1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God… I. THE LORD'S DESCENT. "He" and no other, in His august personal presence, in that same human body, too, with which He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:11). And yet, while Himself unchanged, how changed the surroundings! He will descend, not in humiliation to tabernacle with men, but to take His people to Himself, in heaven; not emptied of His glory, but with the symbols of majesty and Divine power. 1. With a shout, one which indicates command. The word is used of a charioteer's call to his steed, a huntsman's call to his dogs, the call, by voice or sign, of the boatswain giving time to the rowers, the music played to set an army or fleet in motion. The angelic host and company of the spirits of the just are compared to a vast army, and Christ, the Captain of salvation, by His word of command, sets it in motion, and it, in the alacrity of joyful obedience, accompanies Him to judgment (Jude 1:14). The shout will possibly be, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." 2. The voice of the archangel. "The Lord Himself" and "the archangel" cannot be identified. Here and in Jude 1:9, the word designates the leader of the angelic hosts. Angels have been, and will yet be, Christ's ministering spirits. They served Him when on earth; they ascend and descend upon Him in the advancement of His cause; they will be His ministers of judgment hereafter. The shout may be that of command caught up by the archangel from the lips of the Lord, and repeated to the gathering hosts. 3. The trump of God, belonging to God, used in His service; that probably of Revelation 11:15. Under the old dispensation there is special prominence assigned to the trumpet. By it assemblies were summoned, journeys started, feasts proclaimed. It is employed by our Lord, as in the text. Paul calls this "the last" (1 Corinthians 15:52); and as such it will gather up all previous meanings. It will call together the rejoicing saints to the heavenly Zion; like Joshua's trumpet, it will be to some the signal of dismay; it will mean weal or woe according to the character of those who hear. II. THE RESURRECTION AND CHANGE OF CHRIST'S PEOPLE AT HIS COMING. 1. "The dead in Christ shall rise first." The emphasis rests on "first," and is designed to bring comfort to the Thessalonian mourners. Their departed friends, so far from being placed at a disadvantage, were to occupy a position of privilege. Those who are living will be "caught up." "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed," not unclothed of their bodies, but clothed upon with immortality, a kind of death and resurrection in one. Thus changed, these shall be caught up "together" with the others in one united and rejoicing company; "caught up" with a quick and resistless rapture, as the word implies, rising from the troubled and imperfect earth — changed and sublimated, as the blossom of the fabled Indian tree, transformed into a bird, flies upward into heaven. "In the clouds"; not into, nor in multitudes (Hebrews 12:1), but as if in a triumphal chariot. Nor do clouds represent a veiling of the awful transaction, but simply supply an imagery which lends grandeur and awe to that event which is awful beyond all human language and thought. 2. The meeting place: "In the air." We naturally place alongside this the ascension of Elijah, or that of our Lord. In this, as in all else, He has gone before His people and pointed out for them the way. "The air" is not the atmosphere, but infinite space as opposed to earth. The ancients fancied that the milky way is the path trod by the immortals to the palace of the King. The fable is but a distorted reflection of the truth. What it fancied the apostle declared — a pathway in the skies on which the saints are yet to pass to meet their Lord, that He may conduct them home. 3. "And so shall we ever be with the Lord." Less than this can never satisfy Christ's saints; more than this they cannot desire or conceive — perfect security, sinlessness, happiness, glory. (J. Hutchison, D. D.)Of all the solemn associations connected with this verse few can surpass the following: "At the earthquake of Manila (1863), the cathedral fell on the clergy and congregation. The mass of ruin overhead and around the doomed assemblage was kept for a time from crushing down upon them by some peculiarity of construction. Those outside were able to hear what was going on in the church, without the slightest possibility of clearing away the ruins, or of aiding those within upon whom the building must evidently fall before long. A low, deep, bass voice, doubtless that of the priest officiating, was heard uttering the words, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." As this sentence came forth, the multitude burst in a passion of tears, which was soon choked. For some deep groans issued from within, apparently wrung from the speaker by intense pain, and then the same voice spoke in a calm and even tone, as if addressing a congregation, and all heard the words: "The Lord Himself shall descend," etc. (Bp. Alexander.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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: |
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