I spoke to my wife this past week about our wedding. I asked her what she was thinking in anticipation of that day and when that day came. Two thoughts she mentioned were, “This is the day for which I am so looking forward.” And also she thought, “This is the day that I will be joined to the man with whom I will spend the rest of my life.” Now my thoughts were more spiritual than that when I saw Lora coming down the aisle. It’s hard to put into words such spiritual thoughts but they could probably be expressed by the word, “Whoa.” Translated, that means something like, “This is the most beautiful creature that God has ever made.”
Now this passage that we are looking at this morning is describing Christ’s return for His bride, the church, and His wedding to it. I hope that you are looking forward to this event as fervently as a bride looks forward to the coming of her groom. This is going to be a glorious event when we will spend the rest of our lives with the one who has saved us and redeemed us from all our sin.
This coming of Christ for the church is also called the rapture. The term, “rapture” comes from the verb in this passage translated, “to be caught up.” And so throughout this message I will use the term, “rapture” interchangeably with the return of Christ. The key idea in this passage is that the truth about Christ’s return for His church gives us the encouragement to rejoice until we see that day.
1. Introduction
I want to discuss two important introductory concepts that are related to the rapture but are not discussed in this passage.
A. The body sleeps
The first concept that we need to address is the fact that the body sleeps. As Paul is speaking about those who have fallen asleep he is not speaking about their spirit sleeping. He is saying that their body is resting until that time of the rapture. The spirit of the believer who dies goes immediately to heaven. They are not unconscious until that time of the rapture. When the believer dies he is in heaven immediately. The unbeliever is in a conscious state of torment. Several Scriptures address this issue. The first is found in 2 Corinthians 5. Paul there speaks of us putting off our earthly tent, our body, and meeting the Lord. He makes a contrast between being in this body and being in our real home in heaven. In verse 6 Paul says, “Being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.” And in verse 8 he finishes the thought, “We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”
So Paul makes it clear from the passage that we have two places in which we can be, prior to the rapture of the church. We can be in this earthly body and absent from the presence of the Lord in heaven or we can be removed from this body and be at home with the Lord in heaven. Also Paul says in Philippians 1:23 &24 that it was far better for him to depart and be with Christ than to remain on in the flesh. But he knew that he would continue to live in the flesh for some time because it was necessary for the spiritual growth of the Philippian believers. Here again we see in Paul’s mind the absent from the body, present with the Lord theology.
Also in Luke 16 Jesus tells a story about two men. The one was named Lazarus, the other simply called the rich man (perhaps out of deference for his family). Jesus related that Lazarus died and was carried up to Abraham’s bosom, which was another name for paradise or heaven. And in that place Lazarus was consciously comforted. His spirit did not sleep though his body did. Also, Jesus said, that when the rich man died, he lifted up his eyes in torment. He could see and could feel the pain of torment. He too was conscious in awaiting final judgment.
Though, in 1 Thessalonians, Paul speaks of us as having fallen asleep he does not mean that we become unconscious in waiting for the coming rapture.
B. It precedes the tribulation.
The next concept that we need to address is the fact that this rapture of the church precedes the tribulation. The tribulation is the period of God’s judgment upon the world for not believing in Christ. It is also a period in which God is showing to the world that there is a limited window of opportunity left in which to receive Christ as Savior.
Why is it that the rapture takes place before the tribulation? From the book of Daniel, in the same spot we discussed a few weeks ago about Messiah’s first coming, God says that after the Messiah comes God will deal exclusively with the Jews for one last seven year period. The church is not seen in this time. God will use the Jewish people, 144,000 Jewish converts to be precise, to complete the evangelization of the entire world in this seven years.
There are some, however, who would link this event to the middle or end of the tribulation. They would say that the parallel rapture passage in 1 Corinthians 15, that we read this morning, speaks of the “last trumpet.” And they would link this to the seventh trumpet in Revelation 11:15 and call it some kind of “pre-wrath rapture.” Yet this is highly improbable because the subjects of the trumpets are different. In 1 Thessalonians it is the church, in Revelation the trumpets are being blown against a wicked unbelieving world. Also we see that the results are different. Here the result is the snatching away of the church to meet the Lord, in Revelation it is the call for a release of further judgments against the ungodly.
Others might relate this trumpet to the trumpet mentioned in Matthew 24:31 for a rapture of the church that takes place at the end of the tribulation. In this case there is a similarity between them because in both instances there is a re-gathering of God’s people but there are clear differences. Again in 1 Thessalonians the reference is to the church. In Matthew the Jewish believers surviving the tribulation are in view. Here Paul discusses the raising of believers but in Matthew there is no mention of resurrection but merely the gathering those who have been scattered throughout the world back to Jerusalem.
Someone once called the post-tribulation rapture the largest cosmic non-event ever to take place. Think about it for a moment. The world population is decimated, those who are Christians are hiding out because they cannot buy or sell since they don’t have the mark of the beast. Who is going to miss them? What effect will this have upon the world? What kind of event is that? Why is Christ calling them up to merely to return to the earth and set up His kingdom? Can’t He meet them down there?
What we can see that the Scripture teaches about the rapture is that it precedes the tribulation. It is the blessed hope of the church of which Paul speaks in Titus. It is the blessed hope because we will not pass through the floodwaters of the tribulation.
2. The Truth about Christ’s Coming
Let’s look next at the truth about Christ’s coming. Paul notes three items concerning the truth about Christ’s coming.
A. It regards Christians
First, it regards Christians. When Christ returns in the rapture, He will return for Christians. He will not raise everyone from the dead. He will not raise those saints from the Old Testament period at this time. He will not call the unrighteous to come forth. This is an event that regards Christians. Paul says in verse 14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.” Do you see the key here is that it relates to those who have died as Christians. Also in verse 16, Paul says that the dead in Christ will rise. Nor is there a hope of a rapture for unbelievers who are still alive. Those who have not put their faith in Christ alone will experience the tribulation. And for those who have already died, there is no second chance. There is no opportunity where God asks one more time, “Before I cast you into hell would you like to change your mind?” God has given us this time before we die for us to change our minds. It is called repentance and belief. God is a God of the second chance but after death is not the time for this. The Scripture says, “It is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment.”
B. It shows no need for hopeless grief
The second item concerning the truth of the resurrection of which Paul speaks is that it shows no need for hopeless grief. Paul says that the reason he is writing this is so that “you will not grieve as the rest who have no hope.” Who are the rest? They are those who have no promise from God as to eternal life. They are not sure if they will ever see their loved ones again. They have no Word from God about the removal of all tears from their eyes. They have no promise that they will finally be in a place where there is no death, no sickness or no pain. Before we see the good news of verse 13, let’s understand its implication for the rest of the people of whom Paul speaks.
There are two groups of these people. The first is the irreligious hopeless. These people do not believe in God or in an afterlife. They see death as the final destination. These people hopelessly grieve for those they love because they have no belief of ever being able to see their loved ones again. They have lost these people and because to them, this life is what its all about they grieve without any hope because the light of one that they have loved has been extinguished making what they thought was a bright world dark. They grieve without hope.
The next group is the religious hopeless. These people do believe in God or an afterlife but aren’t exactly sure about if they will be there or not. They have a fear of death because they have no assurance of life. They are those of whom the author of Hebrews speaks in chapter 2 speaks when he says those who had a “fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” If you ask these people if they will go to heaven when they die tell you, “I hope so” but this is no assurance. They hope so if they continue, they hope so if they don’t mess up too badly before they die. But their use of the word hope is not the biblical picture of the word “hope.” It is their best guess not a confident assurance of their coming salvation by God. For there is no biblical assurance of them being in heaven. They have no Word from God. And though they may even have access to the Word of God they do not believe or hold to its clear teaching.
These people grieve hopelessly because they cannot be sure if they will ever be in the presence of God. They grieve not because they have no confident expectation in their life of seeing God who will reunite them with fellow believers and loved ones. I have heard too many funerals in which people were commended to God on the basis of their own goodness. I have heard the fact that they were a good husband and father or a good wife and mother or a good son, etc. as being the reason as to why they would be in heaven. But this is no hope at all according to the Scripture. Since God requires perfection surely our own deeds can never measure to that standard. What hope is that?
But Paul says we need not grieve, as others do who have no hope. Our hope is in a faithful God who is true to His Word. “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” God says to the believer. And again, “Whoever comes to me I will in no way cast out.” There is hope in the funeral of a Christian because God has promised that we will see them again and be together once more. For the believer, the passing of beloved brother or sister is merely like saying, “good night,” until we meet them shortly in the presence of Christ. There is no “good-bye” with believers but only an “until we meet again.” This is why believers have no need for hopeless grief.
C. It lacks nothing for those who die first
Thirdly, we see that the return of Christ lacks nothing for those who die first. The return of Christ had loomed so imminently in the minds of the Thessalonians (as it should in our minds). But perhaps there was concern when some of the believers in their midst had died suddenly because Paul and the others had not been gone long when this letter had been written. Some of them probably had died in martyrdom. They knew Christ would take them all with them when He came but they had not expected that any should have died first. How would this new situation that had arisen affect them and those whom they put to rest? Paul addresses their concern by expressing two truths about those who had died.
i. They won’t be left behind
The first truth that he expresses concerning those who had died is that they won’t be left behind. In verse 14, Paul says, “even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.” There was no need for the Thessalonians to think that somehow they were going to miss this great event of Christ returning for His bride. Yes, even those whose bodies have dozed off for a few minutes of eternity time will be reunited with those who remain until the coming of the Lord.
ii. They won’t be left without a body
The next truth that Paul expresses concerning those who had died is that they won’t be left without a body. Another concern of the believers was that whether their fellow brothers and sisters would have a new resurrected body. What if they were martyred by burning? What if they had been eaten by wild beasts in the arena? Would God resurrect their bodies if they did not have a proper burial? This kind of question may have been hinted at by Paul’s unusual word construction in verse 14. There it says that God will take with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. Now the phrase “in Jesus” is literally “through Jesus” and Paul may be declaring EVEN THOSE who have died “through” the will of Jesus or “through” a martyrdom for Jesus will have a new body. It doesn’t matter what has happened to the body because God WILL bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. No matter what happens to these people God will resurrect their bodies at the rapture.
3. The Sequence of Christ’s Coming
Next, we see the sequence of Christ’s coming. Paul describes this in verses 16 & 17. There are four steps in the sequence of His coming that Paul mentions here.
A. The Lord descends
The first step in the sequence of Christ’s coming that Paul mentions is that the Lord descends. Look at verse 16, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God.” We notice two distinct truths about Christ’s return in this verse.
i. He comes Himself
First, we see that He comes Himself. He comes Himself to welcome us. He doesn’t send servants to greet us at the door. It’s not the butler who opens the door to get our names. As much as we mention him in jokes on heaven, St. Peter is not there to scoop us up or welcome us in. Jesus comes Himself and calls us up.
This really describes the Jewish marriage custom of the day. The bridegroom went away to prepare a place for his bride. When the place was furnished and ready he would come in a procession to claim his bride. And here Jesus, having readied everything for His bride, the church, comes and receives her to Himself. Jesus is coming for every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ when He is ready. He comes Himself.
ii. He comes with authority
Second, we see that He comes with authority. There are three prepositional phrases that modify His descent and describe His unparalleled authority. The first prepositional phrase specifying His descent is “with a shout.” Now this word “shout” isn’t just a yell or a scream. Literally the word means a “shout of command.” It was used of generals who shouted orders to their troops in battle. Jesus is exercising His authority when He gives the command for us to come. We see the authority of this kind of command when Jesus stood before Lazarus’ tomb in John 11. After having been dead four days, Jesus commands, “Lazarus, come forth.” And the dead man arises from his grave.
The next phrase is “with the voice of the archangel.” Jesus isn’t coming alone but the most powerful angels in heaven accompany Him as His royal entourage. Jesus has, as His servants, the most powerful created beings in the universe. And this shows the authority with which He is coming.
The final phrase is “with the trumpet of God.” Jesus has the Father’s own authority backing Him in this return. Often royal pageantry and pomp would include the sounding of trumpets and in this grand event it will be no different. Here the Royal Son is coming for His royal bride, the church, and there will be a royal celebration announced by God Himself. There is true authority in the coming of Christ for His bride. It will take place with all the authority of heaven.
B. The dead rise
The next step in the sequence of Christ’s return is that the dead rise. The end of verse 16 says, “the dead in Christ will rise first.” The next focus of this event will be upon those who have already died in Christ. As we mentioned before God is not going to leave them behind. They will have their bodies reconstituted and made like unto the glorified body of the Lord Jesus.
C. The living are caught up
Thirdly, Paul says, the living are caught up. And Paul makes it clear that it is after the dead being raised that this takes place. In verse 17 he says, “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them.” Look what takes place. As the dead rise so will we, because it says that we will be caught up together with them. We go from where we are to meet the Lord together.
This gives us a great hope. Believers throughout the ages have had this hope. Perhaps we will not see death. Perhaps the grip of that dread messenger will not clutch me. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 concerning the rapture, “We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed.” Christ can return at any moment. There is nothing yet to be fulfilled that must take place. For since the rapture takes place before the tribulation we may never know, this side of heaven, who the Antichrist will be. And yet it could be another 1000 years away. It is according to God’s timetable. But along with the Apostle John, in the book of Revelation, we too can pray, “even so come Lord Jesus.” Come today!
But whether we will see the rapture or face death we can still have this confident assurance as the Apostle Paul did when he realized that he would face the executioner before he met his Lord in the air. In 2 Tim. 4, shortly before his martyrdom, Paul says, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom.”
D. We all are with Him forever
The final step in this sequence is that we all are with Him forever. The final part of verse 17 says, “we will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” We meet the Lord in the air. Our meeting will take place between heaven and earth. And we will be wherever He goes. So shall we always be with the Lord.
Nothing will separate us from the presence of our Lord. There will be no more dark days, no more days of separation from Him or from our loved ones who were believers. There will be no more death, no more pain, and no more sickness. So shall we ever be with the Lord. There will never be another funeral service that we will need to attend. We will be with Him forever. Like what my wife said in thinking about our wedding, “This is the man with whom I will spend the rest of my life.” So we can say when He comes, “This is the one with whom I will spend the rest of my life.” So shall we ever be with the Lord.
4. The Comfort of Christ’s Coming
Paul concludes this discussion of the rapture with verse 18. In it we see the comfort of Christ’s coming. He says, “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” This is the time for application. This is where the rubber meets the road. This is how we put it into practice in our lives.
What are we to do with this passage of Scripture? Two things. First, we are to use it to encourage ourselves to live for Christ. The word “comfort” in this passage is best understood not just in a way to console but to give cheering and encouragement. There is great hope and encouragement in this passage of Scripture. And with these words we are to be encouraged. You who have lost loved ones, who have put their trust in the Lord, must not grieve like those with no hope. When we focus simply on the fact that we have lost someone and we will not see them again here on earth, we are grieving like those without hope. We must put our focus where it belongs – that is, on the return of Christ and our gathering to Him. For it is in here that we have our grief assuaged and in no other place. If we fail to look to this Scripture when we are overcome with grief by the loss of someone close to us we are failing to seek our encouragement and solace in God’s precious promises to us.
Paul isn’t saying that we don’t grieve. Of course we do. It hurts to lose a loved one. But Paul says that we don’t grieve over the loss like an unbeliever would grieve. We encourage ourselves in the precious promises of God’s Word.
Secondly, we must encourage one another with these words. In 2 Corinthians 1:4, the apostle Paul says, “(God) who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” God uses His Word to encourage us. We then must take these words of comfort and apply them as a balm of healing to the heart of those who grieve. Let us not be remiss in our duty as believers to encourage one another through the Scripture. We will be with Him forever.