A surgical cutting and fastening instrument is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the instrument includes an end effector comprising a moveable cutting instrument for cutting an object positioned in the end effector, a main drive shaft assembly connected to the end effector, and a handle connected to the main drive shaft assembly. The handle includes a gear drive train connected to the main drive shaft assembly, a main motor for actuating the gear drive train, and a firing trigger such that retraction of the firing trigger causes actuation of the motor. Also, the rotational position of the firing trigger is related to the position of the cutting instrument in the end effector.