Paul teaches us about Jesus’ return. After giving believers instructions concerning living a holy and righteous life, he encourages the Thessalonians with the wonderful promise of Jesus’ second coming. For verse by verse explanation of Chapters 4 to 5:15
All scripture passages are from Berean Standard Bible (BSB) available online at https://www.biblehub.com/bsb. Images created using Night Cafe Studio and Canva Pro.
Jesus is our Light and Hope: He is the Sun that breaks through the clouds of darkness in our world and lives.
Jesus will return and bring believers back with Him
The Return of the Lord: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
Death isn’t the end of those who trust in Christ: it’s the beginning of being in God’s presence until He returns with His people to establish His Kingdom Presence on earth. Paul assures us that death before Jesus’ return isn’t a loss for them. We grieve with hope knowing that Christ will take care of those who have preceded us in death.
Recall that Paul teaches us:
1 Corinthians 5:1-6
1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4So while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5And God has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.
6Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.
Holy Spirit is our pledge/seal. Consider that in Paul’s society a pledge is something valuable given to a person that represents a future repayment. For in depth explanation of Holy Spirit as seal:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Holy-Spirit-seal.html
This image represents the joy that breaks out heaven when a child of God arrives in His presence.
Confident in Christ: Are your lamps ready?
As we celebrate Advent and acknowledge the truths of Christ first arrival and coming return, we remind ourselves that Jesus will return. God wants us to be eagerly awaiting and prepared for His coming! Consider the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).
https://www.gotquestions.org/parable-ten-virgins.html
The hour of His return is unknown to us, may be found to be faithful and prepared!
Meeting Jesus in the sky!
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.
18Therefore encourage one another with these words.
The last part of verse 17 is my favorite phrase in this entire passage: “so we will always be with the Lord.” This means rather we die before He returns or are alive when He returns, we will forever be with our Heavenly Father, Jesus the Son, and Holy Spirit.
This truth is our firm foundation when the holidays come and a place is empty at the table because of death. The sorrow of loss is a heavy thing that often weighs on hearts. Yet, we rest in hope knowing that death is just part of the journey with Christ.
John McArthur presents numerous other references concerning death and God’s presence in his commentary:
https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B180711/absent-from-the-body-present-with-the-lord
May God’s presence and grace be with all who are grieving a loss or illness during this season!
Words of Grace & Hope 