then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.
Are there any other passages of Scripture that clarify when this translation of living saints will occur? Both pretribulationists and posttribulationists agree that this event will happen at the same time as a resurrection of believers from the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52). However we disagree about what resurrection is in view. Some posttribulationists identify this resurrection with one that will take place at Christ’s second coming. [Note: E.g., Reese, pp. 214-15; Gundry, pp. 134-39.] Some of them hold that this resurrection is "the first resurrection" (Revelation 20:4-5) and that no resurrection will precede this one, specifically one before the Tribulation. [Note: E.g., Ladd, p. 82.] However, pretribulationists point out that there has already been at least one resurrection, namely, Christ’s. The resurrection of Jairus’ daughter, the widow of Nain’s son, and Lazarus were really resuscitations since these people died again. Consequently "first" must not mean the first ever but first in relation to others, probably the first of the two mentioned in Revelation 20:4-5. This "first resurrection" evidently refers to a resurrection of believers that will take place at the end of the Tribulation. The second resurrection, the resurrection of unbelievers, will occur at the end of the Millennium. This interpretation opens the possibility for another resurrection of believers before the Tribulation. [Note: For a very helpful account of the history of the Rapture debate, see Stanton, pp. 306-401.] 