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2. you mention keep bringing up the famous “rapture” passage found in 1 Thessalonians 4.15-17 which reads:

According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

No more intellectually stimulating dialogue with you until you address the verses you keep leaving out:

Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him....

Somebody is still alive when Jesus brings with Him those who have previously died...THEN both groups are caught up (the Greek word harpazo that Jerome translated to 'Rapturo' in the Vulgate where we get the word Rapture) and taken WITH Jesus to heaven.

Why won't you address that?

now let's look at your "sleep in death" -- are you an Adventist?

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Why did Paul write to the Thessalonian Jesus-movement followers? Because they were worried about those who died before Christ's return

This is apparent in the text

Don't worry about those who have already died (before the Lord's return)
Don't grieve like the pagans who believe that when you die you simply cease to exist
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

And then it goes on to say

who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep -- Jesus is saving/has saved them too

What has happened to our loved ones who have died before the return of Christ to earth? What is theirs and our ultimate destiny?

Paul’s answer: bodily resurrection at the return of Christ to earth! Not an escape into the sky

Rapture, as it is popularly understood, is nowhere to be found in this “rapture” passage. Christ will return to resurrect, to purge, to heal, and to establish the eternal kingdom of God on this earth. Heaven and earth will unite like a bride and husband – for all eternity. That’s it.

bramps, boatie - This world renewed is going to be our home for eternity, and we have the opportunity to reflect that future in our present. Rapture invites us to escape this world: the last thing that Jesus would have ever taught!

Next, boatie, what is actually written? " that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." -- God will bring those who have died and bring them with Jesus.

Then it says "we shall always be with the Lord" - no mention of the great tribulation of the 1000 year kingdom

Somebody is still alive when Jesus brings with Him those who have previously died...THEN both groups are caught up (the Greek word harpazo that Jerome translated to 'Rapturo' in the Vulgate where we get the word Rapture) and taken WITH Jesus to heaven.

Well; the way I read it differs.

To me; it makes no sense to 'bring with Jesus' those who were allegedly already IN heaven!

Here is the timeline of events:

1. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and
2. the dead in Christ will rise first.
3. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

It would seem to me that those allegedly in Heaven already wouldn't need to 'meet' the Lord in the air; as they would have already met Him in Heaven and been handling the prayers of Catholics.