There are two distinct, major future events: the rapture and the second coming!
Through serious study, we can differentiate the references into each category.
Jesus spoke in John chapter 14:
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
Jesus isn’t judging the nations but is preparing for His Bride prior to the rapture in this passage.
Paul provides a specific order when he wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians chapter 15:
20 But the Truth is, Christ is risen from the dead, as the Firstfruit of a great resurrection harvest of those who have died.
21 For since death came through a man, Adam, it is fitting that the resurrection of the dead has also come through a man, Christ.
22 Even as all who are in Adam die, so also all who are in Christ will be made alive.
23 But each one in his proper order: Christ, the Firstfruits, then those who belong to Christ in His presence.
This verse speaks of the Bride being caught away into His Presence in Heaven for the seven-year wedding event. At the end of the seven years:
24 Then the final stage of completion comes, when He will bring to an end every other rulership, authority, and power, and He will hand over His Kingdom to Father God.
25 Until then He is destined to reign as King until all hostility has been subdued and placed under His Feet.
26 And the last enemy to be subdued and eliminated is death itself.
Paul encapsulated three events in the above passage: Christ is risen, the Bride is raptured or caught away to Heaven, AND FINALLY, Jesus returns to earth to subdue it. Without this understanding, the various Scriptures would seem to conflict with each other and confuse the established order found in the Book of Revelation.
Paul went into detail in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4:
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the Trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these Words.
There is no mention of judgment or subduing the earth in the above passage. Paul explains the harpazo, its order, and outcome.
Paul further wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 8:
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the Sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
Would you be eagerly waiting to be judged? I think not! Creation is waiting for the end of bondage due to corruption. This will occur when Christ returns to the earth in His second coming TO THE EARTH, not the catching away of the Bride. Both events are mentioned here.
The true church eagerly awaits His return IN THE AIR to catch us away. What are we to do in the meantime? Purify ourselves, occupy, produce good fruit, and deploy whatever resources we have to carry out His Mandate.