Defining exactly what this "victory" is would be the answer to your question and since scripture clearly defines our victory as FAITH, then it has very little to do with a literal or Physical battle....and therefor the maintenance of our faith is the primary aspect in view concerning the apprehending of this "change", and is primary to our not being deceived(or visa verse), weather before or after the catching-away. This was everything that Christs life was about and it was the only thing for which He commended men and women...their faith in God and trust in the one He sent, Yeshuah.
  I believe the implication of deaths sting being lost is not that it does not occur any more, but, that because of ones faith in the one who holds all the issues of death in His hands, namely Christ Jesus, that death is no longer a fearful or dreadful thing...Paul was even speaking for himself, in his day.
   As for a prophetic implication to the passage, it would imply that those who experience this transformation/transfiguration will not experience the sting of death in any way, but, once again, all of this hinges on ones FAITH in God the Father to bring it to pass.
                                                                                            your brother, Chris K.