The Bible teaches that there will, indeed, be a "catching up" of the saints (1 Thess. 4:17). The purpose of Paul’s instruction was to assure the saints in Thessalonica that those saints who had "fallen asleep" (i.e., preceded them in death) would not miss out on the Lord’s return. "[T]hat we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep." Apparently the Thessalonian church was given to all kinds of eschatological rumors and error (cf. 2 Thess. 2:1-3).
Until 1830 this "catching up" was considered by the Church to be the Second Coming from the vantage point of the saints. Around 1830 a new theology arrived on the scene which eventually became known as dispensationalism. One of the fundamental tenants of dispensationalism is the radical distinction between Israel and the Church. So, in order to preserve this radical distinction, the followers of this new theology had to invent the secret so-called "pre-tribulational rapture" in which the Church was removed from the world so God could pour His divine wrath out upon physical Israel during the so-called "seven year great tribulation". Dispensationalism believes that physical Israel is destined for great future divine wrath, but the Church is exempt from wrath (cf. 1 Thess. 5:9). Voila, you need a secret rapture to get the Church off the earth.
In reality the secret rapture, future seven year tribulation, and a whole host of other doctrines espoused by futurist dispensationalists are not found in the Bible. They are only "discovered" (as they originally discovered for the firs time in 1830) by reading the Bible through dispensational glasses with the assumptions and presuppositions of dispensationalism.
A truly careful study will reveal the hallmark of dispensationalism, the secret, separate rapture, to not be true. Careful study will reveal that the "rapture" and Second coming are, in fact, the same event. There is no reason to use the term "rapture" when one correctly understands the biblical subject of eschatology. Second Coming is good enough.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 15)
Top Cat, your comments are correct. The dispensational teaching was originally from John Nelson Darby, who also began teaching a “Pre-tribulation Rapture” - your dating of approx 1830 is also correct. I am well acquainted with this teaching, I grew up with it. My great grandfather was a follower of Darby. This was all in the early beginnings of the Plymouth Brethren Movement. Darby was a prolific writer and also translated the Bible into several languages (a good translation, though still pretty much in KJV English).
Scofield was a student of Darby’s and much of the dispensationalism in his Reference Notes come from Darby. I credit (or blame) Scofield with making dispensationalism and Pre-Trib Rapture teachings so prevalent among Fundamentalist/Evangelical teachings and beliefs today. LeHay and Jenkins may have to answer for leading believers astray with their Left Behind series.
Whatever kind of tribulation lies ahead, God and His Word assures us we will be taken “through”, just as Noah and all those on the Ark with him were taken through. All those not on the Ark were taken out, to judgment. In Matthew, it speaks of two working in the field, one taken, one left (left behind). What the Left Behind teachers are missing is that the one taken is the one taken to judgment.
You are correct in pointing out that the purpose of Paul’s instructions to the saints in Thessalonica (and to us) was assuring them that their loved ones already departed through death would indeed be a part of what is to come.
Much of the Tribulation teaching comes from what is in Revelation. John addressed cover letters to each of the seven churches in Asia Minor, and sent these along with what is written in Revelation to them. I believe that these Christians fully understood what John wrote. There is basically nothing that is written in Revelation that is not already found in the Old Testament, and most of it is found in Genesis.
Why are we in this generation so stupid and ignorant of what God is telling us in Revelation? First, we fail to read carefully the first sentence in the book - it is the revelation of Jesus Christ. It is neither about black helicopters nor about nuclear war. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Now, if we are indeed the body of Christ, how can we, the body exist without a head? We can’t. Jesus, the head of the body, must also be here too. He is here with me, in my heart, and I yield (not perfectly yet) to having His mind in me. Finally, if he is indeed in my heart, and if I have yielded to Him, as my Lord, having His mind in me - I don’t have to be concerned about when He comes, and how. There were 10 virgins, 5 prepared, 5 not - BE PREPARED!