Dear Harvey,
 
Thank you so much for taking the time to clear that up!
 
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/oct2010/harveyt1020.htm
 
 I too have had my encounters over the years with the sort of folks (preparedness movement) that you describe who insist that we will not be raptured prior to at least some if not all of the tribulation period. I too have debated some of them and in some cases was able to share the very points that you have also used to show the error. I have been regretful of the OSAS belief as well for many of the same hurts and confusions that it has certainly caused and can see how it has contributed to this error also.
 
Although I have listened closely to David Flynn with a hope to glean from him his rapture view and the why for it, I had not heard as complete an explanation as you have given and this now makes a lot of sense. I feel great sorrow for those of that persuasion because I fear that God will give them their way if they want to stay behind. Many of them (such as those at the Prophecy Club - he became so anti pre trib that he stopped letting pre trib people speak at his ministry) teach that God will miraculously protect them through it. Another teacher that I spoke to on the phone believes that he will be saved by surviving the tribulation in his mortal body. Well, I don't like their chances...
 
But then there is the equally wrong belief on the other side of the coin that all the church will go whether one believes in it and is looking for Jesus or not as though such topics are trivial. I once heard Chuck Missler quip during a talk about the rapture that he believes that all will be included and those who do not believe in a pre trib rapture are not to worry the rest of us will explain it to them on the way up... and the audience laughed. But I disagree. To them who LOOK for Him will He appear. Jesus is against 5 7ths of the church over doctrinal errors and practices. Wrong beliefs will be disastrous for many. Remember the so-called "pan-tribulationists"? They also liked to make light of it saying "Well, I believe it'll all pan out in the end..." And they don't care to look into anything in depth on the subject. SCARY! It is not going to pan out well for them when they find that their lamps are going out and they are unable to go out and meet the Bridegroom.  
 
I agree with what you say that first of all the debate over the proper interpretation of 2 Thes (which has blazed hot here on the Doves over the years) is a huge point and will decide much of what else a person believes on the rapture. It seems God allowed this kind of choice so that those who will rely on the Holy Spirit will see it but others will use their own understanding and come to an opposite conclusion. Also the point about Antichrist overcoming the saints is as you said; not we who look for Christ but those who stayed behind. (I recently posted about that on the Doves.)
 
Bottom line is that I am very grateful for you clearing this up for me about Flynn because I suspected but was not fully aware that he was in that camp (no pun intended cuz they store supplies and hope to camp in caves or something to survive the trib.) Now I can lean more confidently on a sooner escape than having to bow to his 2012 idea.
 
Thank you so much!
 
Barry Amundsen