To: Jason C
Jason,  I have no idea what your ‘dead rise first’ means;  but I do know that there are some who desire to go through the tribulation and want to take you along with them.  Brother Bruce has an apparent axe to grind with respect to the tribulation.  He seems to be bent on going through the tribulation or at least a good portion of it.  I do not believe that Christians go through any portion of it.  You are right to believe in a PRE- tribulation rapture.  There are many, many good sources out there that deal with this specific topic and I would encourage you to do your own homework.  As for me, I have been studying this topic for over 30 years.  It is good when the axe grinders come out to challenge our biblical understanding because it forces us to get back in the Word and get grounded.  There are a few who repeatedly try to encourage us to go through the tribulation with them.  I say,,,,good for them,,,if they want to go through the tribulation,,,go,,,I hope it’s what you expected.  But Jason, you don’t have to believe them.  You can choose to be content and know that the Lord himself shall come and get you before he brings judgment to this sin sick world.  That’s the BLESSED HOPE.  NOT hoping to be blessed when judgment  comes, but the BLESSED hope and glorious appearing of our LORD and savior JESUS CHRIST.  He will not let his Bride go through that which is determined for the ungodly.  Do not get seduced by the mid-trib crowd either; they will say “well, we only believe that the church is spared the wrath of God as it applies to the last half of the trib.”  This is because they fail to understand the final week determined for Israel and spelled out in the book of Daniel.  One week-7years.  A specific time period that is not broken up into 2 separate parts with 1 half dealing with the Church and 1 half dealing with the Jews.  The whole 7 years or final week of years is the ‘Time of Jacob’s Trouble’( ISRAEL not the CHURCH.)
At any rate, have the peace that is promised all Christians.  Have the blessed hope.  Know that he has your best in mind. He calls you his bride.  He will protect you.  He does not want you to be punished for a term in the tribulation.  He is capable of protecting his bride.  Now…..go confirm what you believe.
Coach Mo