oh, I see. so this is a rapture thing?? well, sorry to disappoint but ain't going to be one. the Lord will not return twice.
Greetings gb9,
Here is one of the scriptures regarding the prophesy of the resurrection and catching away:
"According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Here is the scripture broken down:
* We who are still alive when the resurrection takes place will not go before those who have died in Christ
* The Lord himself will come down from heaven
* Those who have died in Christ will rise first
* Then those believers who are still alive will be "caught up" together with those who will have just previously resurrected where we all meet the Lord in the air.
So according to the scripture, you should at least be in agreement with what it is saying. The controversy is when this event will take place not if. You are correct in that the Lord will not return twice. At this event the Lord is not going to return to the earth, but the dead and the living will meet him in the air where according to John 14:1-3 he will then take us back to the Father's house that where he is we may be also. His actual return to the earth is when he literally returns to end the age and establish his millennial kingdom. Consequently, anyone who is not believing in the Lord's appearing to gather us will not be going. A believer has to have faith in this promise in order to be ready.
The wrath of God is coming and the event of the resurrection and catching away is what is going to divide those who go and those who stay for God's wrath.