Proclamation:
“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 not certainly
precede those who have fallen asleep.
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. 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.” 1
Thessalonians 4:15-17 (NIV)
Explanation:
These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the
influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at
Thessalonica. Paul begins this fourth
chapter by urging them to live in order to please God, more than they were
already doing. He told them that it was
God’s will for them to avoid sexual immorality, to exercise control over their
own body and live holy and honorably. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-5) He acknowledged that they already
demonstrated love for one another, but he encouraged them to mind their own
business so that their daily lives would win the respect of non-believers.
(Thessalonians 4:9-12) Then he addressed
the rapture and made it clear that the dead in Christ would rise first, and
after that those who were still alive would meet them and The Lord in the air.
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Application:
This is a comforting thought for those of us who have lost
loved ones. Although they are now asleep
in death, we will meet them again when The Lord Jesus, The Christ, returns to
rapture all believers. Unfortunately,
there will be some people who will be left behind after the rapture occurs and
removes all believers from the earth. (Matthew 24:40-42) In the twinkling of an eye, all believers will
be changed from corruptible mortals to spiritual beings of incorruptible immortality.
(1 Corinthians 15:51-54) Woe be unto
those who are left behind.
