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Noel Merrick

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III} IN CHURCH

1 Corinth 11:18

1 Corinthians 11:18 KJV 1900

18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

Strong's Greek Dictionary 4905. συνέρχομαι synerchomai (synérchomai) Search for G4905 in KJVSL; in KJV; load in ESI.

συνέρχομαι synérchomai, soon-er'-khom-ahee

from G4862 and G2064; to convene, depart in company with, associate with, or (specially), cohabit (conjugally):—accompany, assemble (with), come (together), come (company, go) with, resort.

verb

1 Corinthians 11:20 KJV 1900

20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

1 Corinth11:33-34

1 Corinthians 11:33–34 KJV 1900

33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

1 Corinthians 12:24 KJV 1900

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

1 Corinth 14:23

1 Corinthians 14:23 KJV 1900

23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

1 Corinthians 14:26 KJV 1900

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

2 Corinthians 1:11 KJV 1900

11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

Hebrews 10:25 KJV 1900

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Strong's Greek Dictionary 1997. ἐπισυναγωγή episynagoge (episynagōgḗ) Search for G1997 in KJVSL; in KJV; load in ESI.

ἐπισυναγωγή episynagōgḗ, ep-ee-soon-ag-o-gay'

from G1996; a complete collection; especially a Christian meeting (for worship):—assembling (gathering) together.

feminine noun

Public worship: —

I. THE ASSEMBLING TOGETHER.

All on the same level, except so far as we may differ in spiritual things.

1. Assembling together is a duty.

(1) God has commanded it.

(2) The practice is co-equal in point of time with the existence of the Christian Church.

(3) It is necessary for carrying out the Lord's work.

(4) It is essential for the spiritual well-being of every Christian man.

2. A privilege. To neglect it is to starve the soul.

II. THE OBJECT OF MEETING TOGETHER.

1. TO draw near to God.

2. To receive spiritual blessings.

3. To exhort one another.

III. THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF THIS MEETING TOGETHER AS THE PARTICULAR DAY NAMED IN THE TEXT DRAWS NEAR.

1. The day that you may be deprived of the opportunity of meeting.

(1) From sickness.

(2) From loss of inclination.

2. The day of trial and affliction.

3. The day of death.

4. The day of judgment. (G. Sexton, D. D.)

The importance of public worship: —

I. THE ADMONITION GIVEN.

1. That to assemble together is a Christian duty.

2. Some who profess attachment to Christ's cause neglect this duty.

Some are once-a-day worshippers; others are fine-weather worshippers; while many are merely fancy-worshippers, and go to the Lord's house just when it may please them. Great reason is obvious, no spiritual relish, only a name to live, &c. Only form of godliness, etc.

3. It is of the utmost importance that we do not thus forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

(1) On God's account, who demands and infinitely deserves our service.

(2) On the Church's account. The Church is to be visible.

(3) Especially on our own account.

We are deeply interested in these assemblies. We might "forsake," &c., if we had no mercies to acknowledge, no sins to confess, no blessings to crave, no enemies to overcome, no soul to sanctify, no hell to escape, no heaven to gain.

II. A SPECIFIC DUTY STATED. We should exhort each other —

1. To watchfulness and vigilance.

2. To determination and constancy.

3. To zeal and diligence.

4. To courage and perseverance.

III. A POWERFUL MOTIVE.

1. The day is approaching.

2. This day is truly a momentous one.

3. The believer sees the day approaching. That is, he never loses sight of that truth.

Learn:

1. The place of the Christian's delight will be God's house.

2. From our present circumstances, we all stand in need of exhortation (1Th 5:11; 2Ti 4:2; Heb 3:13).

1 Thessalonians 5:11 KJV 1900

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

2 Timothy 4:2 KJV 1900

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Hebrews 3:13 KJV 1900

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

3. We cannot fail to be stimulated, both to diligence and faithfulness, if we keep the truth before us that the day is approaching. (J. Burns, D. D.)

IV}IN CLOUDS

Ephesians 1:10 KJV 1900

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Ephesians 2:6 KJV 1900

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 KJV 1900

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Ellicott's Bible Commentary for English Readers 1 Thessalonians 4:17

1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV 1900

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

(17) Shall be caught up.—

"Our Assumption," as Bishop Ellicott well calls it.

The spiritualising of our natural bodies without death, as described in 1Co 15:50, et seq., will enable us to be "caught up" equally well with, and in company with (both of which thoughts are included in "together with"), the resurgent dead.

1 Corinthians 15:50 KJV 1900

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

"Clouds" and "air" will be support enough for material so immaterial.

Theodoret says, "He showeth the greatness of the honour: as the Master Himself was taken up upon a shining cloud, so also they that have believed in Him."

The absolute equality, then, of quick and dead is proved.

To meet the Lord in the air.—

St. Chrysostom says:" When the King cometh into a city, they that are honourable proceed forth to meet him, but the guilty await their judge within."

The phrase "in the air" certainly does not mean "heaven."

The word "air") in itself properly signifies the lower, denser, grosser atmosphere, in which the powers of darkness reign (Eph 2:2); but here it is only used in contrast with the ground, and means "on the way from Heaven whence He comes," of course not to dwell there, but to accompany Him to His Judgment-seat on the earth.

Ephesians 2:2 KJV 1900

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

And so.—

Now that St. Paul has settled the question of disparity between the dead and the living, he does not think it necessary to describe what is immediately to follow; that, the Thessalonians were sure to know (see Heb 6:2): it only remains to say that having once rejoined the Lord, they would never be parted from Him.

Hebrews 6:2 KJV 1900

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

(15-16) Those asleep in Jesus are not at a disadvantage.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will rise first.

a. By the word of the Lord: Paul emphasizes that this was an authoritative command, though we do not know whether Paul received this by direct revelation or if it was an unrecorded saying of Jesus.

One way or another, this came from Jesus and did not originate with Paul.

i. "In no place does the apostle speak more confidently and positively of his inspiration than here; and we should prepare ourselves to receive some momentous and interesting truth." (Clarke)

b. We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep: Paul wanted the Thessalonians to know that those who are asleep - Christians who have died before Jesus returns - will by no means be at a disadvantage.

Those who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede them .

God will allow those who are asleep to share in the glory of the coming of the Lord .

i. "The living will have no advantage over those fallen asleep; they will not meet the returning Christ ahead of the dead, nor will they have any precedence in the blessedness at His coming." (Hiebert)

ii. We who are alive means that Paul himself shared in this expectancy.

It wasn't because Paul had an erroneous promise of the return of Jesus in his lifetime.

"More feasible is the solution that sees Paul setting an example of expectancy for the church of all ages.

Proper Christian anticipation includes the imminent return of Christ."

c. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout: When Jesus comes, He will come personally .

The Lord Himself will descend , and come with a shout .

The ancient Greek word for shout here is the same word used for a ship's master command to his rowers, or a commander speaking to his soldiers.

"Always there is the ring of authority and the note of urgency." (Morris)

i. Apparently, there will be some audible signal that prompts this remarkable event.

It may be all three descriptions (shout , voice , and trumpet ) refer to the same sound, or there may be three distinct sounds.

The rapture will not be silent or secret, though the vast majority of people may not understand the sound or its meaning.

ii. When Paul heard the heavenly voice on the road to Damascus (Act 9:7; 22:9) his companions heard the sound of a voice, but they did not hear articulate words.

They heard a sound but did not understand its meaning.

It may well be that the shout/voice/trumpet sound that accompanies the rapture will have the same effect.

The entire world will hear this heavenly sound but will have no idea what its meaning is.

Acts 9:7 KJV 1900

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

Acts 22:9 KJV 1900

9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

d. With the voice of an archangel: This doesn't mean that the Lord Himself is an archangel .

The only one described as an archangel in the Bible is Michael (Jud 1:9).

Paul means that when Jesus comes, He will come in the company of prominent angels.

Jude 9 KJV 1900

9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

i. With the voice of an archangel means that Paul clearly did not designate a specific archangel .

"It is even possible that he does not mean that an archangel will actually say something, but simply that the voice that will be uttered will be a very great voice, an archangel type of voice." (Morris)

e. With the trumpet of God: Believers are gathered with the trumpet of God .

In the Old Testament, trumpets sounded the alarm for war, and threw the enemy into a panic, in the sense of the seven trumpets described in Num 10:9 and Rev 8-9.

Numbers 10:9 KJV 1900

9 And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.

Revelation 8–9 KJV 1900

1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. 6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. 8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. 10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. 12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. 13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! 1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. 6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. 7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. 8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. 12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. 13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. 20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Trumpets also sounded an assembly of God's people, as in Lev 23:24 and Num 10:2.

Leviticus 23:24 KJV 1900

24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.

Numbers 10:2 KJV 1900

2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

Here, the trumpet of God gathers together God's people.

Numbers 10:9 KJV 1900

Revelation 8–9 KJV 1900

Leviticus 23:24 KJV 1900

24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.

Numbers 10:2 KJV 1900

2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

i. "It was by the sound of the trumpet that the solemn assemblies, under the law, were convoked; and to such convocations there appears to be here an allusion." (Clarke)

ii. There are three other associations of trumpets and end-times events.

One is the last trump of 1Co 15:52, which seems clearly to be connected with this same trumpet of 1Th 4.

The others are the seven trumpets which culminate at Rev 11:15 and the trumpet gathering the elect of Israel at the end of the age in Mat 24:31.

1 Corinthians 15:52 KJV 1900

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4 KJV 1900

1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Revelation 11:15 KJV 1900

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Matthew 24:31 KJV 1900

31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

iii. Hiebert compares this trumpet of 1Th 4 and the seventh trumpet of Rev 11:15: "The subjects are different: here it is the church; there a wicked world.

The results are different: here it is the glorious catching up of the church to be with the Lord; there it is further judgment upon a godless world.

Here 'the last trump' signals the close of the life the church on earth; there the 'seventh' trumpet marks a climax in a progressive series of apocalyptic judgments upon the living on earth."

1 Thessalonians 4 KJV 1900

Revelation 11:15 KJV 1900

iv. As to the trumpet of 1Th 4 and the one mentioned in Mat 24:31, we can also observe:

1 Thessalonians 4 KJV 1900

Matthew 24:31 KJV 1900

31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The subjects are different: Matthew refers to Jewish believers during the great tribulation; Thessalonians refers to the church.

The circumstances are different: Matthew refers to a regathering of the elect scattered over the earth, with no mention of resurrection; Thessalonians refers to the raising of the believing dead.

The results are different: Matthew refers to living believers regathered from all over the earth at the command of their Lord who has returned to earth in open glory; Thessalonians refers to the uniting of the raised dead with the living believers to meet the Lord in the air.

f. And the dead in Christ will rise first: Paul's point to the Thessalonians is clear.

The prior dead in Christ will not be left out of either the resurrection or the return of Jesus.

In fact, they will experience it first .

i. "It is only after the faithful departed have taken their place with the Lord that the saints on earth are caught up to be with Him, or more strictly, to be with them and meet Him." (Morris)

ii. " 'The order of the resurrection,' he says, 'will begin with them.

We therefore shall not rise without them.' " (Calvin)

g. Will rise first: Many wonder how are the dead in Christ raised are first .

Some believe that they now have temporary bodies and await this resurrection.

Others believe that they are now disembodied spirits who wait for resurrection.

Still others conjecture that the dead in Christ experience their resurrection immediately.

i. There will come a day, when in God's eternal plan, the dead in Christ will receive their resurrection bodies.

Yet until that day, we are confident that the dead in Christ are not in some kind of soul sleep or suspended animation.

Paul made it clear that to be absent from the body means to be present with the Lord . (2Co 5:8)

Either the present dead in Christ are with the Lord in a spiritual body, awaiting their final resurrection body; or, because of the nature of timeless eternity, they have received their resurrection bodies already because they live in the eternal now .

2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV 1900

8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

ii. However God will do it, we are confident that His promise is true.

"Though the bones be scattered to the four winds of heaven, yet, at the call of the Lord God, they shall come together again, bone to his bone . . . We doubt not that God will guard the dust of the precious sons and daughters of Zion" (Spurgeon)

4. (17) Jesus comes to meet His Church.

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

a. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them: Those alive and remaining until this coming of Jesus are caught up to meet Jesus in the air, together with the dead in Jesus who have already risen.

i. The verb translated caught up here means to seize, or to carry off by force.

"There is often the notion of a sudden swoop, and usually that of a force which cannot be resisted" (Morris).

In the ancient Greek, the phrase to meet was used as a technical term to describe the official welcoming of honored guests.

ii. This passage is the basis for the New Testament doctrine of the rapture , the catching away of believers to be with Jesus.

The word rapture is not in the ancient Greek text, but comes from the Latin Vulgate, which translates the phrase caught up with rapturus , from which we get our English word rapture .

iii. Paul's statement, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is both dramatic and fantastic.

He speaks of Christians flying upward, caught up . . . in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air .

We wouldn't believe this unless the Bible told us it were so, not any more than we would believe that God who became a baby, that He did miracles, that He died on a cross and He lives in us.

iv. Paul's language here is so straightforward and free from figurative speech that there is no missing his intent.

"The Apostle's declarations here are made in the practical tone of strict matter of fact, and are given as literal details . . . Never was a place where the analogy of symbolical apocalyptic language was less applicable. Either these details must be received by us as matter of practical expectation, or we must set aside the Apostle as one divinely empowered to teach the Church." (Alford)

b. Shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: Paul's plain language leaves no doubt regarding the certainty of this event. Yet the timing of this event in the chronology of God's prophetic plan is a matter of significant debate among Christians.

i. Many - though certainly not all - Christians believe the Bible teaches that there will be an important seven-year period of history before the Battle of Armageddon and triumphant return of Jesus.

The debate about this catching away centers on where it fits in with this final seven-year period, popularly known as the Great Tribulation, with reference to Mat 24:21.

Matthew 24:21 KJV 1900

21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

The pre-tribulation rapture position believes believers are caught up before this final seven-year period.

The mid-tribulation rapture position believes believers are caught up in the midst of this final seven-year period.

The pre-wrath rapture position believes believers are caught up at some time in the second half of this final seven-year period.

The post-tribulation rapture position believes believers are caught up at the end of this final seven-year period.

ii. The adherents of these different positions each believe their position is Biblical, and these differences of understanding should not make dividing lines of Christian fellowship.

Nevertheless, this author's opinion is that the pre-tribulation rapture position is Biblically correct.

Even other references to the return of Jesus within 1-2 Thessalonians support this understanding:

1Th 1:10 shows believers waiting for the return of Jesus.

The clear implication is that they had hope of His imminent return, not the expectation of an imminent great tribulation.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 KJV 1900

10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1Th 4:13-18 assures us that those believers who died would share equally with the living in the events of the rapture and the resurrection, answering their fear that somehow the dead in Christ were at a disadvantage.

But if Paul believed Christians would go through the great tribulation, he would count the dead in Christ as more fortunate than those living Christians who might very well have to endure the great tribulation.

It would have been logical for Paul to comfort the Thessalonians with the idea that the dead in Jesus were better off because they won't have to experience the great tribulation.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 KJV 1900

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

2Th 1:3-10 comforts Christians enduring hardship, promising them a coming rest , while their persecutors will face certain judgment.

But if Paul knew that the church was destined to pass through the great tribulation, it would have been more appropriate for him to warn these Christians about worse trials and suffering ahead, rather than hold the promise of a coming rest .

2 Thessalonians 1:3–10 KJV 1900

3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

c. And thus we shall always be with the Lord: The manner in which Jesus will gather us to Himself is impressive.

But the main point is that whatever the state of the Christians (dead or alive) at the Lord's coming, they will always be with the Lord .

This is the great reward of heaven - to be with Jesus.

Death can't break our unity with Jesus or with other Christians.

i. We shall always be with the Lord is an important truth with many implications.

It implies continuation ; it assumes you are already with the Lord .

It implies hope for the dying ; in death we shall still be with the Lord .

It implies future confidence ; after death we are with the Lord .

It implies advancement ; we will one day always be with the Lord.

ii. "We shall be so with him as to have no sin to becloud our view of him: the understanding will be delivered from all the injury which sin has wrought in it, and we shall know him even as we are known." (Spurgeon)

5. (18) The exhortation: comfort one another.

Therefore comfort one another with these words.

a. Therefore comfort one another: Paul did not tell them to take comfort, but to give comfort.

In the way God works, we always receive comfort as we give it.

i. "Paul does not himself seek to comfort or encourage his readers but rather bids them actively to comfort or encourage 'one another.'

The present imperative places upon them the continuing duty to do so, both in private conversation and in the public services." (Hiebert)

b. With these words: The truth of the return of Jesus for His people, and the eternal union of Jesus and His people is to be a source of comfort for Christians.

i. This concluding statement of Paul only makes sense if the catching away of the previous verses actually delivers Christians from an impending danger.

Untitled Sermon (78)

III} IN CHURCH

from G4862 and G2064; to convene, depart in company with, associate with, or (specially), cohabit (conjugally):—accompany, assemble (with), come (together), come (company, go) with, resort.

from G1996; a complete collection; especially a Christian meeting (for worship):—assembling (gathering) together.

feminine noun

Public worship: —

I. THE ASSEMBLING TOGETHER.

All on the same level, except so far as we may differ in spiritual things.

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1. Assembling together is a duty.

(1) God has commanded it.

(2) The practice is co-equal in point of time with the existence of the Christian Church.

(3) It is necessary for carrying out the Lord's work.

(4) It is essential for the spiritual well-being of every Christian man.

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2. A privilege. To neglect it is to starve the soul.

II. THE OBJECT OF MEETING TOGETHER.

1. TO draw near to God.

2. To receive spiritual blessings.

3. To exhort one another.

III. THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF THIS MEETING TOGETHER AS THE PARTICULAR DAY NAMED IN THE TEXT DRAWS NEAR.

1. The day that you may be deprived of the opportunity of meeting.

(1) From sickness.

(2) From loss of inclination.

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2. The day of trial and affliction.

3. The day of death.

4. The day of judgment. (G. Sexton, D. D.)

The importance of public worship: —

I. THE ADMONITION GIVEN.

1. That to assemble together is a Christian duty.

2. Some who profess attachment to Christ's cause neglect this duty.

3. It is of the utmost importance that we do not thus forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

(1) On God's account, who demands and infinitely deserves our service.

(2) On the Church's account. The Church is to be visible.

(3) Especially on our own account.

II. A SPECIFIC DUTY STATED. We should exhort each other —

1. To watchfulness and vigilance.

2. To determination and constancy.

3. To zeal and diligence.

4. To courage and perseverance.

III. A POWERFUL MOTIVE.

1. The day is approaching.

2. This day is truly a momentous one.

3. The believer sees the day approaching. That is, he never loses sight of that truth.

Learn:

1. The place of the Christian's delight will be God's house.

2. From our present circumstances, we all stand in need of exhortation (1Th 5:11; 2Ti 4:2; Heb 3:13).

3. We cannot fail to be stimulated, both to diligence and faithfulness, if we keep the truth before us that the day is approaching. (J. Burns, D. D.)

Ellicott's Bible Commentary for English Readers 1 Thessalonians 4:17

(17) Shall be caught up.—

"Clouds" and "air" will be support enough for material so immaterial.

The phrase "in the air" certainly does not mean "heaven."

And so.—

(15-16) Those asleep in Jesus are not at a disadvantage.

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a. By the word of the Lord: Paul emphasizes that this was an authoritative command, though we do not know whether Paul received this by direct revelation or if it was an unrecorded saying of Jesus.

One way or another, this came from Jesus and did not originate with Paul.

i. "In no place does the apostle speak more confidently and positively of his inspiration than here; and we should prepare ourselves to receive some momentous and interesting truth." (Clarke)

b. We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep: Paul wanted the Thessalonians to know that those who are asleep - Christians who have died before Jesus returns - will by no means be at a disadvantage.

i. "The living will have no advantage over those fallen asleep; they will not meet the returning Christ ahead of the dead, nor will they have any precedence in the blessedness at His coming." (Hiebert)

ii. We who are alive means that Paul himself shared in this expectancy.

c. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout: When Jesus comes, He will come personally .

"Always there is the ring of authority and the note of urgency." (Morris)

i. Apparently, there will be some audible signal that prompts this remarkable event.

ii. When Paul heard the heavenly voice on the road to Damascus (Act 9:7; 22:9) his companions heard the sound of a voice, but they did not hear articulate words.

d. With the voice of an archangel: This doesn't mean that the Lord Himself is an archangel .

i. With the voice of an archangel means that Paul clearly did not designate a specific archangel .

"It is even possible that he does not mean that an archangel will actually say something, but simply that the voice that will be uttered will be a very great voice, an archangel type of voice." (Morris)

e. With the trumpet of God: Believers are gathered with the trumpet of God .

Trumpets also sounded an assembly of God's people, as in Lev 23:24 and Num 10:2.

Here, the trumpet of God gathers together God's people.

i. "It was by the sound of the trumpet that the solemn assemblies, under the law, were convoked; and to such convocations there appears to be here an allusion." (Clarke)

ii. There are three other associations of trumpets and end-times events.

One is the last trump of 1Co 15:52, which seems clearly to be connected with this same trumpet of 1Th 4.

The others are the seven trumpets which culminate at Rev 11:15 and the trumpet gathering the elect of Israel at the end of the age in Mat 24:31.

iii. Hiebert compares this trumpet of 1Th 4 and the seventh trumpet of Rev 11:15: "The subjects are different: here it is the church; there a wicked world.

iv. As to the trumpet of 1Th 4 and the one mentioned in Mat 24:31, we can also observe:

f. And the dead in Christ will rise first: Paul's point to the Thessalonians is clear.

i. "It is only after the faithful departed have taken their place with the Lord that the saints on earth are caught up to be with Him, or more strictly, to be with them and meet Him." (Morris)