The Last Trumpet
Most pre-tribbers believe the pre-trib rapture was not taught by Jesus, but was given to Paul as a special revelation. Therefore, it is important for us to see if what Paul taught about the rapture is distinct from Jesus' teaching. If there are mutually exclusive differences between what Jesus taught about His second coming, and what Paul taught about the rapture, we might conclude they were speaking about different events, as pre-tribbers suppose. However, if Paul's teaching about the rapture is compatible with Jesus' teaching about the second coming, there is no reason to suppose that Paul taught a distinct coming of Christ apart from the coming Jesus mentioned.
Post-tribbers believe Paul's teaching concerning the rapture is completely compatible with, and built upon, the teaching of Jesus in the Olivet Discourse. There were some new details added by Paul, but the general sequence of events are identical.
In 1 Cor. 15, Paul wrote primarily of the resurrection of believers, and the fact that we will be raised "incorruptible." We do not have space here for an in-depth exegesis of this passage. However, I would like to point out three things that I believe connect this event to Jesus' post-tribulation coming in Matthew twenty-four.
1. Paul said the reason our bodies will be changed is because; "flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God" [1 Cor. 15:50]. The future "Kingdom of God" he is speaking of is the Millennial Kingdom. Since the purpose for this putting on incorruption is because our old bodies cannot inherit the Millennial Kingdom to reign with Christ, this implies that the change would occur at the beginning of that Kingdom. There is nothing here about going to heaven. Heaven is never spoken of as the "Kingdom of God." The context also clearly indicates Paul was referring to the Millennium, [see: vss. 22-28].
2. Paul said this will occur "at the last trumpet" [1 Cor. 15:52]. If we were to assume a pre-trib scenario, this "last trumpet" could not be last, because Jesus said He will sound the trumpet to gather His elect "immediately after the tribulation" [Matt. 24:31]. In order for it to be "last," it would seem to be identical with the trumpet of which Jesus spoke, thereby placing the resurrection of believers after the tribulation.
3. When this transformation occurs, Paul said an Old Testament prophecy will be fulfilled.
1 Cor 15:54
This is a direct quote of Isaiah 25:8. And, Isaiah's prophecy is clearly speaking of the coming of Christ's Millennial Kingdom. Paul said that this particular Millennial prophecy will be fulfilled at the resurrection of the Church. Therefore, the rapture must occur at the beginning of the Kingdom, which is post-tribulational.
These three things connect this passage with the post-tribulational coming of Christ. What can pre-tribbers point to in this passage that would exclude this connection, or demonstrate the uniqueness of the Pauline "rapture" that pre-tribbers allege? Nothing at all! So far Paul's writings agree and harmonize with what Jesus taught in the Olivet Discourse.
54 So WHEN this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, THEN shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
(KJV)
