"What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one. He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world." (1 John 1:1–4; 2:1–2)
John was writing to the church in Ephesus which was primarily a Gentile church with a few Jews.
"But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both groups [Jews and Gentiles] one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. He did this so that he might reconcile both [Jews and Gentiles] to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death." (Ephesians 2:13–16)
Written to the same exact people. And what is Paul's hope? That the Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ (Galatians 3:28).
I'm gonna stop you right there. Christ does not come back to the earth twice and that is required for a Pre-Trib Rapture which is nowhere in the Bible.
"It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering, since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels, when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength on that day when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed." (2 Thessalonians 1:5–10)
Christ returns to those who are "suffering" and "afflicted." Thessalonica was a Gentile church. Paul is saying "You gentiles who are suffering and afflicted: God will repay those who persecute you when He comes with vengeance to give you relief."
There is no way to read that other than that the Gentile church will be on Earth when Christ comes back. So do you want to say that 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 is not talking about the second coming? Please do your exegesis of that. Otherwise, the rapture, Christ coming for His bride, is completely compatible with other passages in the Bible where Christ returns once. When Christ returns, the dead are raised FIRST. THEN, those in Christ will rise. THEN we will escort Christ back to the Earth. What is my basis for this? The word ἀπάντησις, which is only used in two other places besides 1 Thessalonians 4:17. In BOTH other cases, it means, "To escort back [to a place]." That's literally what the context means in all three places (Matthew 25:6; Acts 28:16 for your reference).
Finally, there's this other word and it signifies very clearly the "Day of the Lord." It is παρουσία which means "coming." Found in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 and 1 Thessalonians 4:15.
"For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep..." (1 Thessalonians 4:15)
[A]nd then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming." (2 Thessalonians 2:8)
