20160906 Tuesday, September 6 2016
1 Thessalonians 04: Who Will Meet The Returning Messiah In The Clouds?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"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"

There are two resurrections of all of humanity coming - some sooner, everyone else later (see The Harvests Of Salvation).

The first resurrection, as prophesied by the Christian Feast of Trumpets (see the Fact Finder question below), will happen on the day of the Messiah's return (see Could Jesus Christ Return Today? and The Mount Of Olives View Of The Messiah's Return; also The Lampstand And Olive Trees Of The Messiah's Return and The Feast Of Tabernacles: The Return Of Paradise Prophecy).

"4:15 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. 4:16 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: 4:17 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." (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 KJV)

The first resurrection will be composed of everyone, from throughout all of human history, right to that day, who were called to repentance and understanding, by means of the Holy Spirit - as portrayed and prophesied by another of the true Christian Holy Days - Pentecost (see Pentecost: The Christian Feast Of Firstfruits). Living a genuinely-repentant Christian life is required for Salvation because there will be no Satan-minded rebels in the Kingdom of God (see Christ Died For Repentant Sinners and The Only Political Party That's Going To Survive).

"4:1 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. 4:2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 4:10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing." (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 KJV)

So it was then the context of the famous prophecy about who will be in the first resurrection (see also What Does Predestination Mean? and Who Tries To Imitate God?).

"4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 4:15 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. 4:16 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: 4:17 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. 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV)

Fact Finder: What is the prophetic purpose and meaning of the Christian Feast of Trumpets?
See The Feast Of Trumpets: The First Christian Salvation Day