“I think the reason we see such erroneous thinking like this is not just a lack of knowledge of the book of Revelation, but also the disbelief in a more literal interpretation of it.”
Bingo. When men refuse to believe what God has told them, there is no end to the confusion they can dream up to fill the void.
There is no confusion. I am going to be raptured out of here because I am special. None of the bad stuff applies to me. I am a coward in Jesus Christ. /s That's what they believe.