I don't know of any theologian who translates "and the dead in Christ shall rise first" into "Dead in the belief of Christ."

For example, different translations:

16 Because the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a word of authority, with the voice of the chief angel, with the sound of a horn: and the dead in Christ will come to life first;
1 Thess 4:16 (BBE)

16 For the Lord himself with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God will descend from heaven. Then the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thess 4:16 (MontgomeryNT)

16 for the Lord himself will descend from heaven, and by the voice of the archangel, with the trumpet of God, resound the summons: they who died christians shall rise first:
1 Thess 4:16 (MaceNT)

That's exactly what Paul meant when he said: that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. meaning, we which are alive will not rise to meet Christ in the air before they do - they get to go first. Besides that, nowhere have I ever heard or read that Jesus said that He was coming back to raise up the lost first.

When the Tribulation period comes, man will have no trouble recognizing the judgment and wrath of God that is coming as in Revelation 6:16-17:

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?


Besides that, there will be 144,000 Jews who have been set apart for this period of time, which many theologians believe are set aside to evangelize the world at that time.

And you have a great misunderstanding of the parable you quoted. It is entirely about the separation of the saved verses the lost that will happen on Christ's first appearing "the harvest of souls". Again, He is not sending anyone to Hell (He doesn't anyway, as we do that ourselves by choice)on His first appearing. After the rapture, then the Tribulation, and man's last chance for salvation.