1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:22-26, Hope

Both David in Psalm 23 and Job referred to it as the shadow of death, that last enemy of death that holds many in bondage.  But fear need not be the case with believers IF two needs are met …

·        The need NOT to be ignorant of the facts.  Don’t be children in understanding.  In regard to evil be infants, but in your understanding be mature (1 Cor. 14:20).

·        The need to have hope that extends beyond the grave.  If in this life only we have hope we are of all men most miserable (1 Cor. 15:19).  We need the hope of Job (19:25-27). 

The hope that extends beyond the grave centers on knowledge of what happens after we die and after others die, and with respect to that the NT seems keenly interested in the order of events.  On that subject let us begin in 1 Cor. 15:22-26:

Ø In Adam all die.

Ø In Christ all shall be made alive.

1.     Christ the firstfruits (the first to be resurrected, never to die again).

2.     Those who belong to Him.

3.     Then the end, the kingdom and eternal reign.

On #2 above the Thessalonians had seen some who belong to Him die, or literally sleep through Christ.  What about them? When would they be resurrected?  Paul’s initial answer (v14) is to remind them of the firstfruit: since Jesus died and was raised we can be sure these loved ones will be resurrected.  In v15-17 he gets more specific concerning events that will occur around the time of the coming of the Lord.  The coming refers to the arrival of God’s presence in Christ.

·        REVELATION.  The key phrase here is by the word of the Lord.  Paul is not quoting the OT or even from the Gospels.  This is something the Lord told Paul that has to do with the Church.  This makes sense: the rapture is a Church event while the tribulation period itself, which is revealed in the OT, is an “Israel” event.

·        RETURN.  There are three phrases of concern here.

o   Phrase #1: God will bring with Him (Jesus), v14.  When Christs returns He will not return alone.  The armies of heaven will accompany Him (Rev. 19:11-14).  More specifically, you will appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:4).

o   Phrase #2: For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven, v16.  Note that “heaven” is used alongside “air” in this passage.  We have noted the three heavens (the abode of the birds or air is first, then the abode of the stars and the abode of God).  Christ will return from the third heaven and we will meet Him in the first heaven.  (We will pick this up in tomorrow’s post.)