Jesus’ Return: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

September 14, 2008

 

When the Apostle Paul presented the gospel message to those who had never heard it before, he would tell them about the life and death of Jesus Christ and also of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  As he taught them more, he would explain what would happen next and the implications associated with those events. This teaching was built upon Old Testament passages and became known as “The Day of the Lord.”  Jewish believers knew to associate this day with God’s judgment and the setting up of His kingdom. What the gospel taught that was new, however, was that Jesus Christ was the “Lord” in “The Day of the Lord.”

 

Michael W. Holmes (The NIV Application Commentary 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Zondervan, 1998  p.147) summarized this teaching this way:

 

This tradition about Jesus’ parousia [second coming] represents it as taking place from or in heaven (4:16; cf/ 1:10; Matthew 24:30; 2 Thessalonians 1:7), with clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:17; cf. Matthew 24:30//Mark 13:26//Luke 21:27; Revelations 1:7). accompanied by angels (cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Matthew 24:31//Mark 13:27//Luke 21:27; Matthew 16:27//Mark 8:38//Luke 9:26; Matthew 25:31) and manifestations of power and glory (cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 24:30//Mark 13:26//Luke 21:27; Matthew 16:27//Mark 8:38//Luke 9:26; Matthew 25:31), announced by a trumpet blast (1 Thessalonians 4:16; cf. Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52; Revelations 11:15), and associated with judgment (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:3; also Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2:8).

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:12 contains Paul’s answer to the Thessalonians who asked him if those who died before Jesus returned would have any advantage or disadvantage relative to those who were alive when Jesus returned. Because Paul is answering a specific question instead of setting forth a comprehensive teaching, we must be careful not to read something into Paul’s answer that is not there.

 

Paul’s answer to this question can be summarized in three sentences: (1) When Christ returns, all believers will be involved in the events of that day; (2) Although we don’t know when Christ will return, we know it will be sudden and unexpected; and (3) What really matters is how we live now in light of the sure hope of Christ’s return.  Each of these statements has something that is important to our lives today.

 

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

 

When, in v17, Paul says “we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together,” the verb translated “caught up” is the verb behind the concept of the “rapture.”

 

F.F. Bruce says, “the verb…implies violent action, sometimes indeed to the benefit of its object, as when the Roman soldiers snatched Paul from the rioters in the Jerusalem council chamber (Acts 23:10) or when the male child in the apocalyptic vision was caught up to God to preserve him from the great red dragon (Revelation 12:5).  It is used in Acts 8:39 for the Spirit’s snatching Philip away after his interview with the Ethiopian chamberlain and of Paul’s being caught up to the third heaven or paradise (2 Corinthians 12:2, 3) (Word Biblical Commentary: 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Vol. 45, Thomas Nelson, 1982, p.102).

 

It is impossible to develop a full theology regarding the rapture from this passage because this term is not used to teach a “rapture” in any systematic way as either a noun or a verb here or throughout the New Testament, nor was this Paul’s or any other writer’s intent. It was used to describe events in which people were removed forcibly from their present positions. What Paul wanted the Thessalonian believers to know is that all of us will be present and participate in the events surrounding the return of Christ and it will a glorious day for us. That no one, alive or dead, had any special advantage was the answer their question. We will be united or reunited with all of our fellow believers and with Jesus.  Therefore, we are to encourage each other with these words.  We will see our believing loved-ones who have already died. We will be alive to experience these events instead of dead.  When we understand that the believers converted from non-Jewish backgrounds generally believed that no conscious existence after death awaited them, we can see where these words were even more encouraging.

 

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 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. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 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. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).

 

This passage makes our second point, that (2) Although we don’t know when Christ will return, we know it will be sudden and unexpected. The important phrase for our understanding of Jesus’ second coming is “as labor pains on a pregnant woman.”  These words echo very closely the words of Jesus in His “Olivet Discourse” which begins in Matthew 24 where “Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:4-8).

 

All of the books written that attempt to prove the imminent return of Christ in a specific life span or generation are examples of the purpose of this text. A pregnant woman knows the baby inside of her is real and alive. She knows that unless something happens to the child in approximately nine months a baby will be born.  Today’s doctors even give a “due date.” Still, the mother knows that that baby will not be born until the contractions begin. As the contractions come closer together and intensify, she knows the child’s birth is even closer to reality.  Still she does not know which contraction will be the final contraction until after the child is born.  Jesus’ resurrection from the dead assures us that nothing “will happen to the baby.”  His return is a sure a fact as is His resurrection.  One is the guarantee of the other.

 

As loving parents do everything they can to assure the health of the yet-to-be-born child, as they study and prepare for the up-coming event, as they even prepare his or her room, they act on their belief that they will soon share their lives with their child. We as believers living in the midst of these birth pains are to do the same thing.  We know Jesus is coming.  We are to get ourselves as prepared as we can for the big event.

 

This passage also tells us (3) What really matters is how we live now in light of the sure hope of Christ’s return and also gives us practical instructions on how we should prepare for Christ’s return. We are to be “alert and self-controlled.”  We are to put on “faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”  We are to “encourage one another and build each other up.”  These phrases tell us that our mental attitude is important. Keeping mentally ready despite all of the events of this world that would sap us of our strength and turn us from this state of preparedness is difficult.  That is why we must meet together, build each other up in love, and encourage each other to stay in the battle.  These phrases allude to what Paul would later elaborate on in Ephesians 6 that we now call the “armor of God.”  From there it is safe to infer that the work of the Holy Spirit is our strength and the enabling force to live this life Paul commands us.

 

Honestly, knowing our future home is different from the world in which we now live is incredibly important to me. I really don’t want to spend eternity in a world where evil, death, and ruined lives play such a major part. I want to live in the presence and power of the Jesus I read about in my Bible.  I want to live in the presence of those I love without all of the negativity of this world that tears at our relationships. I want to see those I love again and spend time getting to know so many different people.  I want to hear their stories and share in what the Lord did in their lives. I want to see the glory of the Lord.

 

If you believe like I do, these verses tell us that “according to the Lord's own word” these things are guaranteed.  They are promised.  They are a “sure hope.” They are our future. Scripture gives us some clues into how all of this will happen. But rather than spending so much time and effort trying to understand what a contraction is, what makes it start, grow in intensity, and then subside only to begin again at some point, let’s get ready for the baby and the life we will live together.