The Catching-up of the Church is not the First Resurrection, which is recorded in Revelation 20:4-6. The First Resurrection is the physical resurrection of those that are martyred during the Beast's reign. Those that are resurrected are given new flesh and blood bodies.
The Catching-up of the Church is for all those that are true Christians and those that have fallen asleep, (died), while being true Christians.
Paul tells us here in 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 that the event will take place at the sounding of the last trumpet. When we read what is said in Revelation concerning the last of the seven trumpets we see that it concerns the Coming of the Lord.
Revelation 11:15-18
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." 16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. 18 The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great -- and for destroying those who destroy the earth." (NIV)
When the Lord comes from heaven to reign as the King of kings the first thing he does is to gather up his body the Church. He then sets out destroying everything that opposes his rule. This is what is meant by the rewarding of those who reverence his name and the destroying of those who destroy the earth.
When the Lord comes we that are Caught-up will be transformed from spirit beings that live in animal bodies, to spirit beings that live in spirit bodies. We will be like Jesus Christ. At this time the following passage will be fulfilled.
1 Corinthians 13:8-12
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (NIV)
1 John 3:1-3
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. (NIV)
This promise that we have from God concerning our transformation is one of the things that provide the motivation to press on and obtain the prize. Living in our present bodies and enduring the things of the world can be difficult, but what with this promise we are encouraged to maintain our walk to the end.
