What part does the rapture play in saving us from the wrath of God, when we have already been saved from that wrath by doing what others refuse to do – Accept Jesus as our Savior. God’s wrath falls only on the un-saved who reject Christ so why would we have to be in heaven to be protected from his wrath when there would be no reason for his wrath to fall on us? God protected the children of Israel when he was pouring out his wrath on Egypt, can he not do this same today with his church?
The Greek word translated “from” in 1 Thes. 1:10 means away from the time, place or any relation to God’s wrath. So while God could protect us without removing us the Rapture is the way He has chosen to do so.
But that’s not the only reason we have to disappear. The Old and New Covenants are theologically incompatible, so it would be impossible for the Church to be on the Earth during Daniel’s 70th Week. The Old covenant was interrupted seven years short of its promised duration (Daniel 9:24-27). We have to be gone to allow those last seven years to play out, giving God the time He promised Israel to fulfill its mission and giving Israel the chance to accept their Messiah (Romans 11:25) in preparation for the Kingdom Age.