The belief that faithful Christians will be bodily caught up from the earth, suddenly taken out of the world, to be united with the Lord “in the air.” The word “rapture” is understood by some persons, but not by all, to be the meaning of 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
When the Apostle Paul said that Christians would be "caught up" to be with the Lord, the subject he was discussing was the resurrection. 1Thessalonians 4:13-18 says: "We would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep [“those who sleep in death,” NE; “those who have died,” TEV, JB], that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” It is evident that some members of the Christian congregation in Thessalonica had died. Paul encouraged the survivors to comfort one another with the resurrection hope. He reminded them that Jesus was resurrected after his death; so, too, at the coming of the Lord, those faithful Christians among them who had died would be raised to be with Christ.
So who are the ones 'caught up in the clouds,' stated at 1 Thessalonians 4:17?
Verse 15 says that they're faithful Christians "who are left until the coming of the Lord," meaning they're still alive, they're still living at the time of Jesus coming. They haven't died yet. Does that mean they won't die? According to Romans 6:3-5 and 1 Corinthians 15:35-36, 44 they must die before they can go to heaven. There is a difference however, the ones who were resurrected at the Lords coming, those who had fallen asleep in death, they slept in death for a period of time(thousands of years) but when the second presence of Jesus begins then those who have been sleeping in death are resurrected first. Those Christians who are to go to heaven who still are alive at the Lords coming don't have to sleep in death for a period of time as those who were resurrected when Jesus second presence began who did sleep for a period of time. When those Christians who are still living when the second presence of Jesus begins do die, at the moment of their deaths they're instantly be caught up (resurrected) in a twinkling of the eye, to be with the Lord. 1 Corinthians15:51-52
There are those that believe that Jesus will appear visibly on a cloud and then take away faithful Christians into heaven while the world look on. Is this true? Well at John 14:19 Jesus says: "Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you [his faithful disciples] will see me; because I live, you will live also.” After Jesus was resurrected there is no scriptures that show that an unbeliever saw Jesus.
Also at 1 Timothy 6:16 these scriptures read: "This manifestation the happy and only Potentate will show in its own appointed times, he the King of those who rule as kings and the Lord of those who rule as lords, the one alone having immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom not one of men has seen or can see. To him be honor and might everlasting. Amen.
I know that many people think these words are describing the True God Jehovah, which is understandable because of those things that are stated in 1 Timothy 6:15,6 can be said of the True God Jehovah, such as, " he the king of eternity" "incorruptible" a "happy God" and the "Lord of lords." 1Timothy 1:11,17; Deuteronomy 10:17. The scriptures also say, "no man ever saw or can see him. Exodus 33:20
The thing is though is that when Paul wrote 1 Timothy 6:15-16, he could not say that Jehovah alone had immortality, for Jesus was given immortality at his resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; Hebrews 7:16; Romans 6:9.
The description in 1 Timothy 6:15-16 does fit Jesus though, because Jesus is the reflection of the True Gods glory and the exact representation of his very being. Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15.
Since Jesus resurrection and ascension to heaven, he "dwells in unapproachable light." No man has actually Seen the glorified Jesus. When Jesus revealed himself to the persecuter Saul, the overwhelming light blinded Saul. Acts 9:3-8; 22:6-11; John 14:19. As a grand ruler Jesus will receive everlasting honor, for his Father crowned him "with glory and honor." Hebrews 2:9; Philippians 2:9-11.
Now there probably be those who will ask, "how is it that Jesus alone has immortality?" We have to take note of the setting. Paul was not discussing Gods kingship or immortality but was contrasting Jesus to others of mankind. Jesus is king of those (men) who rule as kings. Revelations 17:12,14; 19:16. Christ is also preeminent in lordship, being " Lord of those (humans) who rule as lords." (1 Corinthians 8:5,6) So when Paul wrote that Jesus is "the one alone having immortality" he meant that all of the Kings or lords from humankind, the glorified Christ is alone immortal.
So there will probably be those that ask, what is the meaning of the Lords descending from heaven if its impossible to see Jesus? Jesus can "descend from heaven," as stated at 1Thessalonians 4:16, without being visible to physical eyes. Isn't it true that in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, Jehovah God said that he was going "to go down to see" what the people were doing? Genesis 18:21. But when Jehovah made that inspection, no human saw him, although they did see the angelic representatives that he sent. John 1:18
Similarly, without having to return in the flesh, Jesus could turn his attention to his faithful followers on Earth to reward them.
So in what sense then will humans "see" the Lord "coming in a cloud"?
Jesus foretold: “Then they will see the Son of man [Jesus Christ] coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27 In no way does this statement or similar ones in other texts contradict what Jesus said as recorded at John 14:19. Consider: At Mount Sinai, what occurred when God ‘came to the people in a thick cloud,’ as stated at Exodus 19:9? God was invisibly present; the people of Israel saw visible evidence of his presence, but none of them actually saw God with their eyes. So, too, when Jesus said that he would come “in a cloud,” he meant that he would be invisible to human eyes but that humans would be aware of his presence. They would “see” him with their mental eyes, discerning the fact that he was present.
When the Apostle Paul said that Christians would be "caught up" to be with the Lord, the subject he was discussing was the resurrection. 1Thessalonians 4:13-18 says: "We would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep [“those who sleep in death,” NE; “those who have died,” TEV, JB], that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” It is evident that some members of the Christian congregation in Thessalonica had died. Paul encouraged the survivors to comfort one another with the resurrection hope. He reminded them that Jesus was resurrected after his death; so, too, at the coming of the Lord, those faithful Christians among them who had died would be raised to be with Christ.
So who are the ones 'caught up in the clouds,' stated at 1 Thessalonians 4:17?
Verse 15 says that they're faithful Christians "who are left until the coming of the Lord," meaning they're still alive, they're still living at the time of Jesus coming. They haven't died yet. Does that mean they won't die? According to Romans 6:3-5 and 1 Corinthians 15:35-36, 44 they must die before they can go to heaven. There is a difference however, the ones who were resurrected at the Lords coming, those who had fallen asleep in death, they slept in death for a period of time(thousands of years) but when the second presence of Jesus begins then those who have been sleeping in death are resurrected first. Those Christians who are to go to heaven who still are alive at the Lords coming don't have to sleep in death for a period of time as those who were resurrected when Jesus second presence began who did sleep for a period of time. When those Christians who are still living when the second presence of Jesus begins do die, at the moment of their deaths they're instantly be caught up (resurrected) in a twinkling of the eye, to be with the Lord. 1 Corinthians15:51-52
There are those that believe that Jesus will appear visibly on a cloud and then take away faithful Christians into heaven while the world look on. Is this true? Well at John 14:19 Jesus says: "Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you [his faithful disciples] will see me; because I live, you will live also.” After Jesus was resurrected there is no scriptures that show that an unbeliever saw Jesus.
Also at 1 Timothy 6:16 these scriptures read: "This manifestation the happy and only Potentate will show in its own appointed times, he the King of those who rule as kings and the Lord of those who rule as lords, the one alone having immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom not one of men has seen or can see. To him be honor and might everlasting. Amen.
I know that many people think these words are describing the True God Jehovah, which is understandable because of those things that are stated in 1 Timothy 6:15,6 can be said of the True God Jehovah, such as, " he the king of eternity" "incorruptible" a "happy God" and the "Lord of lords." 1Timothy 1:11,17; Deuteronomy 10:17. The scriptures also say, "no man ever saw or can see him. Exodus 33:20
The thing is though is that when Paul wrote 1 Timothy 6:15-16, he could not say that Jehovah alone had immortality, for Jesus was given immortality at his resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; Hebrews 7:16; Romans 6:9.
The description in 1 Timothy 6:15-16 does fit Jesus though, because Jesus is the reflection of the True Gods glory and the exact representation of his very being. Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15.
Since Jesus resurrection and ascension to heaven, he "dwells in unapproachable light." No man has actually Seen the glorified Jesus. When Jesus revealed himself to the persecuter Saul, the overwhelming light blinded Saul. Acts 9:3-8; 22:6-11; John 14:19. As a grand ruler Jesus will receive everlasting honor, for his Father crowned him "with glory and honor." Hebrews 2:9; Philippians 2:9-11.
Now there probably be those who will ask, "how is it that Jesus alone has immortality?" We have to take note of the setting. Paul was not discussing Gods kingship or immortality but was contrasting Jesus to others of mankind. Jesus is king of those (men) who rule as kings. Revelations 17:12,14; 19:16. Christ is also preeminent in lordship, being " Lord of those (humans) who rule as lords." (1 Corinthians 8:5,6) So when Paul wrote that Jesus is "the one alone having immortality" he meant that all of the Kings or lords from humankind, the glorified Christ is alone immortal.
So there will probably be those that ask, what is the meaning of the Lords descending from heaven if its impossible to see Jesus? Jesus can "descend from heaven," as stated at 1Thessalonians 4:16, without being visible to physical eyes. Isn't it true that in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, Jehovah God said that he was going "to go down to see" what the people were doing? Genesis 18:21. But when Jehovah made that inspection, no human saw him, although they did see the angelic representatives that he sent. John 1:18
Similarly, without having to return in the flesh, Jesus could turn his attention to his faithful followers on Earth to reward them.
So in what sense then will humans "see" the Lord "coming in a cloud"?
Jesus foretold: “Then they will see the Son of man [Jesus Christ] coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27 In no way does this statement or similar ones in other texts contradict what Jesus said as recorded at John 14:19. Consider: At Mount Sinai, what occurred when God ‘came to the people in a thick cloud,’ as stated at Exodus 19:9? God was invisibly present; the people of Israel saw visible evidence of his presence, but none of them actually saw God with their eyes. So, too, when Jesus said that he would come “in a cloud,” he meant that he would be invisible to human eyes but that humans would be aware of his presence. They would “see” him with their mental eyes, discerning the fact that he was present.
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