IS THE RAPTURE BIBLICAL PART 2: WHY WOULD THE SAINTS RISE TO MEET CHRIST IN THE AIR, WHEN HE IS ON HIS WAY TO THE EARTH?

This is a continuation of my previous post "Is The Rapture Biblical"

Why would the saints rise to meet Christ in the air, when He is on His way to the earth to defeat evil and to establish the Kingdom of God here? Why not simply wait for Him to arrive?

Those who teach the rapture make much of this issue, claiming that it buttresses their theory. In fact, the truth of the matter actually further discredits their erroneous teaching.

We need to look at the meaning of the Greek term translated “to meet” that Christ inspired Paul to use in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Dr. Leon Morris writes in the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: “The expression translated to meet is kind of a technical term ‘for the official welcome of a newly arrived dignitary’…and is very suitable in this context.”

Notice that it pertains to a newly arrived dignitary, not to one who is merely passing through. In no way does it convey that Christ only enters the atmosphere and then reverses course, as He snatches believers away to heaven.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words adds that the Greek word “is used in the papyri of a newly arriving magistrate. ‘It seems that the special idea of the word was the official welcome of a newly arrived dignitary’ ” (1985, “Meet”).

The resurrected saints rise in a respectful gesture to welcome the arriving dignitary, “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16). The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary notes that “when a king enters his city the loyal go forth to meet him.”

As well, the word tells us where the saints go after rising to meet the returning Christ. F.F. Bruce’s International Bible Commentary explains: “To meet is used in the papyri of the official reception given to a visiting governor, whom his citizens escort into the city from which they have come to meet him” (1986, notes on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Jesus’ loyal subjects, the resurrected saints rise from the earth to meet Him as He comes to govern the world, and they escort Him back to the earth—at that time, not years later.

The same reference we cited above from Zechariah confirms this: “And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south… Thus the LORD my God will come, and all the saints with You” (Zechariah 14:4-5, emphasis added).

In conclusion, let’s summarize what 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 actually says.

• Christ’s return is proclaimed by an angel’s trumpet blast; it is clearly not a secret matter.
• The fact that some believers had died doesn’t mean they would be left out; they will be resurrected to join Christ as He returns to establish the Kingdom of God on earth 
• Living believers will also be changed to spirit to join those resurrected from the dead. 
• All the saints will form a welcoming party that rises to meet Christ and escort Him back to earth; absolutely nothing is said or implied about going to heaven. 

In related scriptures, we have seen that Christ indeed continues through the air to the earth after the saints meet Him. His return is the prophesied second coming, not a clandestine snatch and grab of the saints.

We have also seen that the resurrected saints who meet Christ will immediately begin to serve with Him in the Kingdom of God on the earth (Revelation 20:6).

There is no rapture. There is a resurrection at the second coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.