RETURN OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR HIS CHURCH 1 THESS 4:13

Paul did not want the Thessalonian believers to ‘ be ignorant concerning them who have fallen asleep (in death)’.’Falling asleep ‘is always physical death and not soul sleep or spirit sleep. When we die in the Lord, we are absent from the body, which has finished as the home of the spirit and the soul, which are now present with the Lord.

Lest you should sorrow as others who have no hope’ is Paul’s loving motive in writing. Many of God’s people are not clear what has happened to the saved ones in Christ Jesus, and the eternal, lost position of those dying without faith in our Lord Jesus. Our hope is Christ, and the sure promises of the Bible. WE are infinitely rich.

Paul taught that ‘if we believe that Jesus died and rose again’ we have a sure hope He will personally intervene. Our faith must be centred in His vicarious death and rising again. WE are disqualified if we have no personal, living faith in Christ.

‘Even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus’ is an exciting, heart-stirring promise. The eternal God ensures that the Lord Jesus will accompany the vast army of all who have died in Him. That includes the old testament as well as the martyrs and new testament saints. WE Christians should get more keyed up with the amazing, yet clear statements in our Bible. Christ is coming again – and soon.

Paul continues, for this we say unto 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 are asleep’( have died ). The authority of the Lord is unchallengeable. The order of the snatching away is that we, who remain, must wait for those who have died in Christ. God must and will fulfil their expectation in Christ Jesus.

The generations who have died, ‘ knowing that their Redeemer lives’, and that’ in their flesh they shall see their God’, .as Job shows, have precedence.

‘The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout’ must be accepted at its face value. No substitute can role model for the Christ of Calvary and the Risen Lord. Jesus Christ himself must come as Lord. No event for 2000 years compares with this. After Pentecost He ascended to heaven. With the rapture, He descends to capture His church. Where is the holy excitement anticipating such a shattering event?

A shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God ‘ will confirm this event. Does the Lord shout for He has come to take His bride home to heaven, He has waited 2000 years for this moment. Can the archangel who told of His humble birth and His great name, Jesus, restrain his voice for such a fulfilling moment in eternity.? Does the trump of God sound as when Joshua ordered the priests to trumpet the victory and Jericho’s walls tumbled? Heaven had waited long for this moment.

The dead in Christ shall rise first’. God stated clear, understandable truth. Every body is resurrected from the dust of the earth as Adam was first created from that same dust. The body is now imperishable, glorious, eternal. spiritual ( 1 Corinth 15 ), perfectly restored by Hie infinite power. You must believe that the mighty power of God is released with the coming of the Lord.

‘Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air’. (v17). The vigourous language tells of the Lord’s rapture

or seizing of His beloved church. As an eagle swoops on its prey, so our powerful Lord will seize His entire church out of ‘every kindred, tribe, nation and people’

( Revelation 7:9 ). It will reunite the entire christian church for we ‘shall be together with them’ . Your loved ones of past generations, who died in Christ, shall greet you. such as your fathers and mothers, grandparents and little children. They shall be raised in their perfect, risen body. Oh, what rich joy and what tears of relief.

‘thus we shall always be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. ‘(vv17,18). There will be no more sad farewells. Our fellowship with our Bridegroom will never waver or lapse. The communion will be unbroken. His Presence will be our endless delight.

Comfort means most during days of suffering and privation. Many have died for their Lord in this century. We are commanded to strengthen each other in biblical faith. No wonder that in the dark, prison cells the hope of our Saviour’s imminent return is the light and truth, that has sustained many of God’s precious children.

Be sure you are ready.