Your post is typical of those who are thoroughly confused about the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming.
"There is a Second Coming" and there is no "rapsure". I know, we all know, the word isn't in the bible. There is a reason for that.
The Lord is returning but the one more time. the 2nd Advent.
I am not confused, though you perceive me to be.
"The Day of the Lord" is not a "singular 24-hr day" but INCLUDES the 7-yr trib [<--it ARRIVES at the START of THAT], His 2nd Coming to the earth, AND the entire 1000-yr reign. ALL THREE.[/QUOTE]
The Day of the Lord is 1000 yrs and it begins when He returns as lord of Lords and King of Kings the day of vengeance, to rule with a rod of Iron, when Satan is bound, when all are changed. It is all so super simple. No need to complicate it by adding to the 2nd coming. If Jesus comes to "rapture" then it would be the 3rd coming, coming not the 2nd. If Jesus comes to "rapture" then there is no need to be partners in tribulation with John. If Jesus is coming to rapture there is no need for "oil in our lamps to make it till the Bridegroom comes at "midnight" Jesus coming as a thief in the night, coming at midnight, these "nights" are Satans time. He is of the night. We gather to Him AFTER THE SON OF PERDITION is revealed. He doesn't come before then. He already came before then and that was AS EMMANUEL GOD with us.
THERE is in heaven, right now, everyone who has been born of flesh since the 6th day. There is an army of more souls in heaven than there are on earth right now. Gods people from Job on have been through tribulations, and persecutions, and wars, and everything. WHAT is so special about the people on earth now? Do they seem more "holy" than at any other time in the last 8000 yrs? Overcome, Overcome, Overcome.....Hints big hints, being revealed in revelation. To WHOM are the gifts given? those who overcome. There cant be a wedding. The bridegroom doesn't show up until midnight.
Take all the "verses" that you believe support a "pre trib" rapture. Fit them all in with the second coming of the Lord. the one that happens after "the abomination of desolation stands where he ought not claiming to be God, the one where the Lord comes and ends Satans tribulation by binding him and throwing him into the pit for the 1000 ys, the one where the resurrection of the dead happens, the one where all who are alive and remain are changed, the one at 777, the one where the two witnesses stand up having been dead in the streets 3 1/2 days rise, the one that happens after the elect have been given up to death, the one the starts the millennium, the one where the sheep and goats are separated, the one where were every knee shall bow, the one where we will reign and be priests with Him 1000 ys, the and when His foot touches the mount a valley is made, the one where the heavens host are dissolved,
If there is one that doesn't fit, if there is a single verse that can't be explained by the second coming, I will..... I can't say anything here because well, you will see.
The only people who go to heaven are those who have died. And the two witnesses who will come back to die. God created the earth to be inhabited. Gods favorite place in the universe is on the earth. The Lords Day will happen on the earth. The lake of fire will happen on the earth. The new city will come down to the earth.
Try for a moment to get out of the "letter" of the Word, and just read the story the His story it is telling. All the "monikers" will fit, I promise.
Gods wrath doesn't happen until after the tribulation of satan. And God does not have any wrath towards those who love and obey Him. Always remember the fiery furnace. They didn't even smell like smoke. God is for real, for real.
Do you know why the Hour of Temptation will not be tempting for us? Because we do not find Satan to be tempting because we have been told who he really is, what he really wants, and what is going to happen to him. We have on the Gospel Armor. His lies and his deceptions do not fool us. We see right through him. We will see the miracles and we will say "Yep, God said this was coming and look at all this going on around us" the world has gone mad. You think they "worship" leaders and rulers and actors and sports people and rock stars now? Can you imagine what it is going to be like when ACTUAL supernatural miracles are happening? What do you imagine Jesus to look like, to sound like, to do? It will seem like heaven on earth for real. The mothers and fathers are so positive they will turn you in for not "jumping into the worship with the rest of the world" they are all so convinced.
But we know it is all one big fat lie. There is no temptation. Do you have enough oil in your lamp and in reserve so that you can make it through that dark dark day (time) without having to go out into the world to buy and sell?
When Jesus returns will you have through "idolatry" been impregnated with Satans false doctrine. Will you have been deceived so that when Jesus returns you are no longer "a virgin" in the worship of God. Will you be with child and give be giving suck? (having not only allowed your self to be deceived but taking and participating in the system he has set up?
He is coming for a virgin bride. How could he find one if they all got taken away before? Who will be deceived if all "the believers" have been taken away?
The acceptable year of the Lord was standing right in front of them, that is why Jesus could read that part, He had to close the book at that point because "the day of vengeance" was yet future. It is yet future still.
I will pray Gods will be done.
My people are foolish, we are sottish. God knows his audience. If it was ALL about dissecting the word, God would have like 37 people. Remember, Jesus came to get us out of "the letter" and into the Spirit. Sometimes we must let go of what our flesh knows and let that Spirit lead. It is really really hard sometimes. It starts with a ton of humility, humble prayer, and quietness and to listen and let God arrange all that knowledge. Remember, we are dumb and stupid, it is very straight forward and simple.
We are here. The two witness arrive. Satan comes, deceives the world, kills the witnesses, Jesus comes, flesh age ends 1000 years of no evil influence for all those who never knew or were deceived, at the end satan loosed, Great throne judgment, lake of fire, New age where no evil will be. Super simple. Might be a few rough moments but look at the rewards!!