Thanks, Brent, for your excellent testimony.  I agree with what you are saying.  I came to see this in much the same way.
 
  Actually, I had been reading the commentaries on this web site several years ago when we were having one of a number of doctrinal wars on this subject.  As I examined the scriptures I came to have serious concerns that if the Lord did come as we thought He might, that I might be ashamed at His coming.  In short, I didn't know why, but I did not feel ready to meet him for although I was sure that I was saved I was not in a position to enter with a clear conscience and bodly go before the throne of Grace.  And this caused me great concern also.  It is true that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
 
  It seems to me that in our attention to the rapture and our belief that we may be the last generation, we have ignored the status of the saints who have gone before us for almost 2,000 years.  I submit to you that it is not the rapture we should seek to attain to, but the first resurrection.  This resurrection is referred to by Paul in his letter to the Phillipians as the prize that he had seen, now sought and acknowledged that he, Paul the apostle, had not yet attained to it.
 
  Rev 2:11
11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'
NASU
 
  Rev 20:4-6
4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
 
  5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
 
  6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
NASU
 
 Now we should note who it is that attains to this resurrection.  In the context of the passage, it appears to include those who have been in the time of tribulation but did not worship the beast or his image.
 
  So it appears that we have three groups of people who appear to be included in this.  The ones who, like Paul, Peter and the rest of the apostles who have already died.  Those mentioned in the passage above and those who may be raptured, however that occurs.
 
  The first is beyond dispute.  The apostles are dead and we know from scripture, if not common sense, that the deceased apostles will be raised to reign over the 12 tribes during the millenium and we have Paul's testimony in 2 Timothy that he has attained to his crown.  We further know that they are included in the dead in Christ who must be raised first.  Now, we can also see in a most specific manner this latter group who will be included in the first resurrection described in the passage above.
 
  Why does the language appear to clear regarding these groups and so ambiguous regarding the rapture, that sincere believers, including those on this forum, have continued to have disputations without resolution?  Was the Lord not capable of writing this to us more clearly?  I would think a reasonable answer is no.  Therefore, I submit He chose to do it this way in order that our attention might better be focused elsewhere.
 
  The rapture continues to be in great dispute is as evident on the Doves.  Who goes?  When do they go?  As I began to look at this it seemed to me that if my priority was in being worthy to attain to the first resurrection that if I happened to be alive at the Lord's coming, whenever and however it occurred, I would be in good company.  However, since Paul said that he had not attained to it in Phillipians and in other epistles requested prayers for him, "lest having preached, I myself might be disqualified" I decided that it would be foolhardiness for me to take for granted that I was ready to meet the Lord at His coming. 
 
 I must tell you that this removed some major scales of blindness from my eyes and refocused them on the Lord Jesus and seeking His face now "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;  however, let us keep living by that same  standard to which we have attained. (Phil 3:10-16) NASU
 
 Thanks again for witness Brent.  Great post.
 
  Glen