You just don't get it man. The Church has already been gathered/raptured (those still living and those deceased......all of them) at least seven years before the Second Coming.
Correct.
Matthew 24 STARTS OUT with "the beginning of birth PANGS [PLURAL]"... and Paul states that "the DOTL *ARRIVES*" at the INITIAL "birth PANG [SINGULAR]" and then goes on to convey the RELATION (time-wise / SEQUENCE-wise) of "our Rapture" TO THAT OF the TIME PERIOD known as "the DOTL" (which INCLUDES the 7 TRIB yrs!) That is, that WE will not step ONE FOOT INTO "the DOTL [/TRIB-aspect]"... we will NOT BE here for it
(This is ALSO what Rev5:9's wording "hast redeemed US to God by Thy blood OUT-OF EVERY..." means, and this is stated BEFORE Jesus will "STAND to JUDGE" by His opening the FIRST SEAL at the START of the "7 yrs").
Matthew 24:4 and thereafter tells what will take place FOLLOWING "our Rapture"!