What does it mean that we will meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17)?

The apostle Paul reveals a mystery in 1 Thessalonians 4. The Lord Jesus will descend from heaven, the dead in Christ will be resurrected, and “after that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (verse 17). The fact that we will meet the Lord “in the air” is significant.

The Greek word translated “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is harpazō, which in the Latin Vulgate was translated by Jerome as rapiemer, from which the term rapture is derived. Rapture is a biblical term for the event when God takes all believers, living and dead, out of this world to meet the Lord in the air. From that time on, the church will be with Christ in heaven where all believers will abide with Him in the place He has prepared (see John 14:1–3).

While the church is in heaven, there will be a seven-year tribulation on the earth, as Jesus opens the scroll of God’s judgment and great calamities befall the unrighteous on earth. The fact that we will meet the Lord in the air before that time of tribulation occurs is a tremendous comfort, and certainly even more so because the rapture could occur at any moment. The doctrine of the rapture places an emphasis upon living one’s life in holy and diligent expectation of the Lord’s return.

At any moment, the church could be in the presence of God, and that should motivate believers to live holy and pure lives. We don’t know how much time is left before we are called to meet the Lord in the air; therefore, we should maintain an active ministry for the Lord’s glory and honor, not wasting time or squandering opportunities (see Ephesians 5:16). At any moment, the church could be in the Lord’s presence, and then we will give an account for our lives.

The rapture is distinct from the second coming of Christ. In the rapture, Jesus comes in the clouds for His saints, and we will meet Him in the air. At the second coming, Jesus comes with His saints, and He comes all the way to the surface of the earth (see Zechariah 14:4). The rapture delivers the saints; the second coming culminates the destruction of the wicked (see Revelation 19). The rapture is imminent—it could occur at any moment—but the second coming is preceded by specific and identifiable signs (see Matthew 24).

The doctrine of the rapture is a doctrine of cheer and encouragement: “Comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18, NKJV). Paul writes of the rapture so that we “will not grieve like people who have no hope” (verse 13, NLT). The language is remarkably similar to Jesus’ words in John 14:1, “Do not let your heart be troubled” (NASB). The truth is that, if one trusts in Jesus as Lord and Savior, then, when Christ comes, He will take that individual to be with Him.