Our Hope in the Rapture (Part 3) - 1 Thessalonians 4:17b-18

Part three of, “Our Hope in the Rapture” has us looking at First Thessalonians 4:17b-18. We are in the section that there will be a future return of Jesus (4:15-17). We looked at the Lord’s word (verse 15) and the Lord’s descent (verse 16-17a). We’ll now consider the Lord’s people (verse 17b). We’ll learn that we are accepted by the Lord as Jesus made a way for the Christian to be with Christ. We now have an assurance as we will “always” be with the Lord. This is a promise that is certain. On a future day, we will be with the Lord. The One Who is the cause of it all is identified as the Almighty, the Lord. The word Lord points to Christ’s position, dominion, rule, and authority. This section concludes with the encouragement that God has provided for us a present comfort *4:18). The Thessalonian Christians were sorrowful at the death of their brothers and sisters in Christ (4:13). The Apostle Paul wrote that they could experience comfort because Jesus rose, on a future day, the dead in Christ will rise (4:17a). As we watch and wait for the Lord’s return, the Lord is with us. He is our comfort. The Lord comes alongside us in our sorrow and holds us up. Verse 18 teaches that this is what we ought to do for one another. As the Lord has comforted us in sorrow, may we comfort others in their sorrows.