We can clearly see that Paul is telling the Thessalonian church not to think that they have missed the catching up of the church, because the catching up of the church will not happen until after the abomination that causes desolation sign from Daniel 9:27. This tells us positively, that the catching up of the church cannot happen before the time of tribulation begins, that is, before Daniel's seventieth week begins. Those that teach a pretribulation rapture must be wrong.
This fact is in agreement with what Paul said about the catching up of the church, that is, that it happens at the last trumpet. What I mean is, that if the catching up occurs at the last trumpet, then the church must be on earth for the previous trumpets--right? Certainly.
We know also that the seventh trumpet is sounded at the time that Satan is cast down out of heaven, and we know that this happens exactly 1260 days before the end of the seven year period. We know also that the sounding of the seventh trumpet announces the fact that the King has come to reign, that is, that God's kingdom has come to the earth.
Revelation 11:15
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." (NIV)
We know that Jesus is going to stay in heaven until his enemies are made his footstool, which is Satan being cast out of heaven to the earth. We see in Revelation chapter twelve that this happens three and a half years before the end of the seven year period, so it is inconceivable that once his enemies have been made his footstool and that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, that Jesus would remain in heaven. This is all very clear and easy to see, is it not?
Revelation 12:9-10
The great dragon was hurled down -- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. (NIV)
Do you see it? Satan's being cast down is tied to our salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. What does our salvation coming mean if it doesn't mean that the Lord has come and caught us up to be with him?
To say it again: the Lord comes from heaven to the earth immediately after Satan is cast out of heaven. This is shown in Revelation chapter twelve. Satan is cast down three and a half years before the end of the time of testing. When the Lord comes to reign as King he first gathers up his body the church and then begins his reign with his iron scepter. Jesus' reign with the iron scepter lasts for three and a half years during which he dashes the nations like pottery with his scepter.
Revelation 19:15-16
Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords. (NIV)
Also see Psalm 2, Revelation 2:27, and Revelation 12:5.
There are many theories concerning when the Lord will return with respect to the other events that must take place, but only the scenario that agrees with all of the Bible passages is true. The pretribulation rapture theory cannot be true because the "rapture" comes at the seventh trumpet and Paul told us clearly that the church will see the abomination sign that we know positively is at the midpoint of the seven year period. The post tribulation theory also cannot be true, because the Lord comes at the sounding of the seventh trumpet which also announces the fact that Satan is cast down to the earth, and we know that when he is cast down that he charges off to make war with the rest of the "woman's" offspring for three and a half years.
Revelation 12:13-17
When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring -- those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. (NIV)
Also, the Lord made these two promises to the Church:
Revelation 3:10
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. (NIV)
This is a promise to the church. We are told that if we endure patiently, that we will be spared the time of testing, which is the last three and a half year segment of Daniel's seventieth week.
John 14:1-3
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (NIV)
When the Lord comes back, (at the midpoint of the seven year period), we will be caught-up to be with the Lord forever.
