<<They thought that the day of the LORD had come. That they had
missed the rapture and His coming.
>>
Unlikely that they thought that they missed the Second Coming since that
would mean Christ is present, ruling over His kingdom. This would be no cause
for distress since it would mean that their trials had ceased. However, it is
quite evident from 2 Thess 1 that their trials are current, which is why they
were persuaded that the Day of the Lord had come.
>>I've looked everywhere for this phrase "EK MESOU GENHTAI," and I've
found no evidence that it means 'removal.' On the contrary it means
just what it says, "to appear from the midst." Indeed the references
that support 'removal' are occasional instances of "EK GENHTAI" but
not "EK MESOU GENHTAI," which I've found always seems be literal.
GENHTAI or GIGNOMAI overwhelmingly refers to generation or
appearance on the scene.
Can you give me an instance of the same phrase that supports removal?<<
Perhaps removal is a poor choice of words. Each instance of the clause does
denote a change from one place/sphere to another. There are three basic
meanings to the clause.
1.The leaving of servants from their master's presence upon command(Anonymous
Historia Alexandri Magni 3.1; Plutarch Moralia: Quaestiones Convivales 1.616d)