1 Thessalonians 4:17

" 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." 1 Thessalonians 4:17    (KJV)     The Evangelicals use this verse as their foundation for  the doctrine of the "rapture of the church", that when Christ returns he will gather up his saints, take them to Heaven and rule over the earth, but not on the earth.    There is a problem with that! 1) The verse does not say that we are going up into Heaven. In fact, that should be turned around  since "the Lord shall descend from heaven" (vs. 16). 2) "And so shall we ever be with the Lord." Where? On the earth, not in heaven. This is the testimony of the Apostle Paul elsewhere in his writings. (Rom. 4:13 cf. Gen. 13:15 and Gal. 3:27-29) and the teaching of scores of Biblical references (E.g. Dan. 7:18-27esp. verse 27; Psalm 38:11.22, 29; Matt.5:5; Rev. 5:10.)   (KJV)) The Greek word, "harpazo" translated "caught up" does not in itself denote direction (either up or down). It simply means, "to snatch away."1 Its usage is illustrated in the following references where the same verb occurs: "The spirit of the Lord caught away Philip." (Acts 8:39). "The wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep." (John 10:12). "No man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:29).      (WrestedScriptures)