Archangel Thunder

Good morning!

This morning's meditation is from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
In this passage, Paul reveals some of what he must have been taught from The LORD after his conversion. He traveled to Arabia and stayed there for a couple of years.  Perhaps this was revealed to him during that period.  It is impossible for us to say.

Regardless, here in this passage, Paul is teaching about Jesus Christ's return to gather up the people of His Church - - - that is, those people who have believed on His name and called Him Savior and Lord.

13-14 And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don’t want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus.

15-18 And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence—we have the Master’s word on it—that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they’ll be ahead of us. The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God’s trumpet blast! He’ll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise—they’ll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we’ll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words.

{The Message}

Apparently, this topic had been one of conversation and speculation among the early Christians and particularly those in Thessalonica.   Paul elsewhere expounds upon this topic to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.  So, it must have been widespread.

The question of a physical resurrection from the dead had long been a topic for debate among the Jews.  The Sadducees were a sect of Judaism which did not believe in a bodily resurrection from the dead.  The Pharisees did, which put the two sects at odds with each other, before, during and after Christ's physical ministry on earth.  It seems the question had continued even among those who decided to follow Jesus.

Interestingly, the question was not "where are the dead now"?, which is what you might expect.  Even though not mentioned here, Paul also deals with this matter, as does Jesus on the cross.  Both affirm that those who die believing in Jesus as Savior will immediately be with Him when their souls and spirits leave their bodies.  (Luke 23:43  - - Jesus)  (2 Corinthians 5:8 - - Paul)

The questions seem to have been about the physical bodies.  So, let's look at what Paul says.
1.  Paul is expounding on this topic for our encouragement.  (1 Thess. 4:18)
2.  In the same way that Jesus' dead body was raised, so shall ours be. (1 Thess. 4:14)
Our physical remains, wherever they remain (crypt, ashes, at the bottom of the sea), will be "raised".
3.  Dead bodies/remains of believers will not be brought back in their current state, but rather in an "imperishable, incorruptible" body/form.  Those new bodies will bear the image of the man from Heaven {NET translation} (1 Cor. 15:49, 53).  And, the dead will be raised before the living are "snatched up." (1 Thess. 4:15)
4.  This cataclysmic event will be announced by "God's trumpet blast" and by "the voice of the archangel".  In other cases where the Bible refers to God's trumpet/voice (Greek word "salpiggi"), there is almost always an earthquake present.  {One Christian theologian has proposed that when this event occurs, there will be a massive, worldwide earthquake, much like the one that rolled the stone away from Jesus' tomb, but on an exponentially larger scale.  Can you imagine the chaos that would result?  No one would miss the living Christians who "disappear".  Because of all the resulting chaos, most will assume that they perished in the massive quakes.  Interesting to contemplate, is it not? Archangel thunder...}
5.  When the bodies of the dead believers and the souls and bodies of living believers are snatched from the earth, those will be reunited with Jesus Christ "in the air", or "in the clouds" according to some translations.
6.  "And so shall we ever be with the LORD."  Nothing will ever separate us, physically or spiritually, from our Savior, ever again.  (1 Thess. 4:17)

Neither of the passages from Paul indicate that Jesus's feet will touch the earth during this event.  The 1 Corinthians 15 passage does not mention Jesus' location, although the Thessalonians passage does. This event is commonly called The Rapture, from the Greek word  "harpazo", which means to be "caught up" or "snatched up".  Paul describes this "snatching up" as happening in the blink of an eye.

Elsewhere, Jesus's return to earth (Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11) is a highly public event, where "every eye shall see Him".  And, His Church, His Bride, is with Him at this appearing. (See point #6 above.)  There are distinct differences between these two descriptions, which leads many theologians to believe that there will be two separate, distinct events in the "last days".  I agree with that interpretation, although I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ will undergo severe testing before Christ returns to take His Church, His followers, out of this world. Such persecution is happening now.  Just yesterday, 21 Libyan Coptic Christians were beheaded for their faith.  As the video was disseminated by ISIS, the caption read, "A Message Signed with Blood, to the Nation of the Cross".  And, I believe such persecution will spread across the world, unless God, in His mercy, stops the spread of Islam, which is hell-bent on killing all Christians and/or others who will not adopt the Muslim faith.

"Therefore, encourage one another with these words."  No matter what persecution comes, though, we can be encouraged that we, as followers of Jesus Christ, know "the end game".  As those Christians were beheaded and immediately were in the presence of their Savior we, whether having died in Christ or are alive at His coming for the Church, will "forever be with the Lord".

Dear Father God, only You know the day and the hour when these events will transpire.  I am glad that, although we do not know all there is to know about the future, we know The One Who Holds the Future In His Hands.  Our souls, our eternal destinies, are safe in Your hands, O God.  Those who call You Savior are forever in Your tender care.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus!  In Your Omnipotent Name, amen.