BaptistWay Bible Series for November 22: Hope for time and eternity

Browse the shelves of a Christian bookstore and you will find plenty of materials concerning death, grief and the second coming of Christ. We tie these issues together for good reason—the Apostle Paul covered these topics when he wrote to the church in Thessalonica. The folks in his day needed reassurance and comfort and so do we.

Will we see our loved ones again? How should we respond to the death of those we love? When will Jesus return to the earth to set things right? Can we predict when this amazing event will happen?

What the Bible says …

Paul addresses these issues one following the other. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 deals with death and grief, followed immediately by a discussion of the return of Jesus in 5:1-11.

He employs figurative language, describing the death of a believer as one who has fallen asleep. The miracle of resurrection and the hope of reunion with loved ones who have died is clearly stated (v. 14). Then, Paul carefully outlines the order of things. Jesus will appear and this appearance will not be secretive but will be announced “with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (v. 16). Following this appearance, then those who remain will “be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (v. 17).

Note Paul does not say Christians should not grieve. When tragedy strikes, the process of grief naturally follows. Believers are not to grieve without hope. Based on the return of Jesus and the promise of reunion, we can look to the future with the assurance that God is in control.

Paul deals with death and grief in light of the return of Christ. Now he immediately addresses some common misunderstandings concerning that event. One concern is that of timing—when will Jesus come back to earth?

Once again, the apostle depends upon figurative language to convey his message: “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (5:2). The emphasis is upon the suddenness of the return. Paul urges his friends to be ready, to anticipate the second coming as though it could occur any day.

A careful reading of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 raises an interpretive issue. In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul says the coming of Jesus will be sudden, catching all by surprise. In contrast, 2 Thessalonians 2 asserts the coming of Jesus will not occur until two events transpire: 1) a great apostasy or turning away (v. 3), and 2) the appearing of one called the man of lawlessness or son of destruction (v. 4). Viewpoints abound concerning the identity of these precursors to the second coming.

Some have used this apparent contradiction (one passage stating the return will be sudden, while another seemingly discounts the surprise element) to cast doubt on Paul’s authorship of both letters. Did Paul make an about-face or change his mind after writing 1 Thessalonians 4? Did someone else pen 2 Thessalonians, which would explain the difference between the two passages?

I believe Paul encouraged his friends in Thessalonica concerning the second coming and urged them to be ready. I believe some overreacted to his message and, as a result, Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians 2 to calm the fears of some. Believers should watch for the obvious signs and prepare for the sudden return of Christ. Every generation could well be the one where these things are fulfilled and God brings down the curtain on history.

Paul voices a real concern in 2 Thessalonians 2:1 when he says some had spread rumors that the return of Jesus already had taken place. One easily can see how this could cause great anxiety among believers. So, Paul naturally wrote again and gave them additional information concerning the second coming.

Both passages are true. The latter passage sheds further light on a very important issue for Christians. Have you ever spoken then found the need to revisit the subject in order to clarify things? It’s a regular occurrence for me.

What the Bible means to me today …

Christians today need to face death, dying and grief with the same hope as described in 1 Thessalonians 4. We have made great strides in our understanding of the process of grief. Support groups that allow people to walk this journey with others have helped many people. Above all, believers should help guide those without faith to turn to God in times of tragedy and despair.

Though we may never see eye-to-eye concerning all the circumstances surrounding the return of Jesus, we can agree on the reality of his coming. I believe Paul sought to strike a balance with regard to the end times.

We all would be judged faithful if we treated every day as though it could be the one when Jesus appears. Communicating the urgency of the situation with sensitivity and concern to those who need Christ can only help, even if our message is not immediately accepted.

Paul’s concludes his discussion of both the death of loved ones and the return of Jesus with some of the best advice one could give: “Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians  4:18) and “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Let us practice these things.