Ver. 15-18. “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” The apostle always wrote, we must remember, under the direct guidance and full sanction of the Spirit of God; but here there is something special—something that was required for the instruction and consolation of the sorrowing Thessalonians, therefore he introduces the new revelation with a “This we say unto you by the word of the Lord.” We have a similar instance in 1 Corinthians 11, when the apostle says, “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you.” That was given to correct an abuse as to the observance of the Lord’s supper; this, to correct a mistake as to the Lord’s coming.
But mark the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to His young disciples; He assures their hearts, that in the order of events connected with His coming, the first that takes place is the resurrection of those who had fallen asleep in Jesus, and that in place of losing anything by having departed, they will be the first that are ready to go up and meet the Lord. “The dead in Christ shall rise first.” So far from those who have fallen asleep in Jesus missing the joyful hour of His coming, they will be raised before the living are changed. This is grace, the grace of the Lord Jesus; at the same time we know, that every event connected with His coming shall be accomplished in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, so that the interval cannot be estimated.
But now, my soul, observe in silent wonder, the shining forth of this twofold glory of the Lord Jesus: He rises from His throne, He descends from heaven, He gives the word Himself, the voice of the archangel passes it on, and the trumpet gives a well-known sound. The imagery is military. As well trained troops know the orders of their commander by the sound of the trumpet, so will the army of the Lord answer instantly to His call. All the dead in Christ shall rise, and all the living shall be changed; and they shall all enter into the cloud, and be caught up together, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall they ever be with the Lord. No separation then; therefore the apostle adds, “Comfort one another with these words.”
Thus the apostle explains to the Thessalonians how God will bring with Jesus all who sleep in Him. From verse 15 to 18 is a parenthesis, which accounts for what is said in the 14th: “Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” When the Lord returns in glory, all the saints will be with Him; but, previously, He has awakened the sleepers, changed the living, and translated both to heaven.
The Rapture Of The Saints.
And now, the saints are gone—all gone—gone to glory—gone to be with the Lord forever! What a thought—what an event, Ο my soul! Not a particle of the redeemed dust of God’s children left in the grave; and not a believer left on the face of the whole earth! all caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. But who can think—who can speak of the happy reunions on that morning of cloudless joy? Doubtless the Person of the Lord will fix every eye and ravish every heart; still, there will be the distinct recognition of those, who, though long parted from us here, have never lost their place in our hearts. And as all will perfectly bear the image of the Lord, we can never lose sight of Him. Though every one will have his own identity, and his own special joy, yet all will be like the Lord, and the joy of each will be the common joy of all. “Ο magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together,” will be a note of praise often sung, as we meet to part no more forever.
Yes, my soul, heaven is a home, a social place; and surely the blessed Lord who has prepared that home of love will ever have the first thought, the first place, yet He Himself will connect the brightest scenes in glory with the darkest days of the wilderness. This is evident from what the apostle says in the second chapter. At the very moment when he was hindered by Satan from visiting his beloved Thessalonians, who were sorely persecuted, he looked beyond those troublous times and saw his children in the faith around him in the glory. “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.” But there are many other scenes of earth that will have a bright reflection in the glory. Many cross my mind, some I well remember; but I forbear, their record is on high.
“Hark to the trump! behold it breaks
The sleep of ages now:
And lo! the light of glory shines
On many an aching brow.
Changed in a moment—raised to life;
The quick, the dead arise,
Responsive to th’ archangel’s voice,
That calls us to the skies.
Undazzled by the glorious light
Of that beloved brow,
We see, without a single cloud,
We see the Savior now!
Ο Lord, the bright and blessed hope
That cheered us through the past,
Of full eternal rest in thee,
Is all fulfilled at last.”
Here pause a little, Ο my soul; meditate on this wondrous scene. Who will meet thee there? Who will greet thee with a joyous welcome in that happy land? Who will clasp thy hand, to the sundered no more forever? But oh! how completely all are changed, and yet how perfectly all are identically the same. One cannot be mistaken for another; and not one can he unknown. But chiefest of all thy joys that morning, and from which all thy other joys shall flow, will he to see His face, hear His voice, and behold His glory; or, as St. John says, and sums up all blessedness in two expressions; “We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” Surely God Himself could not have done a better thing for us than to make us like Christ; and a richer blessing He could not have bestowed than to give us to see Him as He is—that means, we shall see Him and know Him in all the realities of His love, and in all the greatness of His many glories. This will be the fullness of our joy, the everlasting spring of our never-ending delight.
The Interval Between the Rapture And The Appearing.
But to where, may I ask, does the Lord conduct His saints after He meets them in the air? To heaven, surely, to the house of many mansions which He has prepared for them, according to His own promise in John 14 “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Nothing can possibly be plainer or simpler than these words. Their first meeting in the air may be foreshadowed by Isaac meeting Rebecca in the wilderness. We see in her beautiful behavior the most reverent love: and we see in his love and kindness the fulfillment of the promises and testimonies of Eliezer: “And Rebecca lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel;.....and she took a veil and covered herself.
And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.” This may be like the Holy Spirit delivering up His sacred charge to the Son of the Father; though He will dwell in the Church forever. “And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebecca, and she became his wife: and he loved her.” Gen. 24
Having passed into heaven, the saints will then be manifested in the light; as the apostle says, “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” (Rom. 14:10, 1210But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10)
12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12).) But this does not mean, observe, that the saints, as to their persons, shall stand in judgment. Christ has been judged for them, and they, as he says Himself, shall never come into judgment. But it does mean, that all their works and ways will be seen in the light of His presence, and that we shall then know His estimate of all that we have done for Him. Being in our bodies of glory, we shall be incapable of experiencing anything like fear or unhappiness; but when manifested in the light we shall have a perfect knowledge, according to the mind of Christ, of every moment of our past history. All that was of self or of Christ in our motives, objects, and service, will then be seen—all that we failed to understand in time, will be perfectly known then, at least as regards our connection with Christ, His Church and service. But, surely, everything as to ourselves will be lost sight of when seen side by side with His patient grace; and we shall pass from His tribunal in admiring wonder and praise at the patience which bore with our ways in the wilderness, and brought us safe to glory. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as also I am known.” 1 Cor. 13:1212For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12).
All things being now ready, the marriage of the Lamb takes place, according to the vision of St. John. (Rev. 19) “The marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” He presents her to Himself a glorious Church, holy and without blemish. (Eph. 5) What a day that will be! What a day even for heaven, so long accustomed to glory! What a mustering of its myriad hosts to do Him honor! But this will be a new glory—the bridal glory of the Lamb! Ο wondrous thought, transcendent glory! The bride ranks with her Bridegroom, the wife ranks with her husband! As He is, so she is—where He is, there she is—what He has, that she has. And all forever and forever. But tell me, Ο tell me this, my soul, will thine eyes behold that glory? —will thy heart taste these joys? —will thy feet stand in that holy place? —will these nuptial glories be thine? What sayest thou? —answer me. At perfect rest my heart is as Isaac confirmed all that had been testified of him to Rebecca, so shall the true Isaac confirm all that has been spoken of Him to His Church, which is His body, and His bride.
The marriage scene, and the marriage supper of the Lamb are little more than announced, they are not described. But the book of the Revelation is not the place to speak of the Father’s house, and the intimacies of love; but rather of the righteous ways of God, and the establishment of His kingdom on earth. Nevertheless, we are permitted to see the bride, the guests, the preparations, and to hear of the blessedness of all present. “Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And immense weight is to be attached to the concluding sentence of this brief account of the nuptial scene: “And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” What grace is thine, Ο most gracious God our Father, to give such double assurance of that blessed future to thy weak and often doubting ones! May we be faithful to our Well-beloved, to whom we are now affianced, and only think of and prepare for that coming day, which will be the summing up of all blessedness and the consummation of all Christian hope.