I personally can't find any verse which separates the 7 vials of God's wrath from the tribulation. I believe God's wrath in the 7 vials is the 3rd and final stage of the tribulation, the 7 seals and 7 trumpets being the 1st and 2nd stages.
Stages, interesting choice of words there, to which i cannot disagree. Posttrib i do have to say that your rapture timing(which at first i was not completely understanding) are the most accurate according to scripture, by that i mean ALL scripture, which you do take into account instead of picking and choosing a few here and there.
I am thinking at this point...can we determine what we mean by 'tribulation' here? When i refer to it, i am counting the 7 year period only(the 70th week of Daniel), with the 1260 days (just as you posted) from the abomination of desolation, being the Great Tribulation. That would be the separation of tribulation and wrath. I do agree with you that we will still be here, unchanged(corruptible still) during the wrath, not appointed to it, but present as victorious over it.
Note that we don't see the rapture itself or many of the elements of the rapture and 2nd coming such as the shout or the voice of the archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16) or the gathering together of the saints by angels (Matthew 24:31) or the resurrection of all believers at the sounding of a trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16) or Jesus setting foot on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4) anywhere in Revelation, so it's not surprising that the rapture trumpet (Matthew 24:31) isn't seen in Revelation either.
It IS clear among believers that the RAPTURE itself is misunderstood, perhaps just the word itself invokes an instantaneous coming/catching away 'moment' of invention. Which is just that, invention. Take the 1Thess.4:16 that you referenced. Pauls words in context there are spoken to Christians as comfort. Not comfort of a catching away to escape anything, but that they have hope when it comes to those loved ones who have departed and are with Christ. He simply reminds them, that they WILL meet them again, in the end, WHEN Christ returns. Notice it sais, at the voice of the trumpet, Christ descends. There is a period, end of sentence. It goes on to say, And the dead in Christ rise first. What it doesnt say, is how long after He descends, does this happen. The trumpet sound is the point at which He descends, the mark in time of His return. It goes on in that chapter to tell us it will be 'as a thief' to those in darkness, not us, for we are not appointed to wrath, but to obtain salvation. And again, Paul reminds us we will ALL be together in the end, whether sleeping or wake(dead in Christ or alive). In no way does that particular scripture point at an instant coming/catching, but contrary. He comes as a thief to those in darkness only. We wait for His wrath to fall on those appointed to it.
Same with the other trumpet/return scriptures. Gathering is what ensues AT His coming. I have been through that already, and even mentioned above, the wicked are gathered quickly, as a thief upon them. We all know at this point, coming is parousa, presence of the Lord. What His presence brings is sudden fear on the ungodly, who are gathered and judged according to thier deeds, and hope for believers, who are also gathered and judged according to their deeds. To the unrighteous, wrath. To the righteous, salvation.
If we look at the sounding of the 7th trumpet, which is the third woe(and comes quickly) the time of wrath and judgement arrives. Rev. 11:18. Jesus arrives on the scene. The trumpet ushers in His presence, not an instaneous 'cathing away', which has come to commonly and mistakenly be known as the 'rapture'.
Note directly before the bowls are poured,(Rev.15) and the sign of the angels in heaven(having the vials) are seen, there is a sea of glass, wherein stands those who have the victory. They are NOT yet raptured, or changed as in 1Cor.15:52, because in verse 8, no one is able to enter the temple till they are complete. What then is the sea of glass where these victors are? An ark of sorts? A protective state of wearing garments that cover? (Rev.16:15). A gatherring together before the resurrection?
Posttrib i totally agree with you that the actual moment of change into incorruption, the marriage, will surely come ONLY after the wrath is poured out upon the wicked, which we witness and rejoice over. I cannot see Jesus catching us away from the vengeance He Himself brings FOR us. Perhaps what disagreement there was, rested only in the misconception that the trumpet catches us away, instead of what it DOES do, brings Jesus back.
EveOfGrace