The word Coming can also accurately be translated “presence”.
3952. parousia parousia, par-oo-see'-ah - from the present participle of 3918; a being near, i.e. advent (often, return; specially, of Christ to punish Jerusalem, or finally the wicked); (by implication) physically, aspect:--coming, presence.
1 Thess 4:15 can be translated this way - 1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain in the presence of the Lord shall not go before them which are asleep. The changed words are highlighted in red and are accurate/alternate translations of the Greek words used.
The rapture doctrine is proven false when the condition of sleep in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 is referred to in 1 Thessalonians 5:6 as being a willful condition. This can be understood because the Apostle Paul encourages His students not to fall asleep but to remain awake.
1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. The Apostle Paul encourages sleeping Christians to wake up in 1 Cor 15:34. When the sleeping condition becomes willful the Lord’s intervention is needed to wake them up by judgment.
Although Paul and others have remained in the presence of the Lord those Christians referred to as “sleeping” have not. We see that the outcome of the parable or mystery seen in these verses is that the sleeping brethren are brought back into the presence of the Lord and join those who remained faithful. In order to bring them into the presence of the Lord again the judgment called the Day of the Lord is going to be employed. Those remaining in the presence of the Lord are told not to go before the sleeping brethren. This is stated clearly in 1 Cor 5:11.
The events happening in 1 Thess 4:13 through 17 are seen to happen during a time called the Day of the Lord or a time of judgment, 1 Thess 4:15 and 5:2.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
The devil/thief carries out this correction. Just as Job was brought back to an obedient state through judgment (Job 42:6) and Paul was given a demon to buffet Him to prevent sin, 2 Cor 12:7. The sleeping Christian is brought back into compliance with God’s precepts here referred to as a resurrection from the sinful condition. To understand that waking from sleep is a resurrection refer to in Col 3:1.
The believers who remain faithful are not to go before the willfully sinful brethren. These people are referred to as sleepers or people who are dead in Christ (dead in sins and transgressions). Faithful believers are to remain in the Lord’s presence/coming and not become entangled in the willful sin of the sleepers. The Lord Himself will bring about the resurrection of the sleeper through judgment which is meant for their correction, 1 Cor 11:32. After their resurrection the formally dead brethren will join the brethren who have remained faithful, in the air. Here it is important to remember that we are all currently surrounded by the air suggesting that this event happens during this lifetime and on earth.
The judgment of the Lord is meant to correct believers so they will not be condemned with the world, 1 Cor 11:32. The Lord Jesus descending (in a cloud) is simply a metaphor speaking about the Lord’s coming judgment, Isaiah 19:1. The judgment that destroys unbelievers is used to correct believers, Rom 2:12. Just as a parable is meant to disguise a truth, Mark 4:11. 1 Thess 4 and the so called rapture verses conceal the truth about how God disciplines His people through periods of evaluation and judgment.
So what is the alternative to the Rapture misconception? One verse clears it up.
Ga 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. (KJV)
Very simply we are waiting for God to make us right in His sight.
In other words He is conforming us to the image of Christ.
Ro 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (KJV)
Ro 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Our bodies can be free from corruption when we are free from sin and made into the image of Jesus.
Ro 8:29 ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (KJV)