The Rapture (Introduction) I Thessalonians 4:13-18

We come now to Paul’s grand exposition on the subject of the Rapture of the church.  It had come to Paul’s attention that there was a grave concern on the part of the believers with respect to what will happen to their Christian loved ones who died before the advent of the Rapture.  Paul had taught vigorously that Christ’s advent (His coming for His saints) could happen at any time.  As you would recall, and, since Paul’s departure from them, there had been a number of them who had died before the Lord came.  The question that pervaded their minds was: “Will our loved ones experience the bliss of this grand event (Rapture) or would they remain in the heart of the earth?

Paul certainly had to dispel any doubts that the believers had with regard to their loved ones’ relationship to this event by informing them that both groups – the translated saints, as well as the dead in Christ saints – will experience the joy of the event.  Paul had to labor hard to correct the misunderstanding that these believers had regarding their loved ones’ inclusion in the Rapture experience.  As ministers of God, we are called upon to always be ministering from these perspectives:  the ministry of edification, exhortation, and comfort (I Cor. 14:3).  Our Christian associates need to know that the Rapture is the next eschatological event on God’s calendar, and that all believers since Acts Chapter 2 (the birthday of the church) will participate in that event.

The Rapture will take place before the advent of the Tribulation period (I Thess. 1:10; Rev. 3:10; I Thess. 5:9).  By the word, “eschatology,” I am referring to the “doctrine of future things.”  As it relates to the future, the Rapture will take place prior to the Tribulation period, which will last for seven years.  It will be a time of unusual punishment the unbelieving world will experience (Amos 5:18-20; Zephaniah 1:15).  Thank God that all people – regardless of the color of their skin or of their plight in life – can have the blessed assurance that they will experience the Rapture (being caught up in the Mid-Air to meet Jesus) if, and only if, they would believe the simplicity of the Gospel message (I Cor. 15:1-4).

The Gospel message includes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The moment that any man, woman, boy or girl genuinely accepts the Gospel message in their heart, they are saved (John 3:36, 5:24, Romans 10:9).  Accept the Lord, right now in your heart, and I will assure you that based on God’s Word, you are saved!  And once you are saved, you are saved forever from the wrath to come (Tribulation Period – I Thess. 5:9).

The classic passage on the Rapture of the church (I Thessalonians 4:13-18) begins in verse 13 with Paul referring to the Thessalonian believers as brethren.  He refers to these believers as brothers, denoting their equality of standing before God.  Moreover, Paul is not berating these believers for their lack of knowledge on the subject of the Rapture, aware that they were new converts.  The major subject matter in verse 13 deals with Christians who have fallen asleep.  The figure of sleep is emblematic of death.

The type of death that Paul refers to is the death of the body.  This reference to death never refers to the soul or the spirit of man, because the spirit of man does not die.  Paul wanted the Thessalonians to be neither ignorant nor grieving like the rest of men, that is, like unbelievers, over the death of fellow believers.  Paul never instructs the Thessalonian believers not to grieve over the passing of their loved one; however, we are not to grieve as those who have no hope of being bodily raised to glory with Christ.  Again, to grieve as believers is a normal experience, for even our blessed Lord grieved (St. John 11:35).

According to verse 14, there are two reasons why Christians should not grieve as unbelievers: (1) Christians have a revelation from God that offers them hope; (2) Christians have a blissful future with Christ.  Paul states emphatically that the souls of believers who have died will return with Christ when He come for His living saints.  Thank God that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are two authentic facts of history.  Also, the prophecy of the Rapture of the church is certain to be fulfilled as the prophecies of Christ’s death and resurrection.

Paul clearly conveys in verse 15 that there will be saints who will be alive during the Lord’s return.  Paul believed that the Rapture was imminent, meaning that it could take place any moment (I Thessalonians 1:10).  On the subject of the Rapture, Paul wanted these believers to know that their dead loved ones who died before the blissful event of the Rapture will be a part of it!

Paul stated that believers who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (or precede) those believers who have died in Christ.  Believers who are alive at the coming of the Rapture will not be going ahead of those who died in Christ.

According to verse 16, Christ’s return from His lofty position in heaven (Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3) for His saints will be dramatic indeed!  The dead in Christ of this dispensation of grace will be raised! Believers of this church age will be raised (believers since Acts Chapter 2 until the Rapture) and not the Old Testament saints who will be raised at the end of the Tribulation Period (Daniel 12:2) to inherit the Millennium.

The great mystery of how God will raise the bodies of people poses a problem to the faith of countless ones.  Our God who created the universe out of nothing (ex-nihilo) with a fiat is fully able to reassemble the decayed dead bodies of all His saints in a moment of time (I Corinthians 15:35-58).  After the bodies of those who have died in Christ have been raised (v. 16), then those who are alive and remain will be caught up with the dead in Christ to meet the Lord in air (v. 17).

By using the word “we” Paul included himself, thinking that Christ would return during his lifetime.  The resurrected or translated bodies of all Christians will be united with Christ and with each other at the Rapture.  The Lord will take us to the place He is presently preparing for us (St. John 14:2-3).  As lofty as this subject of the Rapture is, Paul wanted these believers to encourage one another with these words (v. 18).

In the midst of the prevailing problems and issues of our present lifetime, it is awfully comforting to know that the Rapture of the church is an imminent event, and that fact should inspire us to say: “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).