Bible Questions and Answers

Can you explain 1 Thessalonians 4:17?

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

This describes the return of Jesus to the earth to both raise the faithful dead (those who ‘sleep’ ‘in Christ) and gather the faithful living (those alive in Christ) together.

Jesus returns to restore the kingdom of Israel as the kingdom of God on earth.

Luke 1:32,33 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.

The resurrected dead (in Christ) and the living (in Christ) are gathered to meet Jesus ‘in the air’. Air is simply the place where respiration is possible - a significant statement when one considers that most of the saints will have been in the grave for a long time.

Using Strong’s Concordance: Air <109> ἀήρ aer from aemi (to breathe unconsciously, i.e. respire; by analogy, to blow); Translated in the KJV – ‘air’ 7 times. Meaning: 1) the air, particularly the lower and denser air as distinguished from the higher and rarer air. 2) the atmospheric region.

This will be the beginning of Jesus’ reign over the mortal population of the earth. Those (both the living and the resurrected dead) gathered to him will receive the divine nature and reign with him upon the earth.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

The initial reign of Christ over the mortal population of the earth lasts just 1000 years, at the end of which there will be a second resurrection and judgment. Mortality will cease, but Jesus’ kingdom has no end and the faithful will be forever with him. This will be the fulfilment of God’s purpose. God will live in and with his people on the earth forever. The end of the millennial reign is described in Revelation 21:3-5 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said to me, Write, for these words are true and faithful.

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,
Glenn