By Adam Winn, Ph. D.
Chair and Professor, Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Samford University
THE GREATEST RETURN
1 Thessalonians 4:16–5:8
We can be assured that Jesus will bodily return. (4:16–18)
Verse 16 picks up in the middle of Paul addressing a particular concern of the Thessalonian believers, namely their fear that brothers and sisters in the faith who have died in the few months since Paul left them will miss out on the Second Coming and Jesus’ glorious Kingdom. Paul assures them that the dead in Christ will surely participate in that Kingdom and that, in fact, they will rise first at His Second Coming.
Verses 16–18 describe that coming. In ancient times, the king would send word to a city that he would be visiting and would provide an estimated arrival date. The city would then prepare for the king’s arrival. The king would draw visibly close to the city. After the king refreshed himself from travel a trumpet would signal to the city, and the citizens of the city would go to meet the king and usher him into the city.
Many scholars see Paul using this imagery but transforming the king’s journey from horizontal to vertical, with King Jesus coming from heaven. Jesus comes close to His destination and waits in the clouds. A trumpet signal is given, and Jesus is met in the air by the citizens of His Kingdom.
Where do they go from there to “always be with the Lord”? Some conclude that they return to earth with Jesus to participate in its restoration, while others contend that they are taken to a new heaven and new earth. Regardless, the outcome of being in Jesus’ glorious Kingdom is the same.
We do not know the specific time Jesus will return. (5:1–3)
Paul then turns his attention to when this glorious return of Jesus will take place. Paul compares the coming of Jesus to a thief in the night, with the analogy focused on the surprise and suddenness of such an event. Paul here seems to be echoing the words of Jesus that no one knows the day or the hour of the Lord’s coming.
He also says that when people are saying “peace and security,” sudden destruction will come upon them.
This likely echoes the Roman promise to those in the empire that if they give allegiance to Rome, Rome will provide them with “pax et securitas,” or “peace and security.” Paul is subtly subversive to this claim, as he is implying that those who are relying on Rome’s strength and protection will not be protected from the Judgment at the return of the King.
We are to be diligent as we wait for His return. (4–8)
In these verses, Paul tells the Christians of Thessalonica that they are not in darkness and therefore won’t be surprised. Is Paul then saying that Christians will be able to determine the time of Jesus’ return? No, this would be to misread Paul and to contradict what Jesus has already said.
Paul is talking about preparedness through righteous living. Paul makes this clear in the following verses. They are children of the light and of the day and bear the armor of faith and love and the helmet of the hope of salvation.
Paul’s command that they keep awake is about being spiritually awake, prepared for the coming of Jesus that could happen at any time.
Paul is not addressing their surprise in a literal sense but rather their surprise in a spiritual sense so that they will not be ashamed at the return of Jesus.
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