We should all look forward to both His appearing and His return. Both will bring about the fulfilling of God's plan to create a perfect spiritual family.

1 John 3:1-3 "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."

God's children must be spirit beings to be with, and see the Father.  Because Jesus Christ, His first begotten Son is spirit.

In the future, on God’s selected day, the human elect will be changed to spirit. 

In Luke 24:13-31 is an interesting account of two men traveling to Emmaus who meet Jesus but do not know Him until. . . Jesus "took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him: and He vanished from their sight."  So also will the elect be able to see Jesus  for they will become spirit beings. 

Then, Christ comes from His heavenly throne to the clouds.  He will call to His elect, and they will be taken up to meet Him in the clouds.  Only the elect firstfruits will hear the spiritual call, for only His sheep can hear Him.   This is the first resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming." We hope to be in the first resurrection, but do not fear for others, as there is still hope for them. 

In Acts 1:9-10 at Christ's ascension, in Bethany, the apostles watched as He went up into the clouds. Only the apostles, whom He had chosen, saw Him go. So also only the elect will see Him when He appears again in the clouds to call them to heaven.

Verse 11 says, "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, into the clouds, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." He will come in the clouds.  Christ was taken up, and a cloud received Him. The elect will also be taken up, and a cloud will receive them. This is not talking about Christ returning to earth.

In John 14:3 Jesus says, "I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there you may be also." He is in heaven sitting at the right hand of His Father, so there His chosen elect will be also.

The elect can be manifested on earth. 

Mark 16:9 After His death Christ appeared to Mary Magdalene.  :12 He appeared to two of those who had seen Him in life, as they walked in the country.  :14 After that He appeared to the eleven.

So also the spiritual elect will be able to manifest themselves and appear to their families for a time, to comfort and teach them.

There is always your part.

1 John 2:28-29 "And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him." 

Deuteronomy 6:25, & Psalm 119:172 Righteousness  is keeping God’s commandments.  So, if  you keep God's commandments you can, by the gift of God, become one of the elect, born of Him.

Where do we go from here?

The elect are given abodes, places to stay, in heaven. . . .  
John 14:2-3  "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Here they will be taught and prepared to return to earth with Christ and help establish His kingdom.

Matthew 24:31 "then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
They are called from their places in heaven, to return with Christ to earth. 

Christ returns to earth, as a warrior, against the evil there. 

Revelation 19:11-16 "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.  His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.  He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.  Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

When He returns to earth to establish His kingdom, the heavens will open and every one will see Him! He firmly puts His feet on the Mt. of Olives, as a warrior, to fight. Zechariah 14:3-4