eschatology, Description of the Rapture (1 Thess.4-5)

At first I was going to try to do all of 1 Thessalonians in one devotion, but this tiny book has so much information regarding the rapture that I had to split it up into two studies.  Paul has already mentioned the rapture (the coming of the Lord Jesus) three times in this letter in order to give encouragement to the Thessalonians, but after hearing news of how the church was doing, Paul was both pleased and concerned.

The Thessalonians were doing an excellent job of showing love towards one another, but many of them had become discouraged and even stopped working, because they thought those believers who had already died would miss out on the rapture - and therefore, would miss out on heaven.

Perhaps when Paul was there in person, he would speak often about the rapture, but the people obviously didn't completely understand what he meant.  So now Paul clarifies things by giving them some very descriptive details around the rapture in order to put their hearts and minds at ease...

(1 Thessalonians 4:9-18)  Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 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 not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

And here we go!  Very clearly in the scripture portion below - we are told that as believers, we have no part in the times or the epochs!  We have nothing to do with them!  We are in the age of the Gentiles!  We are only part of the Church Age!!!

The Day of the Lord contains the two segments of time - the last 7 years of the Jewish Age (the Tribulation) - AND - the thousand year reign of Jesus the Messiah (the Millennium).

Therefore, we can be even more confident knowing that the rapture will happen before the Tribulation - which describes a time of darkness and destruction, coming suddenly upon the earth like labor pains and the people will not escape!!!

I'm sure someone could finagle the context of this to imply that the rapture will occur at the halfway point of the Tribulation, since there will be a moment of false security (a moment that seems like peace and safety) at the halfway point.  But notice that in verse 3 - it says "while THEY are saying, 'Peace and safety!' then destruction will come upon THEM" - not us (the Church).  Remember, there were no signs given to the Church.  All of the signs are for the Israelites to see that their Messiah will be returning to earth soon.  And these signs are all judgments for the (sinful) nations on the earth.

Also, if the first half of the Tribulation contains some of the signs and judgments, how then can the continuation of the signs and judgments take anyone by surprise like a thief in the night???  These will be dark days, and we can rejoice that we are "sons of light" and therefore we will not be overtaken by the darkness - because Jesus will snatch us up before any of that takes place!...

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)  Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Today's takeaway:  therefore we can comfort one another!  Encourage one another!!!  God has not destined us for wrath but for salvation!  We are saved from the wrath to come!!!  Below, Paul mentions the rapture for the fifth time in this book!  I believe he's trying to let us know that we do not have to worry about going through the Tribulation!!!!

We will experience tribulations, but nothing like those which will happen during THE Tribulation.  God is so very faithful!  God knows exactly how to sort things out!  God is bigger and more powerful than any tribulation we might go through.  We do not have to worry about anything - - - but ask and allow God to handle everything for us...

(1 Thessalonians 5:12-24)  But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.