The Rapture...Real or misunderstood?

Is the Rapture a real event before the tribulation, or a deceit meant to mislead people, and give a false sense of hope and protection?  Imagine if you believed you would be protected from any tribulation time... would you let down... stop growing... stop overcoming?  The pre-tribulation rapture theory is NOT biblical, and will damage the faith of millions of Christians if they do NOT understand the actual timeline for the resurrection.