We're all familiar with the promise of Revelation 3:10 Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

A promise to keep those who kept the word of Christ's patience out of the hour of temptation (the tribulation).

We also are familar with the obvious rapture picture being painted by Revelation 4:1

Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Now consider this. There are those that say these verses don't mean that. First I want you to look at Revelation 2:22 (read 4-5 verses before and after too)

Rev 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. (emphasis mine)

What do we see here? A choice...repent or go through the tribulation. Hmmm....interesting. If you are ready, repent, and are found worthy upon Christ's return for His own, you will avoid the Tribulation? Seems so to me.

Furthermore, consider this - We know that the 24 elders represent redeemed men, judged at the Bema judgment and rewarded, but why?

Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Rev 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

First we know from Rev 4:4 the elders are adorned in white robes and crowns of gold. Crowns (plural) could be the "Incorruptible Crown" (1 Cor 9:25), the "Crown of Life" (Rev 2:10), the "Crown of Glory" (1 Peter 5:2-4), the "Crown of Righteousness" (2 Tim 4:8), and/or the "Crown of Rejoicing" (1 Thess 2:19-20). It may be only one or all of them, but the significant thing is, these crowns are rewarded at the Bema Judgement (1 Cor 3:11-15; 2 Cor 5:10).

Of significance of this is THE FIRST SEAL HAS NOT YET BEEN OPENED BY CHRIST....the first judgment, the arrival of the antichrist has not occurred. How then is this? The church has been raptured and the Bema judgement has begun....BEFORE the Tribulation.

Now, what other proof do we have that these elders are redeemed men? Look again at Rev 5:9-11. The elders, along with the beasts and the angels are singing. What are they singing?

Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

First who was singing? The elders and the beasts (and later in v11 the angels). Now note what they were singing.....are angels redeemed by the blood of Christ? No. Are the beasts redeemed by the blood of Christ? No. How about men? A-ha!! So these elders represent redeemed men, wearing crowns rewarded them after the Bema judgment. Bingo!! Another picture of the the Rapture occurring prior to the Tribulation, why? The first seal has yet to be opened.

Now one last thing to consider. If you recall the discussion about the restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 we know that the people of Thessaloniaca were upset because a false teacher told them they missed the Rapture and the Day of the Lord was upon them. At first, I missed the concept. Maybe I still have a hard time visualizing just how bad the Tribulation is going to be....but obviously the Thessalonians didn't....now I know why:

Amo 5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.

I've read the passages about the Day of the Lord and the time of judgment it represents (a period of time not a 24 hour period) but check that verse. Seems pretty solid evidence that the Day of the Lord is really bad...so bad that there's a "woe" attached to those who look forward to it....wait...just a sec....our post-trib brothers are looking for the Day of the Lord instead of looking and watching for Christ.

By the way...let's look at one more Old Testament "rapture" verse...yes and Old Testament rapture proof:

Isa 26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Isa 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation (which is the Tribulation) be overpast.
Isa 26:21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Since we know from 1 Thess 4:16 that the dead in Christ will rise first:

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

When you compare these two we see again, the Rapture occuring PRIOR to the Tribulation.

Now how is that for cool!!