1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
(1 Th 4:13) But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
· In Acts 17:1-10 we read about Paul's trip to Thessalonica, in the region of Macedonia, during his second missionary journey. He was only there for a few weeks, but he established a church there. The letters to the Thessalonians were the first of Paul's letters, written in 52 AD, during his second missionary journey, when he was in Corinth for 18 months. At that point the church in Thessalonica was only 1-2 years old. It is the oldest existing Christian document (the gospels were written over a decade later).
· Paul apparently had heard from the church that in that short time, some of the believers has died. He tries to comfort them here in their sorrow. Note that he does not discourage being sorrowful - he compares the sorrow of those in Christ with the sorrow of those who have no hope.
(1 Th 4:14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
· Christians, when they die, are with God. There is no holding place. All dead Christians are with God. When Jesus returns, God brings all the dead Christians with Him.
(1 Th 4:15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
· When is the coming of the Lord? Is it near, will He return soon? See that the believers at that time thought Jesus may even return soon back then. Paul was thinking it may be possible for Jesus to return in his lifetime.
(1 Th 4:16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
· The word for "heaven" here can also be translated "air" or "sky". Jesus will descend to the earth from the sky, similar to the way He ascended. The angels said this immediately after His ascension (Acts 1:11).
· When will this happen? No know knows except the Father God, not even Jesus. Specifically, we cannot predict when it will happen - it will surprise us like a thief who comes to your house (Matt 24:36,44,50, 2 Pet 3:10).
· Before the end (Matt 24)
- Many will claim to be the Christ; many will fall away to follow them
- There will be many false prophets
- There will be many rumors of wars
- There will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places on the earth
- Many Christians will be killed
- There will be a lot of hate; the love of people will become cold
- Lawlessness will abound
- There will be many scoffers of the things of God (2 Pet 3:3-6)
· At the end
- The gospel will have been preached in all the world
- Everyone is encouraged to flee from Judea, without pause, without taking time to collect anything
· After the end
- There will be great tribulation, the worst ever
- Those days will be shortened by the coming of Jesus
· At that time, what will be happening?
- Preceding His arrival, the debauchery of man will be similar to the low morality in the days of Noah, when God was prompted to eliminate all of mankind, except for Noah's family (Luke 17:26-30). It is also compared to the low morality in Sodom before it was destroyed.
- When Jesus arrives, He will be coming down, as compared to His departure, when He went up.
- Jesus will come with power and great glory (Matt 24:30)
- At Jesus descension, He will only descend to the level of the clouds - He will not come all the way to the earth (see vs 17).
- Just like sheet lightning (intracloud), when it flashes across the sky, there will be a similar impression when Jesus returns (Luke 17:24 ). This may mean His arrival will be seen around the world - not necessarily Him, but the effects of His arrival.
- When He descends, people will hear at least three things - 1-a shout, 2-the voice of an archangel, and 3-the trumpet of God. This trumpet is called the last trumpet in 1 Cor 15:52. It's going to be very loud (2 Pet 3:10) (The Big Bang Theory? This is God's Big Bang!). So, folks will both see and hear the arrival.
- At that time, the sun and the moon will be darkened, the stars will fall from heaven, and celestial bodies in the universe will be shaken (Matt 24:29).
- Before the Christians who are alive are drawn to Him, the dead Christians will first reappear ("rise"); they were dead, i.e. on the earth, and they will reappear on the earth (my interpretation).
- Then, the Christians who were dead and those who are alive will join together to be with Jesus in the air (vs 17). They will be drawn from the far ends of the earth to be physically with Jesus.
- It is the angels who gather the Christians to be with Jesus (Matt 24:31).
- It is God who brings the dead Christians to be with Jesus (vs 14).
- When the Christians are drawn away, the non-Christians will be left behind, no matter how close they were to those who left (Luke 17:31-36).
- Certainly if the dead rise, they will go through some sort of a transformation, a change, before they begin their ascension to be with Jesus. At the same time, those who are alive will also be transformed, be changed (1 Cor 15:52).
- How long will it take for us to be changed? Less than a second (1 Cor 15:52).
- When we are changed, we will go from a mortal, corruptible being to an immortal, incorruptible being (1 Cor 15:53-54).
- After that, Christians will never again be separated from Jesus (vs 17).
- Afterwards, heaven and earth will burn up on the day of judgment (Matt 24:35, 2 Pet 3:7,10). (Some worry about global warming, but God promises a very intense global warminig!)
- Consider that all the great accomplishments by man that will disappear in the fire - medicine, transportation means, harnessing electricity, nooks, schools, education, all knowledge of science, harnessing the airwaves for radio, TV, mobile phones, etc., entertainment, including sports, movies, vacations, etc., art, in all its forms, including music, buildings, cities, skyscrapers, technology, including computers.
- Finally, a new heaven and a new earth will be created (Rev 21:1-22:5), in which we will dwell forever.
· How are we to respond to this news about the end times? We are to comfort one another (vs 18). And, see 2 Peter 3:11-18 and the notes on those verses.
(1 Th 4:17) 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 thus we shall always be with the Lord.
(1 Th 4:18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.
(2 Pet 3:11) Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
· What will last needs to be at the front of our thoughts, in all we do. We need to keep things in perspective, that much of what we do doesn't last, but our relationship with God will, and our character, and what we input into others' lives.
· Sin will have eternal consequences to the negative, while holiness and godliness will have positive consequences.
· We all will give an account to God. Many don't believe that, nor that He will come again, and they live as if they have no expectation of a day of the Lord. While waiting for His coming we are to live in holy conduct and godliness, and (vs 14) in peace, without spot or blameless. In reality, our actions should show our confidence and readiness for Him to come again. Are you ready for Him to come soon, or will you have regrets? What's going on in your life now, and would you be embarrassed at or ready for Christ's arrival? God tells us there is no such thing as secret sin - all will come to light, be told (1 Cor 4:5, Eph 5:13). Why do I mention this? Because it is a rare person who will give up a secret sin by conviction - it usually takes exposing it in the light to awaken repentance and turning away from it.
(2 Pet 3:12) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
(2 Pet 3:13) Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
· How hard it is to form any thoughts of eternity! How difficult it is to understand that once we begin eternity, it will be that way forever. This means the new heavens and new earth will exist for eternity. See Rev 21:1-22:5.
· We will receive a new body (1 Cor 15:42-44, 52-54). Some will be short, tall, wide, thin, etc. Just as you are "stuck" with your current body until death, you will be "stuck" with the new body given you. Wouldn't that still have been true if Adam and Eve hadn't sinned? But in a righteous world, the shape you have won't matter! So, why does it matter now? Strive to have God's perspective of your beauty, rather than what the world tells you is beauty. I think they are in great contrast. Who is on the world's list of 100 most beautiful people? Who is on God's list of 100 most beautiful people?
(2 Pet 3:14) Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
(2 Pet 3:15) and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
(2 Pet 3:16) as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
· Not only are we to prepare for the end times, but we are to teach others to do the same.
· In addition to the scoffers, those who mock the words, we have those who twist and distort the words. The result? Their own destruction. They laugh about hell as they are sliding down the ravine into it.
(2 Pet 3:17) You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
· What is it you know? You know the truth, so deceivers won't deceive you. All the more reason to dig more into the truth (and so "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" - vs 18), so subtle deceptions won't sway you, and you fall away.
(2 Pet 3:18) but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
· Ah, what a great closing, a praise to God. This is the ultimate purpose for us, so we should find room in the beginning and end to lift and exalt God. May God be praised.