1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Because the Lord Himself – in a call of command, in a voice of an archangel, in a trumpet call of God – will descend from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who live – who remain – at that time we will be seized with them in the clouds into a meeting in the Lord into the air.  And in this way we will always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another in these words.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Let’s look today at the manner in which the Lord will return.  He will come back with a command.  That means it will be forceful, planned, and assertive.  He will come back with the voice of an archangel.  That means that he will come back in power and presence.  He will come back in a trumpet call of God.  That means that it will be noticeable and it will certainly get our attention.  When Christ came the first time He was a simple baby born in a manger and overlooked by most people.  When Christ returns a second time the world will take notice and know.

Do you think you would like to be alive when Christ returns?  What do you think the reaction to such an event will be like?  How does the description of Jesus’ return demonstrate the power and presence of God?

Second Thought:

Next, let’s look at a very straightforward teaching of Paul’s that many like to overlook.  The dead in Christ will be raised when Christ returns.  They will be raised first, before those who are alive go to Christ.  But the point is that they will be raised when He returns.  We all await His coming – dead and alive alike.

How do you wait for the Lord’s return?  Do you think you wait patiently or impatiently?  What do you think that this moment will be like?

Third Thought:

Finally, Paul gives us a really neat promise.  Then we will be with the Lord forever.  When the Lord returns, nobody will be able to wrest us out of His presence.  We may be physically apart from Him now, but the day will come when we will be in His presence forever.  We are to comfort one another in this.  We are to look to the hope and the promise that comes with this teaching.  We need not mourn.  We need not wonder what it will be like.  We need not think that our life is over at death.  The day will come when we will be with the Lord forever and nothing will alter that status.

What do the claims that Paul makes in this section say about the power of God?  Do the power of God help you feel more comfort in the promise of eternal life that God gives to us?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3