I understand that the catching away a k a
The rapture is a highly debatable subject.
I think we would all be rich men if we received a pound £ for every differing interpretation on this event. None the less here is my thoughts below… And no I don’t have the sacred cow 
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AFTER THE GREAT TRIBULATION
MATT 24 :31
“And he will send forth his angels, with a great trumpet. And they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”
I’m seeing that the gathering together at the great trump parallels with Paul’s words at 1 Corinthians 15 :51-52. At the last trump,for the trump will sound, the mortal dead or alive will put on immortality, with in a twinkling of an eye. For just as lightening comes from the east and flashes even to the west. Matt 24: 27. This also parallels with 1 Thess 4:16. Christ will descend with the trumpet of God, and the dead will raise first. Vr 17 those who are [alive and remain] will be changed, and both the risen dead [and] those alive will [be caught] up in the air to [meet] the lord, and so shall we ever be with him.
THE CUSTOM OF GREETING
It would seem, through out the Hebrew culture, it was a very common act,to go out and greet /meet a person visiting you before their actual arrival. And in a few of the instances below, after the custom of greeting and acquainting had taken place, the one being visited would escort the visitor back to their abode/ dwellings While other members present would follow behind.[ie] salves/ servants etc.
Exodus 18:7*
Moses went out to [meet] his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent.
Genesis 18:2
So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to [meet] them, and bowed himself to the ground
Genesis 33:4
Then Esau ran to [meet] him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
1 Samuel 13:10.
soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to [meet] him and to [greet] him
Luke 15:20
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
Acts 28:15.
And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to [meet] us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns.When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage…[Paul continued on, with his newly arrived escort to the place, they left to go and greet him]
DID CHRIST DRAW ON THIS CUSTOM?
Mathew 25:1 -13
1Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to [meet] the bridegroom.
2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to [meet] him!’
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’
12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
I reason those virgins who were ready, went out to [meet] the newly [arrived] bride groom, only to [greet] him and escort him back as they enter the the wedding banquet, and the door was shut, Many would assume they go to heaven. But we see a little further in the parable the unwise virgins knocking on the door of the wedding banquet. Rather like the door that’s shut on the ark,with the soon to be punished outside knocking for entrance.
I think it’s interesting to note.That in the three n/t accounts used here [ie] Paul’s going out to [meet] his arrivals.The virgins going out to [meet] their arrival and the caught away saints going to [Meet] their Arrival. All use the same Greek word for [meet/apantesis]
G529 ἀπάντησις - Strong’s Greek Lexicon Number G528.
ἀπάντησις
the act of meeting, to meet
the act of meeting, to meet (a phrase seemingly almost technical for the reception of a newly arrived official).
Strong’s:
ἀπάντησις
a (friendly) encounter
In each case it seems to be suggesting, it’s an act of meeting / greeting a newly arrived or arriving official.
ANNOINTING KINGS
1 kings 1: 32-34.
The time was at hand for king David to hand over the throne. He orders for his son Solomon “ the son of David”t o ride into Jerusalem to be anointed as king,by the priest Zadock and prophet Nathan.Then “blow the trumpet “
Vr 39.Solomon is anointed and the trumpet was is blown.
Vr 40. the people who were [gathered] to Solomon on his donkey, came up,and followed him whilst the earth was rent. [note] Zach 14:4.
Matt 21:1-11, Zach 9:9,
Like wise the people went out to [meet] Christ and [gatherd together] to pave the way for Christ,as he descends from the mount of olives, riding a donkey. The people shouted with joy “Hosanna to the son of David” this re-enactment had deep spiritual meaning from Israel’s past, they would know Christ was making a statement of becoming king.
Both Solomon’s and Christ entry I believe are a shadows of Christ’s second coming.
Only at the second Christ’s triumphal entry will be on a white horse [symbolically] Rev 19:11, were he will come and reign with power and all authority. And the going out to [greet] them / him or the [gathering] together to them / him,and the closing of ranks behind them / him and following the king/s on entry, is a shadow of the catching away [ie] our [gathering] together unto him.2 Thess 2:1. Being brought into his kingdom Reign with him here on earth.Matt 6:10.
ENOCH, ELIJAH AND PHILLIP.
Jhon 3:13.
“No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.”
Enoch
Without dragging this post out, we know
Enoch couldn’t of gone to heaven, and that he did eventually die Heb 11: 13. There have been a few ideas put forward concerning Enoch’s being taken. Seeing the Hebrew word [lâqach] can mean to “Carry away” and the Greek word [metatithēmi] can mean to “transport / transfer” one of those ideas is he was caught away, to another location elsewhere as not to face a situation of immediate death. Jude 1:15.
Elijah
Concerning Elijah, we see he was taken up by a whirlwind into heaven / [shâmayim] also meaning “sky.” I don’t think Elijah being taken up into heaven is what the sons of the prophets had in mind.2 kings 2:16. Also it has been heavily suggested that Elijah was still present on earth after this event because it is said he wrote a letter to king Jehoram. Who was not king at the time Elijah was taken away from Elisha. It would seem Elijah was transferred to another location here on earth. Rather similar to the n/t account of Phillip at Acts 8:26-40. It would seem none of these accounts show persons going into heaven and making there abode there, but rather they were transferred to other locations on earth
According to were God wanted them to be.
BIBLICAL PATTERNS NOT RANDOM ACTS.
The righteous, being separated from the wicked, before God acts in judgment, is a pattern through out the bible, as was in the case of Gods people in and going out of Egypt, Lot, Noah, and those fleeing to the mountains in 70AD. With out doubt there are many other patterns/ shadows that run through out the bible, that eventually end with the ultimate fulfilment. And i think the same could be said about the, rapture [ie] one step closer to the ultimate separation of the wicked and righteous at Rev 20:15. Another interesting point is that in all these cases of separation they are not a separation from tribulation but Gods wrath that takes place here on earth. Jhon 17:15. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world,” but that You should keep them from the evil one. Although not appointed to Gods wrath. I see no indication, one will go to be with the lord in heaven to escape all calamity coming upon the earth. Although it would seem clear the righteous will have protection from Gods wrath during this time Rev 9:4.
At Christ’s return I see believers being separated from the climax of Gods wrath [after] the tribulation. Those who are alive and [remain] ie [after the tribulation] will be [gathered] together with the resurrected dead to Christ himself. For the final climax of the great and terrible day of the lord, I understand comes [at/after] his return, and just before his millennial reign.
As Noah was delivered so will the righteous.The flood came and “took” all of them [the wicked] away, so to will the wicked be snatched away from the earth at Christ’s second coming Prov 2: 22 +psalm 37. The wicked will be uprooted, they will be cut off and when looked for they will be no more, all the while the righteous will inherit the earth with the lord for blessings. Matt 24: 40-41 The wicked are the ones “taken” [ie] the flood **“took”**them all away, and the believer left to inherit the earth Matt 5:5 after Christ’s return and judgment.
MY PERSONAL CONCLUSIONS
The way I see it, is upon Christ’s return
those who are his won’t be jumping on
Planes,boats or arranging coach/ car/ foot journeys etc …to be with him,in some sort of mass pilgrimage.
1 Thessalonians 14:16 +Mathew 24:31
Christ himself with his holy army will [gather] together, his elect from the four winds, corners of the sky/[ouranos]. I do not believe - believers are taken out of this world into heaven. I believe they are **caught up / gathered together to greet/ meet Christ and be with him forevermore at the point he begins his kingdom reign in here on earth.The gathering together to him will also separate those who are his for the kinder judgment before the bema seat of Christ, a judgment for rewards not salvation 2 Cor 5:10 + 1 Cor 3:15 ,from those ripe for Gods wrath and judgment. For the believer is not appointed to wrath/ death by punishment which the son will render [at/after] his coming. 2 Thess 1:7-8 / 2 pet 3:10 / Rev 19:13-15. Which I believe will be the final climax to Gods wrath being poured out in this age. I don’t see those mentioned coming with Christ in Rev19 as pre-raptured saints. I believe these to be the angelic hosts that will render judgment with Christ at his return. Matt 24+ 2 Thess 7-8.
Joel 2:31
The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
MAtt 24:29-30
29.Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
30.Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
After Christ’s delivers his Father and Gods wrath and judgment …
After Christ’s return and judgment, I believe this Is when I see the millennium reign to begin. All those rescued out of the valley of decision Joel 3:14 [and] their future offspring will now themselves live In a new age under the rule of Christ and his chosen rulers + his faithful servants. Luke 19:12-27, Rev 19:15. Until their sifting Rev 20:7-9.
