Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to [a]walk and please God (just as you actually do [b]walk), that you excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you [c]by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from [d]sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to [e]possess his own [f]vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in [g]lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but [h]in sanctification. 8 So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.This very clearly REFUTES the fake 19th century secrete pre-trib rapture philosophy
9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you will [i]behave properly toward outsiders and [j]not be in any need.
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep [k]in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [l]and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a [m]shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive [n]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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
What does this actually teach?
St. Paul wrote to the Thessalnian Christians because they were worried about those who died before Christ's return. Many in the ancient world believed that a person simply ceased to exist upon death. These was a rumor in Thessalonica at the time Paul wrote the letter that the dead Christians had lost out on any chance of a physical resurrection. St.Paul assures them that it was not so. In fact, "the dead in Christ will rise first" to meet Christ
The Thessalonians knew their dead would rise again but apparently feared that they would not find them in Christs retinue at the time of his glorious return. St. Paul assures them that their dead will indeed be there; slept through Jesus, a unique phrase, equivalent to the dead who are in Christ of 15, cf. Rom 14:7-8. In (the) word of the Lord
Paul The Thessalonians knew their dead would rise again but apparently feared that they would not find them in Christs retinue at the time of his glorious return. St. Paul assures them that their dead will indeed be there; slept through Jesus, a unique phrase, equivalent to the dead who are in Christ of 15, cf. Rom 14:7-8. In (the) word of the Lord
As it is clear from his answer to their second question (5:1-12) that neither he nor anyone else knows the time of the Second Coming, there can be no question here of his either teaching or hinting at the imminence of the Parousia, as many moderns have thought. His utilization of Matthew 24 is conclusive of his conformity with Christs own teaching on the Parousia,Rapturists make the mistake of thinking "meet the Lord in the air" is about Christ not actually touching the earth.
The word St. Paul uses for meeting the Lord "in the air" is aer the Greek word for atmosphere
This SAME word is used in Ephesians 2:2
And you [a]were dead [b]in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the [c]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.yet no one would claim that, because of this word, Satan wouldn't influence people on the earth
A consistent rapturist reading of this wod here would mean that only airplane passengers are influenced by Satan's power
NO, when Christ returns to the earth's atmosphere, He has returned to earth
Rapturists trying to point to the "coming in the clouds" -- but this ignores the symbol of divinity in the clouds
The Bible uses three Greek words interchangeably
Rapturists think that there is a different usage for each, but that is false - parousia is not used just for some fake "rapture" and the others for the 2nd coming
Paul doesn't mention this 19th century rapture idea as occuring before the appearance of the antichrist and before the second coming is simple: it never entered into his mind that anyone would believe Christ would rapture His Church before the final Eschaton
In the apocalypse, that is referred to as the battle with Gog and Magog, Christians will participate in that confrontation because there will be no secret rapture before it. Our comfort rests in Him who will emerge from that confrontation as the Victor.
THAT is the reassurance Paul offers, not the promise of an escape from the great Tribulation.
https://whatsaiththescripture.com/Prophecy/Harpazo.html
Without debating the timing of the Rapture, the subjects of the Rapture, or the number of Raptures... the Scripture is unequivocal about the concept of the Rapture. “16 For the LORD Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the Trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [Greek, harpazo] together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD” (1Thessalonians 4:16-17). This reference to the Resurrection of the Just is found in conjunction with a definite Rapture event. In addition to this reference, the Apostle Paul mentions his experience of being “caught up [Greek, harpazo] into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2Corinthians 12:4), using the word “harpazo” twice (12:2, 4). Also, “harpazo” is translated “caught up” in the Revelation, when describing the Ascension of the LORD Jesus Christ back into Heaven after His Resurrection. “And she brought forth a Man Child, Who was to rule all nations with a Rod of Iron: and her Child was caught up [Greek, harpazo] unto God, and to His Throne” (Revelation 12:5).
Harpazo: A Word Study
In addition to the four times that “harpazo” is translated as “caught up” (in the King James Version), there are nine other verses in which the Greek word “harpazo” is found in the New Testament. The LORD Jesus used “harpazo” to describe the ministry of John the Baptist. Even while in prison, Jesus compared the ministry of John the Baptist as godly “violence”, and John as “violent” with his ministry of “force”. “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force [Greek, harpazo]” (Matthew 11:12). Seizing something by force is part of the meaning of “harpazo”. It does mean that the LORD will forcibly take His people Home, whether they know, have been taught, understand, or even honestly-but-ignorantly disagree with the Rapture concept. “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).
In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23), the LORD described the Seed, which is the “Word of the Kingdom” (13:19), i.e., the Word of God, falling into four kinds of ground:
(1) the evangelized-but-lost world: “by the way side” (13:4), which are those who “heareth the Word of the Kingdom, and understandeth it not” (13:19),
(2) those who confess to any kind of Christianity: “stony places” (13:5), which “dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word, by and by he is offended” (13:21),
(3) the even better taught, but still not saved professedly Evangelical Christians: “among thorns” (13:7), but the “thorns sprung up, and choked them” (13:7), and
(4) the True Saints: “good ground” (13:8), who “brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold” (13:8).
Describing the vast majority who “heareth the Word of the Kingdom, and understandeth it not” (13:19), Satan “catcheth away [Greek, harpazo] that which was sown in his heart” (Matthew 13:19). The events surrounding the Rapture are by stealth to the ungodly, i.e., the “Day of the LORD so cometh as a thief in the night” (1Thessalonians 5:2), but not to the Godly. “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief” (5:4).
“Harpazo” is used to describe the great multitudes of people who were ready to “come and take Him [Jesus] by force [Greek, harpazo], to make Him a king” (John 6:15). Though they had the base design of wanting to force Jesus to be their benefactor for selfish reasons, it does remind us that the LORD will take His own by force for His own pleasure. “Thou art worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11). It is the pleasure of our King to rapture His people, that “where [King Jesus is], there ye may be also” (John 14:3).
The Good Shepherd teaches us that He cares for us as His sheep. “I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Compare the LORD Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd to the Antichrist as an “hireling” (10:12). “But he that is an hireling [Antichrist], and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf [Satan] coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth [Greek, harpazo] them, and scattereth the sheep” (10:12). Again, Satan will catch those who “received not the love of the Truth” (2Thessalonians 2:10), and these will “be damned who believed not the Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2:12).
Continuing with His analogy of Shepherd and sheep, Jesus assures us that no one is capable of seizing us by force out of His hand. “28 And I give unto them Eternal Life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck [Greek, harpazo] them out of My hand. 29 My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck [Greek, harpazo] them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29). In this instance, it is with great relief that we are not snatched away— by Satan. “The Name of the LORD is a Strong Tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10).
Philip the Evangelist was directed by the angel of the LORD to go to Gaza. He met an Ethiopian, who was a chief officer of Queen Candace, reading Isaiah 53. “6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth” (Isaiah 53:6-7). Expounding these Scriptures concerning Jesus the Messiah, the Ethiopian eunuch believed, and was baptized. “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the LORD caught away [Greek, harpazo] Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39). In this instance, Philip was caught away to other earthly employments. About twenty years later, the Apostle Paul stayed over at Philip’s house in Caesarea (21:8). But, to be caught away by the LORD means to be repositioned for higher service— Earthly or Heavenly.
When Brother Paul was seized by the Romans in Jerusalem, he had an audience before the Sanhedrin of the Jews. There he attempted to make a defense of the LORD, as well as himself. “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1). They demonstrated that they were in no mood to listen by ordering him to be struck on the mouth, i.e., “And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth” (23:2). Paul, then, acted as the LORD Jesus taught. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). He divided the Sadducees from the Pharisees in the Sanhedrin by bringing up an issue on which the two disagreed, i.e., “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question” (23:6). The resulting division between the Pharisees and Sadducees, allowed him to be extracted by the chief captain of the Romans. “And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force [Greek, harpazo] from among them, and to bring him into the castle” (Acts 23:10). In the same way, the LORD will rapture us with a strong arm from our enemies. “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His Tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a Rock” (Psalm 27:5).
The Epistle of Jude offers us a final glimpse at this Greek word “harpazo”. “And others save with fear, pulling [Greek, harpazo] them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” (Jude 23). An emergency rescue worker pulls people out of the fire, while attempting to keep himself from also being injured. Christians have the same ministry, but towards those who are spiritually lost. “For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). This depicts to us a ministry that pulls sinners from the error of their sins. “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). But, it also recognizes the great danger of the rescuer to be harmed by the contagion of the sinner’s sin, as well as the “sin which doth so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1). “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1Corinthians 9:27). So, the LORD has a “mighty arm: strong is [His] hand, and high is [His] right hand” (Psalm 89:13) to pull [harpazo] us out of this world with the strength of Omnipotence.