The Order of the Rapture and Resurrection in Eschatology
The Order of the Rapture and Resurrection in Eschatology
Christian traditions disagree sharply on whether the rapture and resurrection occur as a single event or in distinct phases, and on the timing of these events relative to Christ's return and final judgment. The disagreement centers on how to read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 alongside 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Revelation 20, and Jesus's eschatological discourse in Matthew 24.
The Single-Event Position
Historic Reformed, Lutheran, and Catholic traditions teach a general resurrection at Christ's second coming, with no separate rapture event. Charles Hodge's systematic theology places Christ's resurrection, ascension, session at God's right hand, and "coming to judge the world at the last day" as sequential stages of exaltation [4], implying a unified eschatological climax. Aquinas argues that "Christ's Resurrection was the first in the order of our resurrection," making it "the cause of ours" [3]—a framework that envisions one resurrection of the dead at history's end, not multiple phases. Augustine similarly speaks of resurrection "into life everlasting" [2], emphasizing the finality and singularity of the event. This position reads 1 Thessalonians 4 as describing the same moment as 1 Corinthians 15:52 ("the last trumpet"), when living and dead believers are transformed together.
The Multi-Phase Position
Dispensationalist and some premillennial traditions distinguish between a rapture of the church (before or during tribulation) and a later resurrection of tribulation saints and Old Testament believers. This view divides resurrection into stages: the church caught up to meet Christ in the air (1 Thess. 4:17), followed by a millennial reign, then a final resurrection and judgment (Rev. 20:4-6, 11-15). Proponents argue that Revelation 20's "first resurrection" language requires at least two resurrections separated by a thousand years. The rapture, in this framework, is not the general resurrection but a distinct event for the church age.
Shared Ground and Divergence
All positions affirm that Christ's resurrection is the foundation and pattern for believers' resurrection [3], that the dead in Christ will rise [1], and that resurrection bodies will be imperishable and glorious (1 Cor. 15:42-44). The divergence stems from differing hermeneutical commitments: whether Revelation 20 should be read as a chronological sequence or as recapitulation, and whether Paul's "we who are alive" language in 1 Thessalonians implies imminence requiring a pre-tribulation rapture or simply pastoral comfort about believers' ultimate destiny. Historic traditions read eschatology through the creeds' affirmation of one future coming; dispensationalism reads it through a literalist grid applied to prophetic texts.
Sources
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 15:17: vain--Ye are, by the very fact (supposing the case to be as the skeptics maintained), frustrated of all which "your faith" appropriates: Ye are still under the everlasting condemnation of your sins (even in the disembodied state which is here referred to), from which Christ's resurrection is our justification (Rom 4:25): "saved by his life" (Rom 5:10).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — [DE SYMBOLO AD CATECHUMENOS.] (part 15): is risen, ascended into heaven: where the Head, there also the members. In what way the resurrection of the flesh? Lest any should chance to think it like as Lazarus's resurrection, that thou mayo est know it to be not so, it is added, "Into life everlasting." God regenerate you ! God preserve and keep you! God bring you safe unto Himself, Who is the Life Everlasting. Amen.”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Causality of Christ's Resurrection, Art. 1: Article: Whether Christ's Resurrection is the cause of the resurrection of our bodies? I answer that, As stated in 2 Metaphysics, text 4: "Whatever is first in any order, is the cause of all that come after it." But Christ's Resurrection was the first in the order of our resurrection, as is evident from what was said above (Question [53], Article [3]). Hence Christ's Resurrection must be the cause of ours: and this is what the Apostle says (1 Cor. 15:20,21): "Christ is risen from the dead, t”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 131: CHAPTER XIII. THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST. According to our standards the exaltation of Christ includes, (1.) His resurrection. (2.) His ascension. (3.) His sitting at the right hand of God. (4.) His coming to judge the world at the last day.”