Understanding the last day
I know that we as Lutherans reject the teaching of the rapture. There are many passages in the Bible that indicate that Christians will go through a tribulation period in the last days and these passages also confirm that the teaching of the rapture is false. Below I referenced some passages that seem to slightly contradict or maybe just alter the timeline of events that the Lutheran church teaches: Matthew 24:40-41 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. Also, I have read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 multiple times and from that it is difficult for me to understand that the day the Lord will gather believers to take us home and judgement day are not two different things. That section of Scripture seems like it is only talking about the Lord taking us home and does not mention judgement day. Also, when I read Titus 2:13 and Amos 5:18, it seems like these passages are indicating that there are two separate events. The first event is one we eagerly anticipate and the second event is supposed to be feared. To briefly sum up my understanding of all this I can put it like this: we Christians will go through the tribulation period (Matthew 24 makes this clear), then the Lord will gather his believers and take us home, and finally the unbelievers will be judged. If you could tell me if I'm on or off course with this line of thinking, that would be great.
Allow me to comment briefly on several points you made and Scripture passages you cited. The “tribulation period” Christians go through in life is the Christian life in general, not any particular time in their life or in world history (Acts 14:22).
Matthew 24:40-41 shows how believers and unbelievers will be separated on the last day. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 explains that there will be Christians on earth when Jesus returns visibly on the last day. Those Christians will not experience death, but their bodies—like the resurrected bodies of Christians—will also be glorified.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 describes the Lord returning visibly to this world on the last day, raising the bodies of Christians and reuniting them with their souls, and gathering to himself Christians who are alive on the earth. The apostle Paul was addressing a concern on the part of the Thessalonian Christians regarding fellow Christians who had died. That is why he limits his treatment of judgment day in this section of the Bible to Christians who died and Christians who are still alive on the earth.
Titus 2:13 and Amos 5:18 do not describe two separate events; they describe how different the last day will be for believers and unbelievers. For believers, the last day will usher in an eternity of joy and glory that they will experience with their glorified bodies and souls (Revelation 21:3-4). For unbelievers, the last day will be a banishment, with both body and soul, to the darkness of hell (Matthew 22:13; 25:41). With this in mind, it is very understandable that there will be different reactions to the Lord’s return.
To reflect biblical teaching, your summary statement would need to be revised. Christians do go through much hardship and tribulation to enter the kingdom of God. On the last day Jesus will return to judge “the living and the dead,” as we confess in the Apostles’ Creed. The Lord will gather his followers to himself, while he will banish the unbelievers from his presence.
How wonderful to be able to take to heart what our Lord himself said about his return on the last day: “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). Let’s share God’s word with others that they too may be prepared for and look forward to Jesus’ return.