Thursday, November 17, 2016
Will those who have died in Christ be left behind at the coming of the Lord? NO! In fact, the living at the coming of the Lord will not depart to be with Christ until after the dead in Christ arise. After all these words do not only concern the dead in Christ, but also those who are still alive at the Coming of the Lord:
1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 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.
THE DEAD WILL RISE!
Don't be confused by the word "first" -- it means simply that those believers who have died will be raised before the living depart to be with the Lord, rising into the air to meet the returning Lord of Glory.
Don't be confused by the word "first" -- it doesn't mean that there will be multiple resurrections. Jesus didn't promise to return multiple times secretly to whisk away believers before the final judgment. While the unbelieving dead aren't specifically referred to here, they will also be raised up at the same time, but to meet the Lord as their final Judge rather than as their glorious Savior.
Then, after those who have died believing in Jesus have been raised, all who believe will rise into the sky:
1 Thessalonians 4:17 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 may the Spirit of God use these words to comfort us and reveal to us what will happen at the coming of the Lord-- To both those who have died in Christ and those in Christ who yet remain on earth!
Come, Lord Jesus!
