again after the end of chapter 3 and during the narrative of God's wrath. The next time the word "Church" is used is in Rev.22:16 which is outside of the narrative. By this, God is making a distinction between the Church and the great tribulation saints, which are those who will be present during that last seven year time period and of whom the antichrist will be given power to make war against and to conquer (Dan.7:25, Rev.13:7). These great tribulation saints is that group who are introduced by the elder in Rev.7:9-17
The Armies of Heaven Riding on White Horses:
If the church was in view as those being resurrected in Rev.20:6, which takes place after Christ returns to the earth to end the age, then who is following him out of heaven riding on white horses wearing fine linen, bright and clean? Keep in mind, if everyone is resurrected after Christ returns to the earth to end the age, including the church, then no one would have been resurrected prior to that resurrection except for Christ as the first fruits. So again, who is following him out of heaven? Some would say that these are angels, but there is a big problem with that, for the following scripture identifies who will be coming with Christ when he returns to the earth:
"They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—
and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
Called, chosen and faithful followers would not be a proper designation for angels, but for redeemed mankind, the church.
White Clothes, Fine and Clean:
Those following Christ out of heaven riding on white horses are said to be wearing fine linen, bright and clean. This is another proof that it is the Church/Bride who will be following the Lord out of heaven, as can be seen from the following:
"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”
The above demonstrates that 1). The Bride which is another designation for the Church is already in heaven during the wedding of the Lamb, the Church being his Bride and that 2). she, the Bride/Church, is receiving her fine linen, bright and clean, which is exactly what those armies in Rev.19:14 are wearing, ergo, those on white horses following Christ out of heaven and wearing fine linen, bright and clean is the Church, which will have been resurrected, changed and caught up prior to God's wrath being poured out.
