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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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HOPE OF THE RETURN OF CHRIST AND THOSE ASLEEP 1Th 4:13-18 (6/26/11) Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. REASSURANCE FOR THOSE ASLEEP (13) A. [Intro] - This is the famous section of
Scripture from which we have received our doctrine of the Rapture. However,
the context in which Paul writes specifically relates to Paul’s attempt to
comfort the Thessalonian believers who had lost love ones in Christ.
Apparently this was an issue being discussed at Thessalonica when Timothy
arrived. Now Paul addresses their concerns and comforts them with assurance
that they will see those believers who have “fallen asleep” (gone to be with
the Lord), in the resurrection. B. [1Th 4:13] - Paul wanted the Thessalonians
to have knowledge and hope concerning those believers who had gone to be with
the Lord. 1. Paul did not want them to be “uninformed”
(agnoéō - without knowledge or ignorant, Eng. Agnostic), so
he reveals the divine truths concerning not only the Lord’s return, but also
the future of believers who have passed on. 2. “Asleep” is koimáō which
literally means to lie down and fall asleep. However, it used frequently
in the Scriptures to refer to death of believers whose spirit is with the
Lord (2Co 5:6-8) but whose body will be resurrected (1Co 15:6, 20, 51). Paul
uses the beautiful metaphor of sleep to refer to the death of believers (1Th
4:13, 14, 15). a) We know that it is a metaphor for death
with phrases in the context such as “asleep in Jesus” (1Th 4:14) and “dead in
Christ (1Th 4:16). b) The metaphor originated in the OT (1Ki
2:10; 11:21, 43; 14:20; 2Ki 14:16; 2Ch 33:20; cp. Act 13:36; 2Pe 3:4). c) Jesus Himself used the same metaphor and
the Scriptures explain it (Joh 11:11-13). 3. Paul reveals these truths to the
Thessalonians so that will have hope and do not grieve (lupéō -
sorrowful and distressed). The world grieves and has no hope because they
do not have Christ. II. RISING OF THOSE ASLEEP (14-16) A. [1Th 4:14] - Paul makes a logical
connection between Christ’s resurrection and the resurrection of believers
who have fallen asleep. 1. A first class condition (ei -“if,” in
the indicative mood) is used to make a simple logical fact. “If” Jesus
rose from the dead, and His resurrection assures believers of their
resurrection, and those who have fallen asleep are believers, “then” those
who have fallen asleep will be resurrected. 2. Not only will believers who have died be
resurrected, but they will be brought with Christ at the Rapture (cp. 1Th
3:13). 3. Therefore, the ones who have “fallen
asleep in Jesus,” whose position is secure “in Christ,” will return to meet
the believers who remain. B. [1Th 4:15] - It is by divine revelation
that Paul shares these truths concerning the resurrection of believers and
its sequence. 1. “By the word of the Lord” here, would
mean the same expression that we read about in the OT (1Sa 15:10; 2Sa 7:4;
Isa 38:4; Jer 1:4; Eze 1:3). It is a divine and authoritative truth revealed
to apostles and prophets by God directly. 2. The divine truth about the believer’s
resurrection is connected with the parousia (present alongside,
i.e. coming, a major eschatological event) of the Lord. Here parousia
refers to the Rapture (cp. 1Th 2:19; 3:13) though it can also refer to the
Second Coming (2Th 2:8). 3. Believers who are alive at the
resurrection (Rapture) will not precede (phthanō - go prior to) believers who have already died in the
resurrection. C. [1Th 4:16] - Paul gives further detail on
both the Lord’s coming and the order of resurrection for believers who are
dead in Christ. 1. The Lord will “descend” (katabainō - go down, middle voice “for Himself”) from heaven, having been seated at the
right hand of God (Eph 1:20; Col 3:1). This event is the first event to take
place after his ascension and exaltation. 2. He will do so with a “commanding shout” (keleusma - shout of command, esp. battle). It appears that it will be the Lord
Himself who will shout the command to awaken those who are asleep (Joh 5: 25,
28, cp. Joh 11:43). 3. The voice of “an archangel” (no
article), possibly Michael (Jud 1:9), will be heard almost simultaneously
“with” Christ’s shout. 4. In addition, there is a “trumpet (salpigx
- long metal horn) of God,” blown
at this time (Rapture), which has no connection with the judgment trumpets
mentioned in Rev 8-11, but is an assembly call of the Church (i.e. God’s
people, cp. Jdg 3:27; 6:34). 5. The “dead in Christ” (those fallen
asleep) will “rise” (anistêmi to
raise or stand up, i.e. resurrection) first in the order of the believers. II. III. REUNION WITH THOSE ASLEEP (17-18) A. [1Th 4:17] - After the dead in Christ have
risen, then the believers on earth will be raptured together with them and
will begin their eternal relationship with Christ. 1. Paul reveals that the saints still
“living” (zōntes -pres part - záō - to live) will be
raptured together with the “dead” (nekroi) in Christ. 2. Together they will be “caught up” with
the Lord. “Caught up” is the Greek word harpazō and means to
seize or snatch away. It suggests sudden and at times forceful removal. It is
used of thieves snatching possessions (Lev 6:4), Satan snatching the Word
(Mat 13:19), and believers snatching sinners from the fire (Jud 1:23). 3. However, harpazō is also used
in reference to the Rapture or rapture-like events. a) It was used of Philip’s miraculous “snatching
away” (Act 8:39), much the same as Elijah (1Ki 18:12; 2Ki 2:16) and Ezekiel
(Eze 3:12, 14; 8:3). b) It was used of Paul when he, whether a
vision or actual translation, was “caught up” into heaven (2Co 12:2, 4). c) But its preeminent usage in regard to the
“snatching away” of the church, the eschatological event coined as the
Rapture (Latin raptus, in Vulgate rapiemur) is
1Th 4:16-17. The church “will be” (harpagêsomai - future passive)
suddenly and rapaciously be snatched away by Christ
from the world unto Himself to be with Him forevermore. d) Note that it is “in the air” (eis aéra)
that the church will meet the Lord as opposed to His Second Coming in which
He will come directly to the earth in sight of the nations (Zec 14:4). Even
if someone were to believe only in the Second Coming, he would have to say
that there at least was a sudden Rapture in the air, only to turn immediately
around and come with Christ to the earth. B. [1Th 4:18] - It was this message and for
this purpose that they were commanded to keep on comforting (present
imperative - parakaléō - called alongside to encourage and exhort)
one another. IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. It is an encouragement of security in that
the world cannot snatch the believer away from his position in Christ (Joh
10:28-29), but one day the Lord will snatch believers away from his place in
the world. B. It is an encouragement of reunion in that
the believers will not only be united with Christ (the most important reunion)
but also their loved ones who have fallen asleep in Christ. C. It is an encouragement of steadfastness in
that no matter how difficult or how long the believers trials are, one day he
will be suddenly snatched away for an eternal and glorious reunion with his
Lord and with His heavenly family. Never again will they struggle with sin.
Never again will they endure trials. Never again will they miss their loved
ones in Christ. |
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