It’s just a question of the sequence

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Salvation past, present, and future”

Our Bible verse for today: “We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “It just a question of the sequence”

When it comes to end times theology, it’s important for us to acknowledge that there are differing interpretations of the applicable Scriptures and the actual sequence of events. That is certainly true regarding the two passages we will consider in the devotionals for today and tomorrow. They are 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 (above) and 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (tomorrow). Both pertain to believers being united with Christ and the dead in Christ rising. The debate revolves around whether these passages describe the same event or two events separated by seven years.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 Paul writes about an event that occurs seven years before the battle of Armageddon and the defeat of Satan. It is the beginning of the seven-year tribulation period which brings humanity to the end of history. At the beginning of this seven-year period will be the event known as “the rapture.” We read here that at that time, the saints in Christ who are still alive will meet the Lord in the air. They will not experience the death of their mortal bodies but will instead be taken out of the world and instantly transported to be with Jesus.

But we also read in this passage that before those who are still alive at that time are taken up, the dead in Christ will rise to meet Him in the air as well. But as we have already learned, when a Christian dies their spirit is released from their mortal body and goes to be with Christ in the intermediate heaven. So spiritually, the dead in Christ are already with Christ. Since that is the case, when this passage describes the dead in Christ rising from the earth to meet Him in the air it must be referring to their mortal bodies being reclaimed by Jesus, brought up to Him, and being reunited with their spirits which were already with Him. If so, then what we are reading about here is the saints in Christ receiving their resurrection bodies at the time of the rapture.

This is what the confusion and debate is about. There are those who believe the resurrection body is given only after the old earth and the old heaven have been replaced with a new earth and a new heaven at the end of time. But 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 seems to suggest otherwise (and so does 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 if we read it as also describing the rapture). However, there are those who believe 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 describes a second event – the coming of Christ at the end of time, and the dead in Christ who are arising then are those who came to faith in Jesus during the time of the seven-year tribulation period after the rapture.

I personally don’t believe those two passages are clear enough for any of us to be dogmatic about it. And honestly, I’m not very worried about it either. Whatever way it plays out will be okay with me. If I die before the rapture, I will go to heaven. If I’m still alive at the time of the rapture, I’m confident that I will be taken then. And at some point, in the Lord’s perfect timing, I will receive my resurrection body. The rest is just a matter of sequencing and I’m not particularly concerned about it – and you don’t need to be either. As long as you have been saved, the rest is just a matter of the sequence.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Share this:

Related

Leave a comment Cancel reply