For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
I Thessalonians 4: 16-18 (RSV)
Death can be scary sometimes because of the unknown aspect of it. However, we are still children of God, even after we die a physical death. This devotion talks about how the dead will be a part of Jesus’ coming.
Nuggets
- Jesus is coming for a specific purpose — to call God’s children home.
- There will be an angel cry and a trumpet sound.
- The dead rise first.
- The living meet the dead in the clouds.
- Together, they meet Jesus in the air.
Death can be scary. Between the unknown and the pain, it generally is not something we look forward to experiencing.
Paul addressed the topic in his first letter to the Thessalonicans. Let’s see what he has to say.
Let's Put It into Context
Paul wrote to the Thessalonicans, giving them some very good advice. “God did not call us to live in immorality, but in holiness” (I Thess. 4: 7 GNT). “Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before. In this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need” (I Thess. 4: 11-12 GNT).
This discussion of life then turned to a discussion of death. Jesus’ disciples are going to encounter a physical death — unless we are alive when He comes again. But as He hasn’t come yet, there is a good possibility that we will experience death.
Paul, while he stated he did not want his readers to be sad, did not tell them to not be sorrowful. He knew that we would need to grieve the death of our loved ones.
In fact, the rest of the chapter was written designed to comfort us. What Paul was telling his readers — and us — was that we aren’t worm food when we die. He said that death was a sleep — a rest from our labors until we get up and continue our work.
The best news that Paul gives is that we are still in Christ. “For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future” (Rom. 8: 38 GNT). God still has us, even dead.
Paul shared with his readers that, if the dead were disciples of Jesus, there is instead hope. That hope was in the second coming of Jesus. Let’s see what Paul has to say about it.
Jesus Is Coming!
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (I Thess. 4: 16-18 RSV).
Paul describes a five-step process of what is going to happen when a Jesus returns. 1) Jesus will descend. 2) An angel will sound the cry. 3) A trumpet is going to blow. 4). The dead will rise. 5) The living rise. Simple, right?
Jesus Descending
Jesus is coming for a specific purpose — to call God’s children home. This is going to be a totally different descend than the first time.
To read Did Christ Give or Receive Gifts?, click the button below.
The first time, Jesus came as a baby. He had a nice, quiet life growing up. Then, ooo baby — the going got rough. Then painful.
The reason behind this descent is the same. It’s like the song says, “ You didn’t want heaven without us, so Jesus, You brought heaven down.”
What a Beautiful Name
Vocalist: Elaine Guthals
Pianist: Chris Vieth
Yes, the plan of salvation was completed on the cross. Jesus said so.
Yes, our relationship with God was restored. But God wants it all the way restored. He wants our Garden walks again.
That will happen when Jesus comes again. He will be coming in His glory with company.
One commentary said that this was when Jesus would judge the people. He would be positioned so that every eye could see Him.
Angel Cry
Jesus is going to issue a command, and the angels with Him are going to respond.
This is what the Jews wanted the Messiah to do the first time — sorta. They wanted an obvious battle — and a quick victory.
I am not sure that this is going to be the army time, though. I am thinking it may be the bridesmaid time. This may be Revelation 11: 15-19.
If this is when the judgment is occurring, what better way to celebrate the acquittals than rising to meet Jesus in the air! What if our shouts of joy accompany those of the angels?
Trumpet Blowing
I didn’t find much on the trumpet. One commentary wanted to equate this with the trumpet of God in Exodus 19. Someone else thought that was circumstantial evidence. Yes, wouldn’t it be great if this signified God’s presence?
What we know is “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed” (I Cor. 15: 52 HCSB). We’ll just have to wait and see.
The Dead Fly
So, if the dead have been asleep, they are going to have to wake up. Hmm, with all the shouting and the bugling going on, it does sound like there will be enough noise to wake the dead.
It is going to be God’s power that does. We know God can raise people from the dead — including us. “For we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you” (II Cor. 4: 14 CSB).
We’re Going to Fly
“then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord” (I Thess. 4: 17 RSV).
Those Alive Fly
Elsewhere, Paul told us that those who were alive when Jesus returned would be changed (I Cor. 15: 52). To me, it sounds instantaneous and painless. This is when we put on our spiritual bodies.
Then we going to fly. I had never noticed before that Paul seems to give us levels. Level 1 is the reunion with the dead in the clouds. Level 2 is meeting Jesus in the air or infinite space.
I will have to go back and review some past devotions and hook it with other passages. Is Jesus coming all the way back to get us this time? Where nonbelievers can see Him? Will they be able to see into infinite space?
Forever
Whatever happens at this point of the plan doesn’t change the ending. The saints will be with Jesus forevermore. For eternity.
We are going to have more than an address and body change. We are going to have a character change. We will live as Christ does — we won’t be broken anymore. We will be like Him in all ways.
Making the Connections
Isn’t that comforting? We don’t have to fear death. Oh, yes, I know it is unknown, scary, and possibly painful.
It is okay. We still are God’s children — dead or alive. We will still spend eternity wherever a Jesus and God are going to set up thrones.
But since dead is sleeping, we can say we are still living. “And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God” (Rom. 8: 10 NLT).
Death, in itself, can be seen as a reward. Our hard work is over; our rest has been earned. When we wake up, we will be reuniting with friends and family.
How Do We Apply This?
We apply this by taking each day as it comes. We give the struggles to God. We step out in Faith — whether it is a life or death situation.
We comfort those who are hurting because they have lost loved ones. Yes, we know we will see them again. But that doesn’t lessen the pain we feel. That doesn’t automatically give us a new normal. We have to find that new normal.
That should make us want to witness more. We want to make sure their eternal lives are set.
Most importantly, we have to make sure that we remain in Christ. We have to make sure we are completing the disciple’s job description. We have to be seeking and growing in Him.
The Disciple’s Job Description
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Father. We long for the day in which we can see You face to face. We live for the day that Jesus comes to take us home to You. Help us to live according to Your laws and commands. Find us watching for you. Amen.
If you have not admitted that your relationship is not right with God,
have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior,
and have not confessed your sins,
please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
What do you think?
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