The Model Church: 1 Thes. 4:9-18
In this commendation letter Paul encouraged believers to continue doing what they’re doing, but do it more; people are noticing. However, there’s still the final issue as Paul ‘supplies what is lacking’ in their understanding of the ‘coming of the Lord’. Apparently, Timothy brought news that some believers had died and this church was grieving like the world without the blessed hope (Titus 2:11-14).
What brings hope and encouragement when someone dies? As believers in Jesus Christ it’s undoubtedly the reminder that we’ll see them again when He returns: The Second Coming. Paul wasn’t trying to write doctrine in these verses but was reminding believers of Jesus’ promises and gives a snippet of that process.
When a believer dies there’s a separation of the physical body, which begins to break down, and the spirit which immediately is with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). Paul spoke of falling asleep at death only to be awakened, changed, and reunited with our spirit on That Day. Jesus described appearing on the clouds, sending out His angels with the trumpet call, and gathering His chosen (Matt. 24:30-31). This gathering is the assembling of people with an intended purpose; it’s our word synagogue. Our spirit-form in heaven and our physical form on earth will be united and changed or transformed. Is this mysterious? Sure is, yet this change, and we have no more detail, means that when the final trumpet sounds (Rev. 11:15-19) the dead are raised imperishable and we all put on immortality (1 Cor. 15:51-54). Does that sound like encouragement to one grieving? It should.
The ‘dead in Christ’ will rise first, reuniting with their spirits, and we’ll be ‘like Him’ once again: image and likeness bearers (Gen. 1:26). Those few who haven’t died will also be caught up together with Him and experience this supernatural, mysterious change at the public gathering.
He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control. Philippians 3:21 NLT
Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is. 1 John 3:2 NLT
This Day, unlike any other, will be like a delegation of citizens going out to publicly welcome an important, highly honored, dignitary. They escort him into the city with great pomp and circumstance, not a secret rapture, but a highly celebratory visitation of the King of Kings! Does that bring you hope and encouragement (Heb. 10:23-25)?
Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near! Luke 21:27-28 NLT
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