The "rapture" is a manmade plan to save our life. But the Scripture teaches that if we try to save our life we will lose it.

Our concern is not whether the catching up comes before or after the tribulation. This concern is only theological wrangling. The things, personages, and dynamics of the spirit realm are real and occur independently of our beliefs and so there is no point in arguing our beliefs. If our beliefs do not lead us to Jesus Christ and produce a new righteous creation in us, then our beliefs are of no value whatever in the Kingdom of God.

Our concern is with the spiritual maturity of God's people. When they view the catching up as an imminent event that will prevent their suffering they are not oriented correctly to God's plan of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. A careful study of the New Testament will reveal that suffering plays a valuable role in our redemption. Suffering is a chastening that we might become holy. It is associated with our becoming rulers because suffering destroys our self-will, our rebellion against God.

Also, suffering purifies us from sin.

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. (I Peter 4:1,2—NIV)

The purpose of the great tribulation is to examine the peoples of the earth in preparation for the coming of the Kingdom.

Let us prepare ourselves for the fiery trials designed to examine the strength and purity of our faith. Let us resolve to lose our life in Christ Jesus that we may save it in Him. It does not matter what catastrophes overtake us in the earth. If we will keep our attention focused at all times on our Lord, He will give us all the wisdom and strength we need to surmount every problem, every pain, and finally stand in triumph before Him that we may receive His "well done."

Isn't the scriptural promise of protection and survival really superior to that which the fleshly nature of man has devised?

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (II Timothy 4:3—NIV)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39—NIV) (from Three Unscriptural Interpretations)