I recently heard a message about what’s commonly called the End Times. One of the passages often quoted is found in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. We first read about Thessalonica in Acts 17 when Paul and Silas and Paul’s protégé Timothy were traveling and planting churches. Paul was not there very long. Things were fine at the start but then trouble broke out. Some Jewish leaders stirred up a crowd and they stormed the house of a new convert named Jason, looking for Paul. They didn’t find Paul so they took Jason instead and charged him with treason against Caesar. Jason was fined and things calmed down, but Paul and the other leaders knew it was just a matter of time before the situation heated up again. So, Paul quietly left Thessalonica and headed for Berea, leaving Timothy to establish church leadership. In today's passage, Paul continues educating this young church through a letter. Let's listen in:
And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. (1 Thess. 4:13-18)
Some Christians view today's passage as an event called The Rapture, when living Christians will be snatched up from the world to be with the Lord and to escape a worldwide tribulation. This particular view has been a minority view throughout Church history, and in much of the Church today. But regardless of your view on this passage, Paul has encouragement for all of us. When he writes about being “caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord,” how great is the news that you and I will be united with Jesus and reunited with all those who’ve gone before us. This gathering will be forever—you and I, our friends and our families will never be separated again! Paul shared this revelation because the Thessalonians were being persecuted and martyred for their faith. He encouraged them, saying “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.” How about you? Are you struggling with life today? Have you lost a loved one, or are you discouraged by the storms you are going through? Let me encourage you—don’t lose hope! Jesus is coming back! You and I and all believers have been invited to the reunion...and that is very Good News!
“When the bottom falls out and disappointments come, you will learn what you believe, what you love, and what you treasure.”