📌The Rapture The The Second Coming
1 Thessalonians 4:17
”…we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air…”
The key word here is the Greek term ἀπάντησις (apantēsis) — “to go out and meet a visiting dignitary with the intention of immediately escorting him back.”
This word wasn’t random.
It was a technical cultural term in the Roman world.
What it meant in Roman culture
In Paul’s day, when:
• a king
• emperor
• governor
• or VIP dignitary
was coming to a city…
…the people didn’t wait inside.
Instead:
1. A herald announced the king’s approach.
2. A select group of citizens rushed OUTSIDE the city to meet him.
3. They greeted him with joy, honor, and celebration.
4. Then they immediately turned around and escorted the king back INTO the city with singing, celebration, and honor.
This was such a common practice that everyone understood the word apantēsis instantly.
The other verse that uses this same cultural idea
Matthew 25:6
”…Behold, the bridegroom comes; go out to meet him…”
Same idea:
You run out to meet the arriving Bridegroom and then immediately escort Him back.
Why Paul used this word
Paul’s point was this:
When Jesus descends from heaven…
• The dead rise first
• We who are alive are caught up
• We GO OUT to meet our returning King
• And then we escort Him back as He returns in glory
This matches perfectly the rapture sequence in 1 Thessalonians 4 + the Lord’s return described in chapter 5.
Word of Faith teachers like Hagin, Copeland, Hilton Sutton, and Jesse Duplantis all reference this as a key detail:
📌 The rapture is a meeting in the air — not to escape, but to escort the King at His appearing.
Points:
• Romans went outside the city to meet a visiting king.
• This greeting party was called an apantēsis.
• Paul used this exact word for the rapture (1 Thess. 4:17).
• This means believers will go out to meet Jesus in the air.
• Then we return with Him as He comes in glory.
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