The Rev.7 Scripture does not actually say if they died. It says they "...came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
That could simply mean they 'waited' for Jesus' coming all throughout the great tribulation, and were gathered by Christ from the earth on His return per 1 Thess.4:17, and Mark 13:27. Refusing to bow to the "image of the beast", and not taking his mark, and thus suffering persecution at the end for that, can be that idea of having washed their robes in Christ. That certainly would be enough, even if they were not killed.
These people are before the throne, before the throne has come to earth. Therefore, they died.
The order of events concerning God coming to earth is always God the Father and then God the Son. In the story that goes from Rev 7:1 - 8:5, God the Father doesn't come to earth as revealed by the earthquake until Rev 8:5 "And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were
voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake." This symbolism which shows that the throne of God has left heaven and has come to earth always occurs before the coming of Jesus and the pouring out of his wrath. Picture the dead coming out of their graves at the earthquake of God the Father. Then the dead and the living are changed and caught up into the clouds with Jesus. Then Jesus pours out his wrath in the form of hail.
Rev 6:16 "And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne (
Father), and from the wrath of the Lamb (
Son):"
Rev 11:19 "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake (
Father), and great hail. (
Son)"
Rev 16:18-21
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake (
Father), such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (
Son)
I cannot agree with that last speculation. ALL those that died in Christ Jesus represent the 'firstfruits' of the resurrection, and even include those in Christ still alive on the day of His coming. Reason I say that is because the "first resurrection" of Rev.20 represents the 1st of at least one more LIKE it. If there was to be no 2nd resurrection unto Christ then that ordinal number "first" would not have been used. There will be another, at the Great White Throne Judgment. That is when the book of life is looked at to see if any names are written in it. That cannot apply to Christ's elect of the "first resurrection", since we are told in the start of Rev.20 that they are not subject to the "second death", so no need to see if their names are written again.
Christ's future "thousand years" reign with His very elect of the "first resurrection" is for this very purpose, to teach to the unsaved nations The Gospel, which for many in that time, it will be their first... time to actually hear The Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am convinced that the majority of the unsaved nations will convert to Jesus Christ in that time, and their names will be found in the book of life at the GWT Judgment.
Therefore, I see those of the "first resurrection" representing Christ's firstfruits after His resurrection (those who came out of their graves after His resurrection included).
The second or last resurrection comes at the time of the 2nd or last trump of God. This will be at the end of Jesus' 1000-year reign on earth. Note how a rapture is not immediately associated with the 2nd/last resurrection.
1 Cor 15
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (
1st resurrection, start of millennium)
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. (
2nd resurrection, end of millennium)
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (
This is when those of the 2nd resurrection, camp of the saints is delivered up/raptured.)
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (
2nd resurrection, end of millennium)
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
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. (
Death is under Jesus feet 1 Cor 15:25, but not yet destroyed 1 Cor 15:26, Rev 20:14)
Rev 20:7-14
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.