Although Paul had been in Thessalonica less than a month, he had touched on many of the great doctrines of the church, including the second coming of Christ. It is interesting that Paul did not consider this subject to be above the heads of the new converts. Yet there are churches today that have been in existence for more than one hundred years whose members have but a vague understanding of the Rapture of the church and the coming of Christ to establish His kingdom here on earth. The Thessalonian church was not even a month old, and Paul was teaching them these great doctrines!
The apostle obviously had emphasized the second coming of Christ for believers and had taught that the return of Christ was imminent; for during the period of time since Paul had left, some of the saints who had come to know and believe in Christ Jesus had died, and this had naturally raised the question in the minds of the Thessalonians as to whether these saints would be in the Rapture or not. Paul presents the second coming of Christ in relationship to believers as a comfort, and this forms the theme of the epistle. 1
The Hope of the Resurrection 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT 13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died
so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the
1 McGee, J. V. (1997). Thru the Bible commentary (electronic ed., Vol. 5, pp. 367368). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 2
Christians who have died
will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.
You want to be ready when Jesus returns....Are you ready? If not, become a born again follower of Christ Jesus...The following will tell you how...it is not complicated... I Know I Am Going to Heaven, Do You? I am going to heaven when I die and know it.I dont hope I am, I KNOW I am.how? The Bible tells me so. 1 John 5:13 says, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Do you only hope you are going to heaven? Do you want to know for sure you are? In your own simple way pray this short prayer asking Jesus to save you now: Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I need your salvation. I am so sorry for my sins and ask you to forgive me. I know and believe that you died for me and rose from the grave and I ask you to save me now. I invite you into my heart, right now, and I want to know for sure I will go to heaven when I die. Thank you for saving my soul. If you prayed that prayer and really meant it, the Bible says you are saved and you now know you are going to heaven. Find a Bible believing, teaching church and begin your life in Christ.