1 Thessalonians 4:17 word air

[Marie-Denise Jolie]

Hello ALL.

I am looking for a preterist interpretation of the end of 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.   My first thought was that those of us that believe in a fulfilled view would have to considered this a spiritual joining with the Lord and not an actual meeting in the air (atmosphere).   But I have looked in a few greek bibles and I see the word is air in Greek, which is used for air, as in the wind. However, I did find on interpretation that said breath.  But if this is joining the Lord in spirit would'nt the word have been Pneuma (πνεύμα),   and not ἀέρα[the] air;   Or at least breath of God,  Perhaps the greek bibles I used were not accurate or is there something about the author's( paul's) pattern of use of the word aera.     I look forward to responses as this verse is confusing to me.  

thanks

Marie

¹⁷ 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.

17   ἔπειτα  ἡμεῖς  οἱ  ζῶντες  οἱ  περιλειπόμενοι  ἅμα  σὺν  αὐτοῖς  ἁρπαγησόμεθα  ἐν  νεφέλαις  εἰς  ἀπάντησιν  τοῦ  κυρίου  εἰς  ἀέρα·  καὶ  οὕτως  πάντοτε  σὺν  κυρίῷ  ἐσόμεθα.

[thomas greenlee]

Another key doctrine to understanding this text is to identify and define the three groups spoken about without creating a scriptural contradiction.