One of the better explantions of 1 Thess 4 I've seen I hope you read and learn what Gods word really says about these veres some mislead claim these verses prove their Pre trib Rapture theroy they do nothing of the kind.Lie ......................................................................1 Thess 4, 13 - But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.The word "asleep" in the Greek is "koimao", and it means "to die." Paul (by the Holy Spirit) was telling them, don't be like the heathen, or even the Sadducees who mourn as though they are never going to see their loved ones again. These did not believe in the after life. This is the subject of this Scripture. When some people are teaching the Rapture they leave out this verse, which is the subject. When you are studying the Bible it is absolutely essential that you first identify the subject. Without it you will be completely confused, and God is not the author of confusion.1 Thess 4, 14 - For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.Those who have already died will come with Jesus when He returns. Because as He died and rose again, and ascended into heaven, so did they. They are already with Him. Our God is the God, not of the dead, but of the living. This is the subject. Where the dead are. 1 Thess 4, 15 - For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep.The word "remain" in the Greek is "perileipo", and it means "to survive, and remain". Survive what? The great tribulation of the Anti Christ, who deceives the whole world, even the very elect, ifthat were possible. Remain where? Here. That's what the word "remain" means, to stay put. The word "prevent" is "phthano", and it means "to precede". We who remain cannot precede thosewhich are asleep because they have already died, and are with Christ already. 1 Thess 4, 16 - For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:Jesus will return at the 7th trump. The 7th is the final trump. Its all over. Rev 11, 15. He is going to descend, that means come down here. He is coming here, bringing those who have already died. And those who have survived shall remain here. 1 Thess 4, 17 - Then we which are alive, and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. "Then we which are alive and remain", There it is again, "remain,". And we shall remain in the field doing the Lords' work. Then we read "caught up together with them in the clouds," the word "caught" in the Greek is "harpazo" and it means "to seize, catch, pluck, pull, take by force," to understand this we must read on. "With them in the clouds", is a term Paul used meaning a large group of people. Remember the subject. Where the dead are. Paul spoke colloquial Greek, which is "street Greek", and used common sayings.Example, Heb 12, 1 - " Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses". Then we read "to meet the Lord in the air", the word "air" in the original Greek is "aer" and it means "to breathe unconsciously, i.e. respire; by anal. to blow." "To meet the Lord in to breathe"?At first glance this may not seem to make any sense, but it does. Now I am going to take you on a little journey through Scripture, and when we are done you will know what many Christians do not know. Genesis 1, 2 - And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.The word "Spirit"in the Hebrew is "ruwach", and it means "wind; by resemblance breathe, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; fig. life." Genesis 2, 7 - And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.The word "breathed" in the original Hebrew is "naphach", and it means "to puff, inflate, blow hard, scatter, kindle, expire."The word "breath" in the same line is "neshamah", and it means "a puff, i.e. wind, angry or vital breath,divine inspiration, intellect. or (concr.) an animal:- blast, (that) breath (-eth,), inspiration, soul, spirit." Acts 2, 1 - And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.2 - And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.3 - And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.The word "mighty" in the Greek is "biaios", and it means "violent: - mighty."The word "wind" in the Greek is "pnoe", and it means "respiration, a breeze:-breath,wind."The word "Holy" in the Greek is "hagios", and it means "sacred."The word "Ghost" in the Greek is "pneuma", and it means "a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze." This is where we get our word pneumonia, which is a breathing disorder. The word "Spirit" in the Greek is "pneuma", same as "Ghost" above.Now when this "mighty wind" or "violent breath" took the Apostles by force did any of them go flying up in the air? No. For years I had always wondered "what was the Holy Spirit?" Some people have turned the Holy Spirit into some hocus pocus nonsense. Even playing oneupmanship, they would say "Do you have the Holy Spirit?, I have the Holy Spirit!" When people would say such things I honestly didn't know what they were talking about. And I am convinced that neither did they. The Holy Spirit is simply the Breath of God. You may have already known this, if not, now you know. What do you do when you are speaking? You are breathing. And God said, "Let there be light:", And God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness:" When God speaks His Word, He is Breathing. This is the Holy Spirit. Jesus is The Word of God. When He comes back, (7th trump)we will be taken, caught up with the saints, in the "Holy Spirit", and so shall we ever be with the Lord. That's what 1 Thessalonians 4 was saying. And that was at the end of the Scripture, which was actually about, where the dead are. This Scripture has been tossed around, and taken out of context as much as any has.If you read it in the Greek, which you must, it is crystal clear. If you beleive that we are going to be flying around up in the air, as in atmosphere, where the birds fly, then you must beleive that you are going to stay there forever. Because thats what it says in the English. and why would we be going up when Jesus is coming down here? And this will take place after the tribulation, as it states in Matthew 24, 29-30. Some people thought Paul was saying that Jesus was coming back. He was not. And Paul himself cleared up this confusion by writing a Second Letter to the Thessalonians, where in Chapter 2, he warns us, the church, that Jesus cannot come back until the Fake Christ, the Anti-Christ (who is Satan) comes first and deceives the whole world that he is the real one. And when the whole world, including the Christians, is worshiping the False Christ, then and only then will Jesus come back. Matt 24, 19 - "And woe unto them who are with child." This means you were not faithful to your bridegroom. You didn't wait. Remember St. Paul said in II Corinthians 11, 2-3 - "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." The word "beguiled" in the Greek is "exapatao", and it means "to seduce wholly". The simplicity that is in Christ. Amen. Jesus is The Word of God. It is written. Follow Me. Study, to shew thyself approved unto God. And let no man deceive you. Keep The FaithYours in Jesus Christ,Gospel According to John 20, 21-22 - Then said Jesus to them again, "Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you."And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost