This is where our disagreement really takes place--clearly. I see the Rapture event as depicted, largely, as the Coming of the Son of Man with the clouds of heaven. It is less focused on the gathering of the Church than on the deliverance of the Church. In saying the Son of Man is coming to deliver his people, it is assumed that this means the destruction of Israel's enemies will mean the regathering of those scattered previously in judgment, and the gathering of those oppressed by Satan.
This is a very common pattern in the OT Scriptures, and I don't think the NT Scriptures are revealing some kind of "new mysterious Rapture," introduced solely by Paul! I have often hear Pretribbers depict it this way!
No, the pattern was that Israel was obedient, entered their land, and were established in God's blessings. Then they turned away from God's word, compromised with idols, and fell under God's curses. Enemies came and destroyed Israel, exiling them from their land.
And then, God would send a deliverer to restore the nation, to gather the people from exile. Sometimes there would be a defeat of the enemy, even before Israel was sent away into captivity.
All of this is rolled up together in the doctrine of Messiah's coming, the coming of the Son of Man in Dan 7. Jesus is the deliverer sent both to defeat the enemy and to regather Israel from her time of punishment. It is not called "the Rapture"--that is just the term Paul used to describe how Jesus rescues his people who are in mortal bodies, seemingly caught under the curse of the sin nature.
We are all gathered together--all nations of God's People--to Christ as he descends from heaven. We are caught up into immortal bodies so that we may share in his eternal inheritance of the earth.
I read the bible.
It says , or should i say " Jesus says"...."pray that you may be counted worthy to escape the things about to come upon the earth and stand before the son of God"
Then this;
" ..because you have kept my word i will keep you from the trial about to come upon the entire world"
Then this;
Mat
25 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Vivid Picture of the rapture