The scripture is vague as to what or who “the restrainer” is that should be taken away in order that the “son or perdition” should then be revealed. Pre-tribbers have historically speculated that this “restrainer” is the trans-corporate “church” consisting of all existant Holy Spirit filled believers including those dead in Christ who shall arise first! Yet the bible doesn’t specifically say that, now does it? Many great teachers have argued it and it certainly may be true, hence we should all be ready. Many great teachers (also proclaim Jesus is the Christ come in the flesh) have argued differently with equally compelling biblically reasoned treatises. The Restrainer could be the Holy Spirit or an angel such as the one that contended with the “prince of Persia”...the Bible really doesn’t say...and believe me I’ve looked! I’m not denying a coming rapture, the bible says it will happen.
Revelation mentions two coming harvests...one of the righteous and one of wrath. It mentions the children of Christ suffering for a time and being killed or imprisoned by the forces of the Beast system....at least for “a time, 2 times, and 1/2 time”. The Holy Spirit won’t have abandoned the Children of God during this time...indeed I suspect the Beast system won’t have as easy a time in suppressing the Christians and the 144000 chosen witnesses, especially during the ministry of the 2 Prophets who as part of their judgments that they can lay upon the earth, can push back on the Beast when he attempts too lay to heavy a hand! At some point during this time, I think the rapture may come. I don’t see it happening after the 3.5 year point but at some juncture before because when the prophets are killed and the Beast sets up his throne in the temple and calls himself God, that is when fullness of God’s wrath falls upon the Earth and the believers were promised to be spared that. Still, it may mean that believers will have their “lands of Goshen” as did the Hebrews as the plagues fell upon Egypt and that the rapture occurs before Armegeddon and the final ‘harvest of wrath”. Some have taught that as well.
Matthew speaks of the elect being gathered by the angels and the world in general will be conscious of it and be fearful....two women grind at the mill but one is suddenly taken up is what the scripture says.
The rapture will happen...events in Revelation will occur as written, the only unknown is the timing of the taking up of the believers....Christ did say “he comes as a thief”. Yet it could be argued that the “restrainer” may not be the corporate body of believers that keeps the Beast system in check but some other entity or work of the Holy Spirit quite separate from the Church. I think if it was the Church, there would be no reason not for the Bible to say otherwise. So the ID of the “Restrainer” is still somewhat of a mystery! Will the “great delusion” cause many to not hear the truth and to fall under the sway of the Beast...yes certainly but Revelation also seems to indicate many who come to know Christ even under heavy persecution...and since no one can come to Christ unless the Holy Spirit leads him, it indicates that the Holy Spirit is still mightily active during at least part of the Beast’s reign. There is nothing in the bible that says the Holy Spirit leaves the Earth during the Beast’s reign, only that the Restrainer is taken out of the way.
Now I only mention the above as points to consider...I was raised a pretribber and my sentiments, rooted in my childhood upbringing are generally in that direction. The issue I have is that God and specifically Christ, historically does things or performs in ways that sometimes goes against all that men were expecting or had translated or interpreted from scripture....yet when examined against the wording of scripture, the actions of God were prophesied truly! The Jews expected Christ to be something that he never was according to their expectation, yet Christ stated...”Before Abraham, I AM” and all his actions and persona matched that of what the Torah said he was to exhibit, not what the Jews had thought via their traditions that he should exhibit.
Based on that, I think coming events may go exactly what the Bible says will happen, not necessarily what we always thought the Bible was interpreted as saying what will happen! I believe that is also part of what Christ said when he says (in present tense as translated from the greek, interestingly enough)”I come as a thief”!
When God removes the Holy Spirit as He is functioning during the Church Age, birthing believers from above and placing His spark of God Life in them, we would not be delivered from the hour of testing if we no longer have the Holy Spirit of Promise with us, would we! The solution to that apparent dilemma is that when He is taken from His current ministry to built up the body of believers under pure Grace of God in Christ, when the Jews are the evangelizers during the Tribulation we will be outta here.
But I do enjoy your take on these interesting issues. Lest we forget, these are not beliefs which hold our salvation in the balance, merely comforting truths we should be studying ... for the comfort factor.