When Paul first went to preach the gospel in Thessalonica, we know that he encountered persecution very quickly. After being there only “three sabbath days” (Acts 17:22And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, (Acts 17:2)), the Jews instigated an uproar which, in turn, caused the brethren to send Paul and Silas away to Berea. But during their brief time in Thessalonica, there was a great deal of blessing, so that when Paul and Silas left, there was an assembly in that city. Not only had Paul preached the gospel to them, but he had also given them real instruction in the blessed results of their salvation. In all of this, the Lord’s coming was a paramount truth.
His Coming for Us and With Us
Later, when it became evident that there had been some misunderstandings among these new believers, Paul wrote to them, seeking to instruct them further. In the two epistles Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, the Lord’s coming is mentioned in every chapter, but with a different emphasis in each case. Both the Lord’s coming for us (the rapture) and also His coming with us (the appearing) are taken up, showing that these truths are connected and that both are very important to us.
A Living Hope
In 1 Thessalonians, in the first chapter, we find that the Lord’s coming for us is the primary thought, as it is presented as a living hope for the new believer. Having been accustomed to worshipping idols and thus to having no hope, these new Christians had “turned to God from idols ... to wait for His Son from heaven” (1 Thess. 1:9-109For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9‑10)). The natural man may speculate about what lies beyond death, but now these believers not only knew where they were going, but they were also looking for the Lord to come for them instead of having to go through death. No wonder they could rise above their circumstances to be occupied with their “work of faith,” and “labor of love.” They could have the “patience of hope.”
An Encouraging Hope
In the second chapter, it is more the Lord’s coming with us that is in view, as Paul speaks about how these Thessalonian believers were an encouraging hope for the laboring Christian. It was wonderful for them to have a real joy in their hearts in expecting the Lord to come at any moment, but this joy would not be limited to that moment when they were raptured. When the Lord comes back in glory and displays us with Him, Paul reminds the Thessalonian believers that they will be His “hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing” (1 Thess. 2:1919For 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? (1 Thessalonians 2:19)). They would be part of His reward in that day, and thus they were an encouragement to him and other laborers to go on in spite of opposition. It would be worth it all in that day to see them in glory with him as the fruit of his labor.
A Purifying Hope
In the third chapter, the apostle urges upon his listeners the need for personal holiness. Since responsibility is always connected with the Lord’s appearing, once again the emphasis is on the day of Christ, when we shall be displayed in glory with Him. The expectation of that day of public display is a purifying hope for the believer who is walking through a defiling world. More than this, the afflictions and tribulations through which they were compelled to pass might well cause some to give up and discourage these relatively new believers. The hope of being displayed before God our Father in that day would encourage them to go on and would establish their hearts “unblamable in holiness” (1 Thess. 3:1313To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:13)).
A Comforting Hope
In the fourth chapter, Paul considers the fact that some of their number had fallen asleep, and here is where those dear Thessalonian saints had gotten confused. They feared that those who had fallen asleep, having died before the Lord’s coming for us, would somehow miss out on that momentous occasion. By divine revelation, Paul gives them instruction as to how they would not miss that event, but would, in fact, rise first, before we who are alive are caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
This was a new revelation, given to Paul from a risen Christ in glory, and showing for the first time the exact sequence of events when the Lord comes to take us home. Surely it gives a thrill to our hearts every time we read it, as we consider that at any moment it could happen! But Paul also goes on to say, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:1818Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:18)). The Lord’s coming for us is here presented as a comforting hope for the bereaved Christian. If our loved ones are parted from us in body for the present, we shall see them again. Truly the sting of death is taken away, for we shall not only see our loved ones again, but we will see them in all the perfection of Christ Himself, morally and bodily. How comforting indeed all this is, in a time of sorrow!
An Arousing Hope
In the fifth chapter, the apostle bring before us both the rapture and the appearing, as an arousing hope for the sleepy Christian. When the Lord appears to judge this world, He will come unexpected and unwanted, as a “thief in the night.” But we who are of the day should not be lulled to sleep by the wiles of Satan; rather, we should be watching. Instead of being morally drunken, we should be sober, considering the solemn days in which we live. The day of rest is coming, but here and now, it is a time to be putting on our armor and engaging in that spiritual battle that will go on until the Lord takes us home.
A Reassuring Hope
Now we come to 2 Thessalonians, which was written shortly after the first epistle. Again we find the Lord’s coming mentioned in every chapter, but in a different way.
In the first chapter, we notice that faith and love are mentioned, but not hope. Sad to say, the incessant persecution to which the Thessalonians were exposed had clouded the blessed hope of the Lord’s imminent return, and they had lost sight of it. This time Paul brings before them, not a reminder of the rapture, but rather of coming glory. Were they under tribulation in this world? There was a day coming when God would recompense tribulation to those who troubled them. Were they despised and rejected now? There was a day coming when the Lord Jesus would be “glorified in His saints, and admired in all them that believe” (2 Thess. 1:1010When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thessalonians 1:10)). Here, then, the Lord’s appearing is presented as a reassuring hope for the suffering Christian.
A Stabilizing Hope
In the second chapter, Paul takes up yet another misconception that had overtaken the believers in Thessalonica. When he was with them, Paul had instructed them as to the tribulation, but the persecution had made life so difficult for them that they had mistakenly assumed that they were, in fact, going through the tribulation. This time, the antidote to the error into which they had fallen was to reiterate the truth of the Lord’s coming for us. He beseeches them “by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him” (2 Thess. 2:11Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (2 Thessalonians 2:1)). The day of the Lord could not come until the Spirit of God had been taken away and the Antichrist had subsequently been revealed. Until then, the Spirit of God would restrain the evil, so that what they were experiencing was in no way the tribulation. They might indeed experience tribulation, but what Scripture calls “the tribulation” or “the great tribulation” could not come before the rapture. Here, then, the Lord’s coming is a stabilizing hope in the face of difficulty and a reminder that before the tribulation begins, we must be taken away. When the church is raptured, only then does the Spirit of God cease to be in this world as an abiding presence. Until then, the full development of wickedness and the revelation of the Antichrist cannot happen.
The Patience of Christ
Finally, in the third chapter, we find something very special. In this chapter we read, “The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of the Christ” (2 Thess. 3:55And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:5) JND). So far in these two epistles, Paul has spoken of our part in both the rapture and the appearing — what they mean to us. But here, in the final chapter, he brings in Christ Himself. Often when the expression “the Christ” is used in Paul’s ministry, it includes Christ and the church, and so it is here.
If we are waiting to be taken out of this world, He is waiting patiently too. Surely His desire to have us there with Him exceeds our desire to be there with Him, for as we have seen in this epistle, our thoughts and expectations can be blurred by circumstances around us in this world. How uplifting, then, to have our thoughts taken right outside of ourselves, to consider His patience, and His anticipation of having us with Him! One of the privileges of believers in this dispensation is to see things from God’s side, from His vantage point. To be continually occupied with ourselves, even in what God has given us, may shorten our vision and even dim our hope. But to see all from God’s aspect is to have an eternal view — one that is not diluted by the things of this world. This is Paul’s ultimate wish for his dear Thessalonian saints — those who were his joy and crown.
W. J. Prost