Please note, that it does not say what most people believe. It does not say "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and then go to Heaven.... " This verse plainly tells us were we will MEET the Lord, not where we will reside with the Lord, We indeed will meet the Lord in the clouds, which is in our atmosphere. When Jesus returns He will not step foot on the Earth at the time of His Coming, We will leave the Earth to meet Him in the Atmosphere, it the sky, in the clouds. That verse is no way descibes where we will reside, where we will live with Jesus Christ.
I Thess 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caughtup together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Notice it says we will be caught up with them in the clouds, NOT in Heaven. At that time we Meet the Lord, and we Meet in the sky. And from then on we shall forever be with the Lord, not forever in the clouds, forever with Him, where ever He may be dwelling, either in the New City Jerusalem, or in Heaven, we will be able to be with Him forever.
Also another thing is the New City Jerusalem will be in the Air. There are prophesies which describe people living under that city, and that water which causes rivers come out from the New City as well. However it will not be floating, it will rest on four mountains on each of the corners of the City.
^i^
I read your post and the best way to get to the heart of the issue is tell you what I believe.
I believe when Jesus appears in the clouds, the saved, both dead and alive will meet Jesus in the air. Then, I believe Jesus will take us to heaven, where the Holy city is now at.
I believe we will spend 1000 years in heaven where the Holy city is at. I believe one of the activities the saved will be doing in heaven is judging both, wicked humans, and wicked angels.
After the 1000 years,, I believe we will return with the Holy City Jerusalem, along with God the Father, Jesus, and all the angels, and the Holy City shall land on the earth (where the mount of olives is now).
So,, I got Jesus coming to the earth 3 times:
1, First Coming, to Bethlehem in a manger
2, Second Coming,,in the clouds at the beginning of the 1000 years to take His people to heaven.
3. Third Coming, with the Holy City and all the Righteous at the close of the 1000 years.
That's what I beleive. If you have any questions,, I will give you scriptures to support my belief.
Thanks for the reply.