Encourage One Another

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, 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, 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. Therefore encourage one another with these words. I Thessalonians 4:13-18

Since the Church was born on the day of Pentecost, several years had passed and believers had died , just as people tend to do. The Church-age doctrine of the resurrection of all believers was new to the early Christians, and they, like we, were fascinated with the topic. They, like we, had questions about the timing and the method, and what about those who had already died? Were they going to miss the rapture?  One difference between the earliest Christians and us is that it really was a brand-new concept to them. We’ve had 2,000 years to adjust to the idea, so as exciting as it is to think about, it is not really new information at this stage of the Church. Some of them were deeply concerned about their loved ones who had gone on before.

This passage of scripture is very familiar to those of us who have attended a few Christian funerals. It is often read as a means of comforting the family and friends of the deceased believer. It was not familiar to the Thessalonians, however, and Paul wrote it to them as a way to assure them of the certainty of Jesus’ return for ALL of His own.

Paul wanted them to rest assured that their loved ones, whose bodies were “asleep” would actually be with Jesus when He returns for His Church. This is the hope (absolute confidence) of Church age believers. It is promised to us, and what God has promised, He delivers. Therefore, there is no need for the kind of excessive grief that is experienced by the unbelievers, who have no such hope.

The Lord HIMSELF will appear out of heaven, sounding the “call to worship” (His voice!) and those who have died IN CHRIST will rise to meet Him FIRST. Apparently, they will have waited long enough. As they ascend, we who are still alive will be “caught up, snatched, lifted and transported; raptured,” joining  them in the clouds to meet Him. These clouds seem always to be associated with Jesus as He ascends and descends between heaven and earth. There are many references, and some seem to indicate great numbers of angelic beings, or saints. Some seem to indicate the shechinah glory of Jesus Himself, as in the wilderness wanderings, in the temple, and on the mount of transfiguration. The word “shechinah” is Chaldee and was used by the Jews to mean “resting-place.” Nice, huh?

So we will be “snatched” away with our loved ones who have gone before to meet Jesus in the air. Not on the ground. He will not return all the way to the earth at the rapture of the Church. This is the Bridegroom coming to receive His Bride. This is to take us out because the great tribulation is about to begin. Those seven years of adversity on the earth will complete the timetable given to Daniel, regarding God’s dealings with His people, Israel. “The time of Jacob’s trouble," when God will settle His controversy with His people who have rejected His Son (Jeremiah 30:7).

“Seventy weeks (of years. 70 x 7 years = 490 years) are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. Daniel 9:24-25. This prophecy has to do entirely with Israel, not Church. The reason I refer to it here is to demonstrate the Biblical evidence for the seven years of tribulation.

We, the Church, will be undergoing our evaluations at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema). Our works will be judged; not for salvation, that is already assured. We will be rewarded or not, depending on the value of the works we produced in life. Production through the filling of the Holy Spirit are gold, silver, precious stones. Those are rewardable.  Works done in the energy of human flesh are wood, hay and stubble, which will be publicly burned. No matter how good it looked. Is it the work of the Holy Spirit? I Corinthians 3:11-13

When we are raptured, we will be instantly and permanently face to face with our Lord Jesus Christ. We will not be separated from Him ever again. That is our greatest comfort.