Real comfort is only derived by scripture as noted in our last post titled by the same “Real Comfort”. The text of 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18 is heavy. It requires another look, but for another reason. The interpretation is the same, but the application is one of the most relevant teachings we could possibly look at today.
For the sake of full disclosure, my attempt is both textual and comforting. It is not to give a treatise on ‘end times’ or prophetic views. Not everyone who reads this will agree with the conclusions of the text for various reasons. There are many objections, but rarely are those objections solely from scripture. Frankly, we are embarking on one of the most talked about passages of the Bible, and most debated. Many refer to this section as ‘the rapture’. It is also identified as the ‘resurrection of the saints’. Here is the break down of the entire text:
- 4.13— They had a problem.
- 4.14— The answer is an event.
- 4.15-17— Schedule of the event.
- 4.18— What to do in light of this assurance.
- 5.1-3— Timing of the event.
- 5.4-10— Live now with this event in mind.
- 5.11— What to do in light of these facts.
To recap the text afore mentioned let’s stay within those parameters: 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18.
First, They Had A Problem. The Thessalonians were unsure what happens when a believer dies.
13 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”
It seems that God wants you to know what’s going on and why. That’s good news for those who want to have some comfort. He doesn’t want to leave you in the dark. The reality of facts strike when someone dies. Life and death are both certain. It’s hard to lose a loved one, no doubt. It’s hard to go on without them, so God provides a truth that changes the way we sorrow; the way we see death; the way we serve in the present…believers do not die— they sleep. They are simply separated from their bodies.
2 Corinthians 5.8— “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
‘Death’ simply means— separation. So, as we separate from our body, we die to it. At that point, we go to be with the Lord immediately—our soul though, never dies. If someone dies that is unsaved, immediately their soul is removed from their body also, but it resided ‘separated’ from God (or) “dead”. The core you is your soul, not your body. That’s right…you are an eternal being. That’s why we plead for people to allow Christ to ‘save their soul’. Have you seen someone who has been burned so badly that they are unrecognizable from their formal self? Are they not ‘Tom’ or ‘Bill’? They are. They are not defined by their body. This is a temporary shell, but the eternal, permanent you, is your soul. Paul continues with the answer…
The Answer Is An Event. What event? Notice in 14:
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”
Believers who sleep reside in heaven waiting for the resurrection. He will bring them with Him. We know so far that when believers leave this body, they are with the Lord. According to verse 14, they will return with Him also. Return with Him to do what? That is the question! A schedule of this event is recorded in verses 15-17 to explain…
The Schedule Of The Event. The event is the “Resurrection” which occurs at the time of the “Rapture”. Verses 15-17:
“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 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.”
The schedule is as follows:
- The Lord will descend from heaven to Earth’s atmosphere (“clouds” and “air “ verse 17). Just as the angel said He would in Acts 1.11— “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
- It will happen with a shout from the archangel (Michael) and with the call or blast of the trumpet of God.
- Saints who are asleep will reunite with their bodies (resurrection)— “the dead in christ shall rise first.”He will change their resurrected bodies to eternal ones. 1 Corinthians 15.53 says— “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”Or as verse 15 says—“we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.”Meaning we are not first, they are.
- Saints who are alive will be caught up (raptured) to meet Jesus and the sleeping saints in the air— “alive and remain shall be caught up together with them.” They come down and we go up. Where does the word Rapture come from? In English— “caught up”; In Greek— harpazo “snatched right up, or taken up suddenly.” He will change our present bodies to our eternal ones at this time also as 1 Corinthians 15.51 states—“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,” Also noted in Romans 8.11— “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
- This will all happen in an instant as 1 Corinthians 15.52 says— “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
This is our hope.
Titus 2.13— “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
This shouldn’t bring fear. It should bring joy, hope, excitement, anticipation!
This begs the question— How could anyone not believe, or worse not want, Jesus to return? Three factors hinder our faith in this area…
- Ignorance of Facts. This is the reason for so much confusion today. This is also the reason Paul is writing the Thessalonian believers not just here, but in the next chapter, and in the next letter. When you’re uninformed anxiety can take hold. Being uninformed is not God’s will— He is a Truth-revealer! Anytime the subject of the second coming of Christ is brought up, controversy inevitably comes with it. So it’s amazing to me to hear people say things like: ‘We aren’t meant to know those things’. Except: Jesus, Paul, and Peter all said that God doesn’t want us ignorant of the details. It is also entertaining to hear people say: ‘You can never really know’. Except:there are double the references to His return then to His birth. We are not to be ignorant of this… at all!
- Time Lapse. When Jesus first came 400 years had passed between the last Prophet and when Jesus was born; and 700 years since Isaiah prophecies about Jesus and His birthplace. Time is not our friend on this. It allows for doubt and confusion to enter. They were informed and reminded, yet didn’t see it coming. How much more so are we in this same scenario 2000 years later! How much harder is it today, so many years removed!
- Comfort of Life. They were under Roman occupation, but some prisons are comfortable. God has a way of removing the comfort of people, to get their attention, doesn’t He? Jesus looking over Jerusalem mentioned this in: Luke 19.44— “And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” They didn’t see it coming, because they chose to ignore the revelation of his first coming. How comfortable is our present Christianity? How easy is it to live truth today? We again have a revelation about this same Messiah coming again… Are we so comfortable that we will chose to ignore it? It is an inconvenient truth when you’re in love with this present world.
Last, What To Do In Light Of This Assurance. Repeating from our last post, verse 18 has our answer:
“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
It’s not over yet! People are hurting bad and this is God’s prescription for comfort.
We are commanded here to comfort each other “with these words”— That is pretty specific.
Does this bring comfort or stir anxiety in you? Jesus could step out of the clouds at any moment and bring us home. In one way, I am comforted! I do want to see Him and all those who have gone on before me. In another way, I am burdened! I want to see people I know go with me.
Either way, it brings me no anxiety, but hope and comfort. How about you? If Jesus were to return today— Are you ready? Are there people you know, that you need to share what you just learned?