1 Thessalonians 4:17

“then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord”

“Then we that are alive”: The devil will not be able to destroy the church, there will be faithful Christians on the earth when Jesus returns. “Shall together with them”: With the righteous dead. “Be caught up”: To seize, catch up or away. “Caught up means to ‘to seize, carry off, snatch out or away'. It is the same word used in Acts 8:39 to describe how the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip after he baptized the Ethiopian” (Fields p. 119). “The suddenness, the swiftness, and the divine character of the power which is operative (1 Corinthians 15:52)” (Hendriksen pp. 118-119). “There is often the notion of. sudden swoop, and usually that of. force which cannot be resisted” (Morris p. 145). The expression "caught up" is where people get the idea of. "rapture". Yet according to these verses this event is not secret nor is it silent (1 Thessalonians 4:16). It does not happen seven, one thousand or 1007 years before punishment comes upon the wicked (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3).

“In the clouds”: Notice that this reunion takes place in the clouds, and not upon the earth. Jesus is not coming back to set up an earthly kingdom, rather He is coming to deliver up the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:24).

Also note that nothing in this section, dealing with the Second Coming mentions those things which Premillennialists are always taking about, such as the great tribulation, nuclear war, Russia, Israel, "signs", and so on. If popular Premillennial writers are right, then it sure appears like they have. better "inside" line to the secrets of God, than the Apostle Paul did. Because compared to what such men write (if they are right), Paul had. very poor and weak line of communication with God, and. very limited imagination.

“To meet the Lord”: The word "meet" is used of commonplace meetings, but it also can refer to "the formal reception of. newly arriving magistrate. It implies welcome of. great person on his arrival. It may well be that there is. touch of the formal here, with the thought of. royal reception. They were being presented to the King” (Morris p. 146). “And so shall we ever be with the Lord”: “This means that between Jesus Christ and the man who loves Him there is. relationship which nothing can break. It is. relationship independent of time” (Barclay p. 236). See John 17:24; Revelation 21:3; Revelation 22:3.