User blog comment:Christian Sirolli/The Rapture/@comment-1777104-20171109032206

The only thing missing is the "rapture" -- that is to say, reference to the actual event as found in 1 Corin. 15:51 and 1 Thes. 4:17.  The term itself comes from the Latin word rapio used to translate "caught up" (Greek: ἁρπάζω). The common meaning of the English word "rapture" denotes a feeling of joy or ecstasy ("caught up" in the moment).

The Greek word is used only once in reference to the second coming, and that is in 1 Thessalonians. It is clear to me that this is at the same time as Christians living at the time are "changed in a moment." You covered this in footnote #9, but didn't make the connection to the terminology. The word is used in much the same way for Paul's vision (or perhaps memory) of being taken to the third heaven and again in the vision/sign in Revelation 12 about the ascension of Christ.

You successfully presented the pros and cons for the three positions concerning the tribulation and the resurrection. You showed bias when you mention the thousand year kingdom. The post tribulation theory is also a belief of most those who hold that the millennium is the church age. You incorrectly identify this position as one that holds to no "rapture". As an amillennialist I hold to a "mid-tribulation" or more correctly "pre-wrath" position for the gathering of the saints. I read the "Great" tribulation to be only the "bowl" judgments that probably take about ten days (between the seventh trumpet and the following "Day of Atonement").

I hope this is helpful. Overall, your thoughts are complete. We can work on an article about the Second Coming based on your research.