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Congrats to you for seeing the fallacy of the rapture theory.
As you are probably aware, the theory was propounded by a delusional sick woman who after getting better said it felt like an evil dream to her. Iirc, this was approx the year 1840, her name was Margeret MacDonald, iirc. Prior to this there was no such teaching as the rapture. There will be many who will fall for the "first jesus to come". Problem is that he is the wrong one. In closing, God never lets his children shirk from a fight, he expects his children to fight evil, not fly away from it.

Margeret MacDonald,
Yes, and if I'm not mistaken it was really made popular by Matthew Henry who though highly of Margret MacDonald.
I can really sympathize with those who defend this teaching because I was one for many, many years. Interesting to note though, I always had to have someone Elses commentary, book, etc around to help me with the scriptures, instead of using God word to interpret Gods word. It has gone so deep now that many I've talked to have their HOPE in the rapture, NOT the second coming!

I believe that this teaching is what the anti-christ will use to cause Christians to follow him. To those who believe in the rapture, the next major thing they are expecting to happen is that they will see Jesus. But, Gods word says that before Jesus will come back the anti-christ will be revealed.

2 Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2 Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

In other words, they are looking for Jesus and are convinced that the anti-christ is Jesus because, according to the rapture theory, Jesus will be the next one they see.

I completely understand the difficulty in rejecting what we have been taught and simply letting Gods word speak for itself.
As I said, I was teaching a study on the rapture when 2+2 ended up being 3, or 9, or anything but 4. I had to put off the study and it took me nearly a year of study before I could turn loose of my belief in the rapture.

Cordially,
GE

I might add that there are many, many good, solid Christians who have fallen for the rapture.