Step One: Have them affirm that the church is present at the Appearing of Christ as seen in the verse below,
“Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming [parousia]” 1John 2:28. (cf. Titus 2:13; 1Tim. 6:14; 2Tim. 4:8; Col. 3:4; 1Peter 5:4; 1John 3:2)
Step Two: Next, show them the verse below that demonstrates that the revealed Antichrist will be present as well at the Appearing of Christ,
“Then that lawless one [Antichrist] will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming [parousia].” – 2Th 2:8
Step 3: Therefore,
…since the Church and the revealed Antichrist will be present at the Appearance of Christ, (1) the rapture cannot be imminent, since the Antichrist must be revealed prior to Christ’s Appearing, and (2) the Church will be here during Antichrist’s rule.
