What does 1 Thessalonians 4:17 mean?
This verse continues an often-quoted description of "the rapture:" the sudden, bodily taking from earth of all Christians by Jesus Christ. That depiction, in turn, is part of Paul's reassurance to the Christians of Thessalonica. He is correcting certain fears and misunderstandings about the end times, including what happens to believers who die before Jesus returns. The prior verse describes the rapture as a dramatic event, which first involves the resurrection of those believers who have already died (1 Thessalonians 4:16).Following the resurrection of departed Christians, Jesus will snatch up living Christians who are "left." Being left should not trouble believers, because they are left for only a fleeting moment before Jesus takes them up from the earth to join Him in the clouds of earth's atmosphere. This event will introduce Christians to an eternity in Jesus' presence.
The word "clouds" is used metaphorically, most likely as a reference to the sky. Alternatively, Paul might mean this as crowds of people, just as it represents a crowd of witnesses in Hebrews 12:1. At any rate Jesus' arrival in earth's atmosphere suggests He offers Christians' safe passage through the Devil's territory, reflecting imagery used elsewhere in Scripture. The Devil is "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2), but he is no match for Jesus. The apostle John offered strong encouragement by writing, "… he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
Notably, Paul makes it clear that this meeting is "in the air," and not on the literal surface of the earth. This is why the rapture is considered to be a separate event from the second coming of Christ. When Jesus fully returns to earth, a second time, He will do so leading the armies of heaven (Revelation 19:11–16).
First Thessalonians 4:13–18 represents an important shift in the subject matter of Paul's letter. Realizing the Thessalonian believers needed further teaching about Jesus' return (the rapture) and specifically about what happens to Christians who die before Jesus returns, Paul turns to address these vital matters. He wants his readers to know that death should not cause them to grieve like unbelievers. There is a bright prospect of seeing departed believers again. When Jesus returns from heaven, He will bring deceased Christians with Him. At that time there will be a loud command, the archangel's voice will be heard, and God's trumpet will sound. Christians who have died will receive their resurrected bodies, and living Christians will be caught up to join them, to be with the Lord forever. Paul urged the Thessalonian believers to use what he wrote about the rapture to encourage one another.
Chapter 4 starts with an encouragement for the Thessalonian believers to continue their spiritual growth. Their conduct is exemplary, but they need to seek to do even more. Paul especially emphasizes the importance of sexual purity, as well as the need for believers to live peaceful, polite, and productive lives. Paul then begins to discuss the subject of Christ's return. This begins with a reassurance that believers who have died prior to the return of Christ will be the first ones raised when He comes back for His people. Next will be those still living, all of whom will meet Jesus ''in the air.'' Knowledge of our eternal destiny should be encouraging!
