What is your interpretation of 1Thes4:17?

This topic is not a dicussion of Bible versions or translations. It is a theological debate topic.

 

When quoting scripture please cite the Version, Book,
Chapter, and verse. I've been called of God to check out
in my own book (or electronically) every scripture I
read (Thanks, folks of Berea, Greece). Thank you for
adheering to this request.

As quoted above:
1Thes4 [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.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 (KJV1769 Edition, e-sword.com version)
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.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 (KJV1769 Edition, Crosswalk.com version)
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.

See why it is important to cite the exact source, so we busy folks
don't have to spend all our time thumbing through the Bible?

BTW, the original KJV had the common after clouds:

1Th 4:17 (KJV1611 Edition):
Then we which are aliue, and remaine,
shalbe caught vp together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the aire: and so shall wee euer bee with the Lord.

The Latin Vulgate
1 Thessalonians 4:17 (
deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur
simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus
obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus

Where Latin 'simul' means English 'together' and
Latin 'rapiemur' is a form of Latin 'raptos' from which we
get our English word 'rapture'.

So the CAUGHT UP TOGETHER is today called the RAPTURE.

I beleive the CAUGHT UP TOGETHER comes before
the Tribualtion Period of 7-years. I believe that the
CAUGHT UP TOGETHER is phase one of the Second
Coming of Jesus (phase 2 is when Jesus comes and kicks
some Antichrist booty).
I believe a further description of the CAUGHT UP TOGETHER
can be found in 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

1 Corinthians 15:51-57 (KJV1611 Edition):

1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mysterie: we shall not all sleepe,
but wee shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinckling of an eye,
at the last trumpe, (for the trumpet shall sound,
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.)
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption,
and this mortall must put on immortalitie.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall haue put on incorruption,
& this mortall shall haue put on immortality,
then shall be brought to passe the saying that is written,
Death is swallowed vp in victorie.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O graue, where is thy victorie?
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sinne, and the strength of sinne is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thankes bee to God, which giueth vs the victorie,
through our Lord Iesus Christ.

 

Since the Lord does not touchdown here, as he most definitely does in other second coming verses, it most likely refers to the Lord's coming to get his saints before the 7-year great and terrible tribulation against those who dwell upon the earth. The great and terrible day of the Lord is initiated here and will be consumated when he anihilates the world's evil armies rising up against Jerusalem at the end of the 7-years. Then, 1000 years later, he will destroy again those as numerous as the sand on the seashore who refuse to bow the knee, and then the glorious new heaven and new earth and the new Jerusalem will descend from God's place and we will dwell with him forevermore!

 

A big amen to the definition from Bluefalcon. May that Day please get here soon, for Your servant is patiently waiting.

 

I don't know about all the many versions or myriad interpretations of this verse, so that being said,

"I'm outta' here!"

:thumbs:

Ed