06.19.2011 1 Thess 4 - Believers, Don't Worry about The Rapture

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Often, in our zeal to discover the sequence of events regarding the rapture, we miss the point of this passage. There is a clear message given in this passage – and in trying to discover the particulars that are meant to be obscure, we miss the entire point of the passage – which gives comfort and hope when we understand it more clearly.
1 Thess. 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. 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. 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, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of [the] archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Lord, thank You that there is a day when we will be caught up with You forever. This stay is temporary – we are here for your service. Help us to make the most of this time. We know that this time will end quickly, one way or another, whether we grow old and go to meet You or are caught up with You in the air, this time will go fast. May we have good hearts, clean consciences – sincerity of faith. Give us grace as we hear Your word -
Paul was concerned, remember, the first half of the letter is personal – Paul sent Timothy and he heard that everything was okay. Last week we looked at the first concern, sexual immorality. The second issue we’ll look at this week – the question he is trying to answer – the Thessalonians are concerned about those who have died. They have gone through suffering, trials and difficulties – they were Greek – and their concept was that death ended everything. They are thinking – Oh no, we have lost our loved ones forever because they died before Christ came back. Paul is giving them hope. They have lost hope – and Paul is restoring it. They are grieving. This is a passage for those who grieve. Here is where that hope comes from
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. 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
They believed that the coming of the Lord was soon. Many had quit their jobs saying that God is going to come back (sounds familiar!).
shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.
The solution to the problem is Jesus Christ. Because Jesus rose from the dead, you can be confident that you will be raised with Him. It is a guarantee. At the coming of the Lord, this will happen – those who are dead will be raised – and we will be raised – with new bodies. You will see them, know them, and be with them.
He begins to describe the event in detail:
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of [the] archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
I have underlined the point of the passage. He answers their concern about those who have died by telling them that they will be together forever with the Lord. Sometimes we don’t realize – you kids – your parents – you’ll be together again. We take that verse, they are like angels, not given in marriage – and think we’ll be some ghosts… - but no, you will know your spouse and the love will just explode. It is all about the relationships. IN eternity, it will all be put back together. Doesn’t that give hope?
They were suffering because of their faith – and when this happens, it means a lot. The more we begin to suffer and lose in this world, the more hope we need from passages like this – because it tells us that everything is going to be okay – everything will be set right – and there is something to look forward to – not like our next birthday or when we finally pay off the mortgage – it is greater hope.
What is sad – we have turned this into cars and planes crashing because their operators have disappeared, when it is this unbelievable promise of hope. People talk about HOW it is going to happen, without concern for how incredible it will be!
Now, the details. There is a lot in this language, and what Paul is doing here.
The Coming of the Lord – start with that in v. 15. It speaks of an extraordinary event that will come with great fanfare – it is not secret, it is more like a fanfare – a parade in the middle of a small community. There are two kinds of language – Old Testament language and Greco-Roman language – some of the words from each.
Meet the Lord in the air.
We focus on clouds/air/trumpets, trying to connect the dots – but what He says – to meet the Lord – it is a fanfare, the arrival of a visiting emperor. This city is held in high regard by Caesar. When they read this passage, it is the concept of a great emperor arriving – like Air Force 1 arriving in the State Road shopping center.
When he refers to the trumpet blast – like when an emperor would come, there would be a blast of the trumpet. Those who have found favor with the Emperor would go out to meet the Emperor outside the city and usher him in.
But it was also the case that a royal visit would be announced by a herald and might also be announced by a trumpet blast that a king was coming.
This word refers, then, to the actions of the greeting committee as it goes forth from the city to escort the royal person or dignitary into the city for his official visit. “These analogies (especially in association with the term parousia ["presence/arrival"]) suggest the possibility that the Lord is pictured here as escorted the remainder of the journey to earth by his people—both those newly raised from the dead and those remaining alive.
[Church Father John] Chrysostom picked up these nuances quite clearly:
"For when a king drives into a city, those who are honorable go out to meet him; but the condemned await the judge within. And upon the coming of an affectionate father, his children indeed, and those who are worthy to be his children, are taken out in a chariot, that they may see him and kiss him; but the housekeepers who have offended him remain within. (Homily 8 on 1 Thessalonians)"

This is the picture He is giving us – of a king coming – and He is coming to our place – and we who have found favor with Him, will go out to greet Him while the condemned wait in judgment.
That is the Greco-Roman terminology in this passage. The Old Testament language found in this passage:
Ps. 47: 5 God has ascended with a shout, The Lord, with the sound of a trumpet.
Daniel 7: 13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
None of this was odd to them – it was clear and understandable.
You have hope, the king is coming – you get to go out and meet Him – and after meeting Him, you will come back together – and those who are causing you difficulty will be judged –and you will come in with the King – who brings His judgment; God will solve all things – there is hope for us. He is just trying to emphasize that.
One final thing with these words – clouds/meet in the air – I don’t know any of the specifics – he is speaking about God’s sovereign rule over the world – God’s power and authority, reigning over everything. God rules over death – and everything – and He is showing how powerful He is – with the entire world being under Him.
1 Thess. 5:1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
What about times and dates? They are asking how long before the big event. Things haven’t changed. The way Paul answers – you know very well that you don’t know the time and date.
You know the answer – why do you keep asking – it is like a thief in the night – we can’t predict it – that is the point of the thief! If someone says they know the time – they are wrong! It is against what He has already shared.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
You are good to go – you don’t have anything to worry about. The only ones who have to worry about it are the ones who are unprepared. That day comes with judgment. You can know for sure because you have come to faith in Christ hat everything is okay – so it doesn’t need to concern you so much.
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
This is all – this passage is about encouragement and giving one another HOPE

In the end, God will work out the injustice – relationships will be restored – we have a tremendous hope in this world- since we belong to the day- let’s be sober.

Now that you know this will work out on your side, live like those who are part of the day! Live like those who are sober, awake, and ready for the King’s visit. Someone important is coming – the King is coming – and there is a challenge to be ready, prepared, to live as you’ve been called.
Then Paul comes back to faith, love, and hope.
He uses these enduring Christian virtues. Even in light of the return of Christ – he talks about these long-term values – you need to build these qualities that last forever – not a call for thoughtless urgency, or careless action – but a call with is to go back to long-term change, when there is a short time left.
The Bible uses faith, hope and love 12 times together. How much are these qualities our focus? Which do you lack? Faith? Hope? Love? Focus on that.
It is what Paul praises in 1:3 – it is what lasts and matters in life – and how we accomplish our mission in this world. We accomplish our mission when we grow in faith hope and love.
Paul said in 1 Cor. – these 3 abide.

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