Verses 1, 2. “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.”
Though these were happy, earnest Christians at this time, yet the apostle felt the need, because of the loose morals of the idolaters, which they had been, and among whom they were living as neighbors day by day, to warn them of the need of holy living and purity of walk. He had been very careful in his own behavior among them (chapter 2:10).
Verses 3-6. “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which knew not God: that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in the matter; because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we have forewarned you and testified.”
Verses 7, 8. “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit.”
We might not think such warnings are needed as were given to newly converted Gentiles, but do we not see in our day how loosely the marriage tie is held by many. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we have the life of Christ in us, therefore we have no excuse to yield for an instant, in thought, in word, or deed, but to keep our body for the honor of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us. It is important also to let the Holy Spirit turn our thoughts to the Lord Jesus Christ, the true object for our hearts.
Verses 9, 10. “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren in Macedonia: but we beseech you brethren, that ye increase more and more.” That is part of the divine nature given by the Lord to all His own.
We might well take it to ourselves to seek to increase in this practical brotherly love more and more.
Verses 11, 12. “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, that ye may have need of no one.” We see in the Apostle an example of this (chap 2:9), and indeed he supported others as well (Acts 20:3434Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. (Acts 20:34)) By this also they would honor the Lord before the Gentiles.
Verses 13-18. “But I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”
They needed instruction, for they seemed to think that at the coming of the Lord with His
saints, the dead ones would not be there. They knew of the coming of the Lord with His saints, but they needed this revelation specially given to Paul about the coming of the Lord for His saints first.
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.”
The question is: How will He do it? and verses 15 to 18 is a parenthesis telling us how it will take place. It is a special revelation given to Paul.
“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 (or anticipate) 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 comfort is that the dead in Christ shall rise first, and are therefore ready to go with the living ones to meet the Lord in the air. So the Thessalonian saints were still further encouraged to wait for the Lord’s coming. He had to come for them all first, so that they could all return with Him when He appeared to judge the world. The sleeping saints will be raised; those that are alive will be transformed, and all will be like Him, and see Him as He is.
There is no mention here of where the dead are now. That was not the trouble then; it may not be out of place to mention it, because of questions raised now. We see in 2 Corinthians 5:88We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8), that they are now present with the Lord, though absent from the body, and in Philippians 1:2323For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23) Paul says,
“Having a desire to depart and be with Christ; which is far better.”
Luke 23:4343And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43), tells us that it is “paradise,” the garden of delights, where the Lord is. It is like two waiting places, the departed spirits wait there with the Lord for that moment. While those that are alive and remain, wait here for Him.
Then 1 Corinthians 15:49, 53, 5449And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (1 Corinthians 15:49)
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:53‑54), tells us of the likeness to the Lord the saints will have when He comes. Also our bodies will be fashioned like unto His body of glory. (Phil. 3:20, 2120For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20‑21)).
What a joy to the Lord’s heart to have all His heavenly saints together with Himself. His will be the exceeding joy when He shall set them with exultation blameless before the presence of His glory (Jude 2424Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (Jude 24)).
We have a threefold call here; first the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. How precious is His love! He will not send for us, His voice well known to His saints now will be heard. It is a shout of relationship, like a captain to His company.
Next, the Archangel’s voice of authority is heard. Then the trump of God’s irresistible power, raises the dead, changes the living, and all find themselves, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, in new creation glory, like the Lord, and with Him in glory.
What triumph and joy for Him! And what gladness will be ours!
“To dwell with Him, to see His face,
And sing the glories of His grace.”
“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”