We agree on much here Chris, but a bit of refining. We believe the first resurrection has already happened, a careful examination of what you call the rapture might help, notice how the dead in Christ were already risen before his return 1 Thes 4:16, I know it looks to be the same time, but going into 17 shows a definite difference in time.
Thank you for sharing, but I do not discern what you have read in context of those two verses at all. The message is that resurrection has not happened yet.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them
also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that
we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
When you compare this with the scripture reference below, the resurrection of the firstfruits of O.T. saints & N.T. saints at the rapture event is for attending the sit down at the Marriage Supper table in Heaven. Those thrust out are saved believer denied by Him for still being in iniquity.
Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
Another verse that refers to them tells us: “Each one in his own rank: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who belong to the Christ during his presence.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23) So in the resurrection some would be raised up before certain others.
1 Corinthians 15:20
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at
his coming. KJV
By His resurrection, Christ has become the firstfruits of those that have slept as inferring O.T. saints. But since there is an order for how and when the firstfruits shall be resurrected is how the O.T. saints will be resurrected along with N.T. saints and living abiding saints in meeting the Lord in the air. So that rapture event is the firstfruits of the resurrection when meeting the Lord in the air.
Those resurrected after the great tribulation are designated as having gone through the great tribulation. After Jesus has defeated the world's armies marching against Jerusalem and Satan is in the pit for a thousand years, is when those saints that went through the great tribulation are resurrected first before the rest of the dead are at the Great White Throne Judgment. Revelation 20:1-15
Jesus gave signs of his presence (parousia) in Mat 24, and what it really means is that he became King. We believe this happened in 1914, and that started the last days shown in that chapter.
I do not see how you can apply that for whatever had happened in 1914.
On the same token, when he became King, the first thing he did was to cleanse the heavens: Rev 12:7, those last days are the time period from the time Jesus took the crown, till his return to remove satan and his horde from the earth, hence the woe for the earth for that time period. v 12
All of us see the changes in our society since that time period, the advances we have made did not just evolve Chris, rather the infinitely superior demonic spirit forces being here on earth influence us greatly.
I agree that things have been getting worse and worse but not sure why you designated as starting in 1914 if I understood you correctly. In Paul's epistles to the Galatians, one can get worse and worse by sowing to the works of the flesh in reaping corruption. Society that rise and fall due to immorality does not negate how bad it is for every believer that sows to the works of the flesh in reaping corruption, getting worse & worse.
We agree those anointed ones who go to heaven will be the bride of Christ, and that our forgiveness is based upon our being forgiving. Jesus made that clear in his model prayer.
The casting of those who go to the dump, or gehenna or the lake of fire, occur at the end of the millennial reign of Christ after satan has had his next short period to gather those who will side with him Rev 20:7
We do not fully agree when those disqualified as reprobates for being in unrepentant iniquity for why they were left behind. The carnal saints & former believers left behind are His anointed too for why He is faithful in the keeping of the souls of those left behind for He still abides.
These be they that are Christ's at His coming along with new believers after the rapture event for when they will be resurrected after the great tribulation..