For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, 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. So we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 WEB
Chapter four of 1 Thessalonians begins with instructions to live life in a way that is pleasing to God. Paul teaches to live upright, righteous lives free from lust and immorality. The apostle continues with encouraging words about our future with Jesus in heaven. Paul reminds his readers that as assuredly as Christ rose from the dead, he promised to raise to life the faithful to be with the Lord forever.
In hope and belief of resurrection for the dead in Christ, Paul describes Jesus’ return. When Christ comes to take the faithful to heaven, he is accompanied by three sounds, a shout from the Lord, the voice of the archangel, and God’s trumpet. Jesus said of his return in Matthew 25:13, “Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. WEB”
The Dead in Christ Will Rise
Paul does not give the time of Jesus’ return but clarifies the order in which believers ascend into heaven. First, the dead in Christ will rise. Paul mentions this in the context of comforting those who grieve the loss of those who died before them. He is encouraging the faithful to let go of their grief and live in hopeful expectation of reunification in heaven.
He then writes of those who are alive when Christ returns. After the dead in Christ are raised, the living are caught up together with them in the clouds and taken to the eternal reward of heaven to live with the Lord forever. Just as Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, calling him by name out of his tomb, upon his return, the Lord will call the dead and living in Christ to eternal life with a mighty shout.
As we read in Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. WEB”
Prayer; “Father God, thank you for the promise of eternal life. Thank you for the hope of living with the Lord forever. Help me to live according to your holy word. Guide my steps to live a life that is pleasing to you. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: She Respects Her Husband
