But I will ask you, why did Jesus go to all of the trouble to tell the disciples what was coming in Matthew 24, not mention "the rapture" and then states "immediately AFTER the tribulation of those days". Who are the angels gathering? Who are the "elect"? Regarding the "elect", get a concordance and look up every NT use of the word, you will be surprised who it refers to! Don't take someone elses word for it, look it up yourself!
Regarding Paul, why did he say our "gathering" would happen after the great falling away and the "man of sin be revealed"? (1 Thess 2:1-3). Incidently, Jesus and Paul, when talking of the timing of these events (same passages) warned us to "Take heed that no man deceive you" and "Let no man deceive you by any means"? Be a Berean, read it for yourself, without the "interpretive" lenses of someone else's charts, books, or timelines. Plain as day. I once believed the Pre-trib stuff as well, but could never honestly reconcile the pain teaching of scripture with that theory. Everywhere I looked, the scripture plainly teaches the opposite!
You need to purchase a book
the author is RENALD SHOWERS
The book is titled, MARANATHA! OUR LORD COME!
It takes too long to retype his points, but I guarantee you, God never told His peole to expect tribulation unless He was expecting His people to expect tribulation, as He did warnign Israel of their need to repent many times.
The Bible NEVER tells Christians to expect a coming judgement, especially one that lasts 7 years and culminates in His return, the bible is silent on any such idea
Buy the book, I guarantee you will find it important.
As for the elect, Showers covers that, too. I believe Jesus was referring to a time different than the rapture
From my studies (inductive) I believe you are correct that the Scriptures do not explicity say that our gathering to Christ will occur before a 7-year tribulation period.
From my studies, I believe that our gathering must occur by the mid-point of Daniel’s 70th week, and that it could occur before the beginning of the 70th week...reasons: because of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; because the Day of the Lord begins at the mid-point of the week, and the church is not destined for God’s outpouring of wrath during those 3.5 years (a great exercise to look up every reference in the Bible to the “Day of the Lord,” read it in its context, and make a list).
I was taught very well, and I am afraid you aren’t following Scripture at all in denying the rapture.
I have enclosed a link, which lists many studies where you open up your Bible and see for yourself what the bible teaches on this.
YOU said I need to be a Berean, I am making the same admonishon to you: