This morning I pray for a Christian man who barring a miracle in his body will be with the Lord soon. I pray for his wife and family. His loss will be great. I am sure you know these prayers and you probably also know what it is to experience this awful situation. Being separated is the hardest thing. The early Thessalonian churches were anxious about what happened to their loved ones. So Paul tells them to encourage one another with what he teaches them (v18).
15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4 v 15-18)
In what was most probably either a prophetic word or a passed on saying of Jesus comes clear teaching on what happens to the Christian dead.
A Christian who dies:-
- Falls asleep but not in some forever limbo state. From earth’s point of view it is not an end of all ends. But similar when we go to sleep at night, it is only an end of that day, we rise again the next day. This is what the phrase means ‘fallen asleep’ v15.
- Meets Jesus Christ before anyone who is still alive on earth, v15. Imagine what that has been like!
- Takes part in the return of Christ, they come with Christ back to earth, v16.
- Will rise in the return of Christ, v16. This is not necessarily that they are some disembodied spirit right now, or as I say in limbo, they are definitely alive and active with Christ (Paul says that elsewhere, 2 Corinthians 5:8). The resurrected Christ (recognisable to us) will be accompanied by His resurrected people (recognisable to us also). You will see them again and they will be recognisable!
- Will experience the presence of God with those who are alive. They will be with those who are still alive on earth, in the clouds, v17. The clouds have always been seen as symbolic of the presence of God whether on Mount Sinai or the mountain of Transfiguration and everything in between. So we can safely say that we who are alive will join those who died together in the presence of God.
- Will experience the victory of God with those who are alive. They will be with those who are still alive on earth, in the air, v17. The air has always been seen as symbolic of the place for the devil and his kingdom (see Ephesians 2:2). So we can safely say that we who are alive will join those who died together in the final victory over Satan.
- Will along with us be with the Lord forever, v17.
So be encouraged today, v18.
Missions Paul 