1 THESSALONIANS 4:17 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“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.”
Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord — 'caught up' (harpazō) suggests divine rapture, sudden seizure. The 'meeting' (apantēsis) is not mere encounter but communion; 'always be with the Lord' (dia pantos syn kyriō) is the ultimate eschatological goal. Separation is overcome; union is perpetual.
Church Fathers on 1 Thessalonians 4:17
The Prophets indeed, wishing to show the credibility of the things said by them, before all other things say this, “The vision which Isaiah saw” Isaiah 1:1; and again, “The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah” Jeremiah 1:1, Septuagint; and again, “Thus says the Lord”; with many such expressions. And many of them even saw God sitting, as far as it was possible for them to see Him. But Paul not having seen Him sitting, but having Christ speaking in himself, instead of Thus…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!