The Second Coming
—in First Thessalonians
In 1Thessalonians 4:13 to 5:11, Paul teaches about the second coming of Christ. We will take that passage a portion at a time and note the main points that Paul makes.
The Main Points
1Thessalonians 4:13-14
¶“13We don't want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don't grieve like the others who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”(1Thessalonians 4:13-14).
1. Death is not a hopeless state
In chapter 4 verse 13 above, regarding Christians who have died, Paul does not want people to grieve as though there is no hope. In verse 14 above he gives his reason.
1Thessalonians 4:15-18
¶“15For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet sounding. First the dead in Christ will rise, 17then we who still remain alive 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. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
2. Dead and living saints will ascend together
In chapter 4 verses 15 and 17 above, Paul says that Christians alive at the second coming will not ascend until the dead have been raised. Then they will all ascend together.
3. Not a silent or secret coming
In chapter 4 verse 16 above, Paul describes a very visible and audible descent of the Lord from Heaven. "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God sounding" (1Thessalonians 4:16).
4. A doctrine of comfort to Christians
In chapter 4 verse 18 above, Paul shows that the hope of the second coming is able to encourage and comfort the church. He says, "Therefore comfort one another with these words" (1Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11).
1Thessalonians 5:1-3
¶“1But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that anything be written to you. 2For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. 3For when they are saying,'Peace and safety', then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape.” (1Thessalonians 5:1-3).
5. None can know or guess the time
In chapter 5 verse 2 above, the coming of Christ is likened to the coming of a thief in the night. The point is that one doesn't know when the thief will come.
6. He will come suddenly when conditions are normal
In chapter 5 verse 3, the coming of Christ will occur "While they are saying, 'Peace and safety'..." (1Thessalonians 5:3; 2Peter 3:3-4).
1Thessalonians 5:4-7
¶“4But you, brethren, aren't in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief. 5You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don't belong to the night, nor to darkness, 6so then let's not sleep, as the rest do, but let's watch and be sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk are drunk in the night.” (1Thessalonians 5:4-7).
7. We must all keep ourselves prepared
In chapter 5 verses 4 and 6 above, Paul says, "You brethren, are not in darkness that the day should overtake you as a thief... let us be alert and be sober" (1Thessalonians 5:4,6).
1Thessalonians 5:8-11
¶“8 But let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God didn't appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.” (1Thessalonians 5:8-11).
8. A day of both wrath and salvation
In chapter 5 verse 9 above, Paul mentions the two opposite states that we choose from: namely wrath and salvation, hell and heaven. "God has not destined us for wrath, but salvation" (1Thessalonians 5:9). Which state have you chosen? Will you "pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the face of the Lord"? (2Thessalonians 1:5-10, 2Thessalonians 1:5-10).