Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, addresses the confusion these young converts had regarding the Parousia, the Coming of the Lord, and what happens to those believers who die before that event. He begins, “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant….” He wants these young converts to understand. As we read chapter 4, verses 13-18, we find great truths that are the basis of our hope—truths that we also need to understand.
First: Our hope rests securely in what Christ did for us. “We believe that Jesus died and rose again.” If our faith is placed securely in Christ and Calvary, then we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have died in him. When a believer dies their soul is safe in Christ. For the believer death has lost its power. The body may be committed to the ground until it is raised to a glorious body at the resurrection, but the soul and spirit of a believer go into the presence of their Savior, and when the Savior returns, all the souls that rest IN Him will be WITH Him.
Second: We who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. In fact, later in this same passage Paul says that the dead in Christ will rise first, and after that, we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. The dead first, then the living, but all with the Lord in the air at His Coming!
Third: As Jesus promised, He will return, and it will be fast and swift. “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.” The Lord Himself will return—not an intermediary, not an angel delegate. He will come with a shout, like the shout of a charioteer at his horses. He will come with the voice of the archangel. He will come with the trumpet call of God. But make no mistake—HE WILL COME!
Come, Jesus Come!