The Rapture of The Church
January 14, 2023
Commentary
Evidently some of the believers had misunderstood Paul’s teaching concerning the Lord’s return and because of the terrible persecution they were going through, had concluded that they were already in the tribulation. Perhaps they had sent an inquiry to Paul concerning this matter and he is answering their question. He says he doesn’t want the believers to be ignorant about life after death (vv. 13-15). He goes on to say that those who are alive when He returns will not go to be with Him until after the dead in Christ are raised first. He explains step by step what will happen when the Lord returns:
A return (v. 16). The Lord Himself shall usher in this great event with a dramatic and forceful announcement from heaven.A resurrection (v. 16). The bodies of the dead in Christ will be raised before those who are alive are changed.A rapture (v. 17). The phrase “caught up” is referred to as the rapture. This means the act of conveying a person from one place to another and as used here refers to the transport of the living and the dead to heaven.A reunion (v. 17). The place is not as important as being united with Jesus and all our loved ones for ever.A reassurance (v. 18). Not only do Christians not grieve like unbelievers who lose their loved ones but they can actually look forward to that day when they will be re-united with Him. Just repeating these truths will bring assurance to the heart.
Application
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are some of the most certain facts of History. Because of this I need to be looking for opportunities to share this truth with others.
1 Thessalonians 4:13– 18 (NET)
13 Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. 15 For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.