The Coming of the Lord (1 Thess. 4:13-18)
This sermon was preached on 14/3/2010
It looks as if some members of the Thessalonian church had died during the few weeks since Paul and his friends had been with them. In this passage Paul’s main concern is that his readers will understand the future experiences of their friends who have died. It seems that Paul had not been able to complete his intended teaching before he was forced to leave the city. There were aspects of the second coming about which the Thessalonians were uninformed, so Paul now makes up that defect.
In passing we can observe that the troubles that affected the Thessalonians have worked out for our benefit. If Paul had been able to complete his full teaching, then he would not have had to include the details of this section in his letter. But since he was prevented, every Christian church since then has had the benefit of his teachings because they are now included in the Bible. So even in their troubles, God was working these events for our good centuries later.
The Night of SleepingIn this passage, we also get insight into the pastoral heart of Paul. Timothy has told him that his Thessalonian friends are grieving the loss of loved ones. Paul realises that even in the experience of loss Christians are to be different from others. So he addresses them with an affectionate term (brothers) that reveals he feels for them in their loss. Then he uses a beautiful picture to describe the Christians who have died – he says that they are asleep, and this is the first detail that he wants the living to realise about the dead. It is important that we don’t take the wrong meaning from this imagery. Paul does not mean that they are unconscious or in a state of unreality. Instead he means that their bodies are resting.
The imagery of sleeping suggests several ideas, but let me mention three. First, sleep is a temporary experience. We take our rest with the intention of rising. Many Christians are sleeping, but they will not sleep for ever. The morning will yet come, and they will arise. Second, sleep usually occurs in a comfortable bed. Can we say that death is a comfortable bed for a Christian? Yes, because Jesus had gone there ahead of each of his people. On a cold night we like to warm our beds. Jesus has warmed the bed of death and removed from it its cold sting. Third, sleep usually occurs in a place of safety. Is death a safe place for Christians? After all, it is often described as an enemy. But believers are still united to Jesus, although their bodies are dead. They are quite safe, whatever will happen to them between now and his return. So we can see why Paul urged the Thessalonians not to sorrow as others who have no hope. Christians have a hope – Jesus will return. Those who have died in Jesus are like persons having a good sleep.
The Morning Will ComeSometimes, before we go to bed we will make plans for the morning. It is good to do so in a spiritual sense as well. So we can ask ourselves, ‘What are our plans for the day that Jesus returns?’ The obvious factor of that day is that we shall see Jesus. But who is the Jesus that we shall see? Paul answers that question in verse 14. Jesus is the one who died and rose again, who has already experienced resurrection victory. Paul is reminding his readers that God had a purpose for his church in everything that Jesus has done or will yet do.
On that morning, those who have died in Christ and have been in heaven with God will have a special experience of fellowship with God. This is the second detail that Paul wants the living to know about what will happen to their dead friends. The first was that they are asleep, the second is that their heavenly Father, who will be sending Jesus back to earth, will bring his adopted family members along with their Elder Brother. They will not be left behind in heaven. This will be an event that they will never have gone through during their time in heaven. It will be something new, and it will be marvellous for them. We should be filled with joy as we anticipate this wonderful prospect.
Paul informs his readers that he has divine authority for this confident statement. He explains his source of knowledge as a word from the Lord. I suspect this is information that was given to Paul and his friends by special revelation suitable to his role as an apostle and Silas’ role as a prophet (such persons in the New Testament period received such knowledge in an infallible way). Perhaps they had been praying for insight to help the Thessalonians or perhaps they had known this particular detail for a long time.
He mentions the obvious point that a generation will be alive when Jesus returns. From a natural point of view, those who would see this event would be the ones still alive. Paul says that we are not to think of this event from that perspective. Instead he states that those still living will not have priority over the ones who have died. How will this be?
The appearance of Jesus (v. 16)In verse 16 Paul uses the visit of an emperor to a city to depict the return of Jesus. Such an occasion would be an important one for a city and we can imagine the excitement and concern that would be felt. The emperor would be accompanied by his entourage and would give a display that revealed his authority and power. In a far higher manner Jesus will return with his entourage and with a display that will reveal his authority and power.
When an emperor visited a city, he would descend to that location from Rome, the capital city. Jesus will come from the place of government, from heaven itself. We don’t know where heaven is. From one perspective, heaven is a great distance away because we cannot locate it; from another perspective, it is very near because it takes less than a second to journey from here to heaven (‘absent from the body, present with the Lord’).
Paul mentions three accompanying features: the cry of command, the voice of the archangel, and the sound of the trumpet of God. The cry of command is probably a reference to the resurrection of the dead. In John 5:25-29, Jesus predicted this event: ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.’ We get an example of what Jesus can do in this regard from what happened to Lazarus in John 11:43-44: ‘When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”’ This cry is a cry of authority.
The voice of the archangel is a reference to the army of Jesus. An emperor would have been accompanied by select soldiers and Jesus will be accompanied by angelic hosts under the leadership of an archangel (only one is mentioned in the Bible, Michael). Jesus had predicted that, when he returned, he ‘will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other’ (Matt. 24:31). There is probably a reference to this angelic involvement in Daniel 12:1-2: ‘At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.’ I assume the heavenly army is present to ward off devilish opposition.
The sound of the trumpet of God refers to the fulfilment of Old Testament passages which signalled the ingathering of God’s people to their home. At the time when Paul lived, a trumpet was sounded on special occasions or when special announcements were about to be made. Here it is announced that the King is coming and that he is about to gather his people to himself.
The experience of the churchSo the King is on his way. But what happens to his people who have died. Paul informs us that ‘the dead in Christ will rise first’, that is before all believers are caught up to meet him. So a resurrection of Christians will take place and then all will rise to meet him. We should keep in mind the allusion Paul is making to the visit of an emperor. When such a person drew near the city, a delegation of important people went out to meet him and then went with him into the city. We shall ascend to greet the returning Christ and then join him as he is revealed to other inhabitants.
The reference to clouds is not likely connected to clouds in the sky. Two possible meanings are that clouds refer to large numbers (the great cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 11) or to the glory that came down when God was present (the cloud on the Mount of Transfiguration). Both meanings are true, but I suspect the second is in view here.
Paul does not mean that Christians are confined to the atmosphere for ever. Instead he has been using apocalyptic imagery to describe an awesome event that is unexplainable by the normal use of words. Yet despite its mysterious features, the core elements are very clear. When Jesus returns, those of his followers who have died will not miss out on spiritual blessings. Instead they will be resurrected and then participate with the living believers in all that the Lord has for them.
Paul does not want us to investigate this great future event in order to satisfy our curiosity. Instead we should use it to derive comfort regarding the departed saints. They are resting, they will be resurrected and they will re-unite with all God’s people in the company of the Lord. They will then participate in his endless reign and share with him his rich inheritance. There is plenty to comfort our souls now from our future glory.
In passing we can observe that the troubles that affected the Thessalonians have worked out for our benefit. If Paul had been able to complete his full teaching, then he would not have had to include the details of this section in his letter. But since he was prevented, every Christian church since then has had the benefit of his teachings because they are now included in the Bible. So even in their troubles, God was working these events for our good centuries later.
The Night of SleepingIn this passage, we also get insight into the pastoral heart of Paul. Timothy has told him that his Thessalonian friends are grieving the loss of loved ones. Paul realises that even in the experience of loss Christians are to be different from others. So he addresses them with an affectionate term (brothers) that reveals he feels for them in their loss. Then he uses a beautiful picture to describe the Christians who have died – he says that they are asleep, and this is the first detail that he wants the living to realise about the dead. It is important that we don’t take the wrong meaning from this imagery. Paul does not mean that they are unconscious or in a state of unreality. Instead he means that their bodies are resting.
The imagery of sleeping suggests several ideas, but let me mention three. First, sleep is a temporary experience. We take our rest with the intention of rising. Many Christians are sleeping, but they will not sleep for ever. The morning will yet come, and they will arise. Second, sleep usually occurs in a comfortable bed. Can we say that death is a comfortable bed for a Christian? Yes, because Jesus had gone there ahead of each of his people. On a cold night we like to warm our beds. Jesus has warmed the bed of death and removed from it its cold sting. Third, sleep usually occurs in a place of safety. Is death a safe place for Christians? After all, it is often described as an enemy. But believers are still united to Jesus, although their bodies are dead. They are quite safe, whatever will happen to them between now and his return. So we can see why Paul urged the Thessalonians not to sorrow as others who have no hope. Christians have a hope – Jesus will return. Those who have died in Jesus are like persons having a good sleep.
The Morning Will ComeSometimes, before we go to bed we will make plans for the morning. It is good to do so in a spiritual sense as well. So we can ask ourselves, ‘What are our plans for the day that Jesus returns?’ The obvious factor of that day is that we shall see Jesus. But who is the Jesus that we shall see? Paul answers that question in verse 14. Jesus is the one who died and rose again, who has already experienced resurrection victory. Paul is reminding his readers that God had a purpose for his church in everything that Jesus has done or will yet do.
On that morning, those who have died in Christ and have been in heaven with God will have a special experience of fellowship with God. This is the second detail that Paul wants the living to know about what will happen to their dead friends. The first was that they are asleep, the second is that their heavenly Father, who will be sending Jesus back to earth, will bring his adopted family members along with their Elder Brother. They will not be left behind in heaven. This will be an event that they will never have gone through during their time in heaven. It will be something new, and it will be marvellous for them. We should be filled with joy as we anticipate this wonderful prospect.
Paul informs his readers that he has divine authority for this confident statement. He explains his source of knowledge as a word from the Lord. I suspect this is information that was given to Paul and his friends by special revelation suitable to his role as an apostle and Silas’ role as a prophet (such persons in the New Testament period received such knowledge in an infallible way). Perhaps they had been praying for insight to help the Thessalonians or perhaps they had known this particular detail for a long time.
He mentions the obvious point that a generation will be alive when Jesus returns. From a natural point of view, those who would see this event would be the ones still alive. Paul says that we are not to think of this event from that perspective. Instead he states that those still living will not have priority over the ones who have died. How will this be?
The appearance of Jesus (v. 16)In verse 16 Paul uses the visit of an emperor to a city to depict the return of Jesus. Such an occasion would be an important one for a city and we can imagine the excitement and concern that would be felt. The emperor would be accompanied by his entourage and would give a display that revealed his authority and power. In a far higher manner Jesus will return with his entourage and with a display that will reveal his authority and power.
When an emperor visited a city, he would descend to that location from Rome, the capital city. Jesus will come from the place of government, from heaven itself. We don’t know where heaven is. From one perspective, heaven is a great distance away because we cannot locate it; from another perspective, it is very near because it takes less than a second to journey from here to heaven (‘absent from the body, present with the Lord’).
Paul mentions three accompanying features: the cry of command, the voice of the archangel, and the sound of the trumpet of God. The cry of command is probably a reference to the resurrection of the dead. In John 5:25-29, Jesus predicted this event: ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.’ We get an example of what Jesus can do in this regard from what happened to Lazarus in John 11:43-44: ‘When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”’ This cry is a cry of authority.
The voice of the archangel is a reference to the army of Jesus. An emperor would have been accompanied by select soldiers and Jesus will be accompanied by angelic hosts under the leadership of an archangel (only one is mentioned in the Bible, Michael). Jesus had predicted that, when he returned, he ‘will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other’ (Matt. 24:31). There is probably a reference to this angelic involvement in Daniel 12:1-2: ‘At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.’ I assume the heavenly army is present to ward off devilish opposition.
The sound of the trumpet of God refers to the fulfilment of Old Testament passages which signalled the ingathering of God’s people to their home. At the time when Paul lived, a trumpet was sounded on special occasions or when special announcements were about to be made. Here it is announced that the King is coming and that he is about to gather his people to himself.
The experience of the churchSo the King is on his way. But what happens to his people who have died. Paul informs us that ‘the dead in Christ will rise first’, that is before all believers are caught up to meet him. So a resurrection of Christians will take place and then all will rise to meet him. We should keep in mind the allusion Paul is making to the visit of an emperor. When such a person drew near the city, a delegation of important people went out to meet him and then went with him into the city. We shall ascend to greet the returning Christ and then join him as he is revealed to other inhabitants.
The reference to clouds is not likely connected to clouds in the sky. Two possible meanings are that clouds refer to large numbers (the great cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 11) or to the glory that came down when God was present (the cloud on the Mount of Transfiguration). Both meanings are true, but I suspect the second is in view here.
Paul does not mean that Christians are confined to the atmosphere for ever. Instead he has been using apocalyptic imagery to describe an awesome event that is unexplainable by the normal use of words. Yet despite its mysterious features, the core elements are very clear. When Jesus returns, those of his followers who have died will not miss out on spiritual blessings. Instead they will be resurrected and then participate with the living believers in all that the Lord has for them.
Paul does not want us to investigate this great future event in order to satisfy our curiosity. Instead we should use it to derive comfort regarding the departed saints. They are resting, they will be resurrected and they will re-unite with all God’s people in the company of the Lord. They will then participate in his endless reign and share with him his rich inheritance. There is plenty to comfort our souls now from our future glory.
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