2 Thessalonians 2 has been interpreted various ways by scholars over the centuries.
I find this quote from Pastor Brian Schwertley helpful:
“What is particularly interesting regarding this section of Scripture is that it proves that the Thessalonians who had previously received instructions by Paul did not know anything about a pretribulation rapture. If they had been taught such a doctrine then they would have known that the day of the Lord could not have taken place, for the rapture had not yet occurred. Furthermore, it proves that Paul did not believe in a pretribulation rapture (or that he was negligent in his instructions), for Paul says nothing about a rapture that is to occur seven years before the day of the Lord.”
The rapture question is a bit different than what the article is dealing with, but I would argue that Paul clearly said in 1st Thessalonians that God will deliver the saints (1:10; 5:9) from the wrath to come (5:1-8) and the great day of the Lord. How will this be done? Well, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 specifically and contextually explains exactly how - through the rapture of the church. This is then followed up by 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8, “ For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you (in church age Thessalonians are being persecuted), and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well (how relieved? - 1 Thess 4:13-18) when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire (Revelation 6-19), dealing out retribution to those who do not know God (unbelievers) and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus (tribulation is not for the church).” Paul has already made the rapture clear before he talks about the Antichrist and the Satanic activities during the Great Tribulation in 2 Thessalonians 2. Some have even taught that the “apostasy” of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is the rapture, because the word simply means in its most basic sense “departure,” which would fit in very well with the context of 1-2 Thessalonians since these two letters were written very close to each other.