THE AMAZING MEANING OF THE GREEK WORD “APANTESIS” IN 1 THES. 4:16: A BIG PROBLEM FOR PRE-TRIB TEACHERS
by Mario Olcese
The Greek word for "meet" used in I Thes.4:16 is apantesis. According to IITim.3:16, every Word of God is inspired and breathed by Him, as such, that particular word is important. This same word is used in only three other places in Scripture. The first time it is used is in Matt.25:6 wherein we read, "... at midnight the cry rang out: here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet (apantesis) him" (parenthesis added). [Note, see also vs.1 in some texts.] The entire story in verses 1-13 reveals that the virgins had been waiting for the bridegroom to appear. When He did, they met him and escorted him to the banquet hall. They did not go back with him to the place from which he came. The bridegroom did not change directions, reverse course after the waiting virgins met him. Rather, he kept on coming in the original direction from which he started! The ones who changed direction were the virgins. What makes this account doubly important to the issue at hand is that this parable is directly related to the coming of the Son of Man as set forth in Matt.24:39.
The second usage is in Acts 28:15 wherein we see the same connotation. "The brothers there heard that we were coming and they traveled as far as the forum of Appius and the Three taverns to meet (apantesis) us" (parenthesis added). Verses 11-16 tell us that the brothers in Rome had heard that Paul was coming and they went out to meet him. After they met him they did not return to Caesarea with Paul (which was his place of beginning for this trip). Paul did not change directions after the waiting brothers met him; rather, he maintained his course to Rome. The ones who changed direction were those who met him.
The third and final time apantesis is used is in John 12:12-13. (Note, some Greek manuscripts show a one letter difference between this word and the one used in I Thes.4:16. The difference is in the first letter which is why it is not shown as being the same word in Strong's Concordance. However, the Nestle text of the Greek shows it as the same word. I am not trying to confuse the issue; rather, I am attempting to be complete in this analysis.) Verses 12-13 in John chapter 12 read as follows: "The next day the great crowd that had come for the feast heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet (apantesis) him shouting "Hosanna" (parenthesis added).
The same account in Matt.21:1-11; Mk.11:1-11 and Lk.19:28-41 make it clear that those who came out from Jerusalem to meet Him escorted Him back to Jerusalem and not back to Bethany. As they escorted Him they began joyfully to praise Him (Lk.19:37). I believe we will be doing the same thing when we "meet" Him. It has been stated by some Greek scholars that this particular Greek word is used to describe the official welcome of a newly arrived dignitary. Those welcoming the official would change direction after the meeting and then escort him back to the town from which they had come, not back to his place of origin (see Moulton, Greek Testament Grammar, Vol.1, p.14).
To describe a different type of meeting the Greeks have different words. An example of this is found in Matt.8:34 which tells us that "the whole town went out to meet Jesus." The Greek word used there is sunatesis. In this instance Jesus had cast a legion of demons into a herd of swine which then ran off a cliff into the sea. The town was upset and went out to meet Jesus. When they met Him they stayed there and discussed the situation with Him. They did not go anywhere with Him.
For an example showing a group of people meeting a single individual, and then returning with that person back to the place from which that person's journey began, see Mk.14:13 and Lk.22:10. Therein Jesus had instructed His disciples to go and prepare for the Passover. "As you enter the city a man carrying a jar of water will meet (apantao) you. Follow him to the house that he enters..." In this instance the group (the disciples) follow the individual (the servant carrying the water jar) back to the place from which the servant started. Apantao describes a meeting between an individual and a group wherein the individual reverses direction and returns to the place from which he came. On the other hand, Apantesis describes a meeting between an individual and a group wherein the individual continues on his journey after the meeting takes place.
Carefully note that our rising to meet the Lord in the air, as described in I Thes.4:16, describes the type of meeting wherein a group of people meets a single entity. At that time, if the group were going to return to Heaven with Jesus after He changed direction, the Greek word for 'meet' used there should have been apantao instead of apantesis. Every other time the word apantesis is used in the Bible, it is used to describe a meeting wherein the group reverses direction and escorts the singular who continues going in the direction from which he began. There is no justification for giving a different meaning to that word when it now appears in I Thes.4:16.
