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NASB | 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain will 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. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord! [John 14:3; 1 Cor 15:52; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; Col 3:4] |
Bible Question: If the new Kingdom is to be here on earth, why does it say in the Bible that we will be taken up? |
Bible Answer: St Chrysostom, who like Paul lived during the Roman empire, explains the passage just this way: "If he [Christ] is about to descend, on what account shall we be caught up? For the sake of honor. For when a king drives into a city, those who are in honor go out to meet him; but the condemned await the judge within." Since Christ is coming down, Christians must go up to meet him so that they can join his triumphal procession. Acts 28:15 uses the word "meet" (apantesis) in a similar way. It describes an event that occurred as Paul is approaching Rome. It reads as follows: "The believers from there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage." The Christians in Rome came out of the city to meet Paul to honor him and usher him into Rome. In sum, in this text the Christians are caught up into the clouds to meet Christ so that they can share in the true Lord’s glorious return to earth. There is a rapture (taking up of Christians), but its purpose is not to take Christians away from earth, but to enable them to join his triumphal return. http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Rapture Machaira |
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Questions and/or Subjects for 1 Thess 4:17 | Author | ||
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Job Patience | ||
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jrepo243 | ||
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Machaira | ||
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M.Royal | ||
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fcs375 | ||
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puppytoes | ||
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Shaunalin |