The Parousia of Christ: Advancement not retreat
(It should be noted that there is no noun "the Rapture" in the Holy Writ as has been widely adopted and projected. There is only the single (one) Parousia of the glorified man Christ Jesus at the end of the age, at which time the saints will be "caught up" (i.e raptured).
The parousia (coming; bodily arrival) of Christ—A military conquest
When Christ leaves the mercy seat, he proceeds to stand in a court of judgment (in heaven) where he begins to target the unrepentant, the unfaithful and the enemies of God and Christ on earth with the judgment seals. This is his going forth “conquering and to conquer” (in the tribulation period). His ride unto victory that begins in Rev. 6, culminates in Rev. 19 when Christ descends out of heaven and positions himself in the air. Christ (and God in Christ) are engaging in a military conquest to defeat his foes and establish his kingdom on earth (Matt. 6:10; Rev. 11:15). Under no scenario does Christ retreat from his enemies back to heaven once in the air (as is suggested by the pre-tribulation, secret Rapture theory). That distorts the Scriptural imagery altogether. The resurrected and the translated saints (that have endured to the end i.e, the last day, the day of the Lord) meet him in the air (1 Thess. 4:15-17) and are given safe haven while Christ executes fiery wrath upon his enemies to destroy them. Then all the saints that went out to meet the Lord, accompany him to the earth as he continues his advancement to establish his rule. (They turn around, not Christ.) This is Christ coming for his saints and with his saints—not two comings, but two aspects of the same coming. It is the great and dreadful day of the Lord, that brings relief to the persevering saints (who have been afflicted up until that day) and destruction to the wicked.
“2 Thess 1: 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,..”
The parousia (coming; bodily arrival) of Christ—A military conquest
When Christ leaves the mercy seat, he proceeds to stand in a court of judgment (in heaven) where he begins to target the unrepentant, the unfaithful and the enemies of God and Christ on earth with the judgment seals. This is his going forth “conquering and to conquer” (in the tribulation period). His ride unto victory that begins in Rev. 6, culminates in Rev. 19 when Christ descends out of heaven and positions himself in the air. Christ (and God in Christ) are engaging in a military conquest to defeat his foes and establish his kingdom on earth (Matt. 6:10; Rev. 11:15). Under no scenario does Christ retreat from his enemies back to heaven once in the air (as is suggested by the pre-tribulation, secret Rapture theory). That distorts the Scriptural imagery altogether. The resurrected and the translated saints (that have endured to the end i.e, the last day, the day of the Lord) meet him in the air (1 Thess. 4:15-17) and are given safe haven while Christ executes fiery wrath upon his enemies to destroy them. Then all the saints that went out to meet the Lord, accompany him to the earth as he continues his advancement to establish his rule. (They turn around, not Christ.) This is Christ coming for his saints and with his saints—not two comings, but two aspects of the same coming. It is the great and dreadful day of the Lord, that brings relief to the persevering saints (who have been afflicted up until that day) and destruction to the wicked.
“2 Thess 1: 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,..”