Key insights from Thessalonians that build a foundational understanding about His coming.

[JLB]

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:4



Insight number 1

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4:13

1. At the coming of the Lord, Jesus will bring with him, those saints who are in heaven, that have died and are to receive their immortal bodies along with those who are to be raptured.

IOW, at His coming, Jesus is coming with the Church in heaven, for the Church on earth.


A view from heaven – context read Revelation 19:1-16

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Revelation 19:11-14

Also read Zechariah 14:1-5 – the day of the Lord -V.5



Insight number 2


For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4:15

2. The resurrection of the dead in Christ and the rapture occur at the coming of the Lord.

We who alive and remain – the rapture
Those who are asleep – the resurrection of the dead in Christ



Insight number 3

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16

3. The resurrection of the dead in Christ occurs just before the rapture

• the dead in Christ will rise first​

Insight number 4

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17

4. The resurrected ones and the raptured ones are caught up together and will always be with the Lord.

This is called the gathering, where the entire body of Christ is gathered together unto him, in which we will always be with him.

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him… 2 Thessalonians 2:1



Insight number 5

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2

5. The coming of the Lord is the day of the Lord

In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul calls this the day of Christ.

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2



Insight number 6

For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:3

6. At His coming the wicked will be destroyed.

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8



Insight number 7

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:4

7. The day of the Lord will not come as a thief in the night for the church.



Insight number 8

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 5:9

8. The coming of the Lord, which is the day of the Lord, is wrath for the wicked but salvation for the church who are caught up together with the Lord in the air and will be with Him as he returns to earth to put an end to the wicked.


Then comes the rest for a thousand years.

 

[JLB]

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”
So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:13-17

• These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

• Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

• They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.

• And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

 

[Shilohsfoal]

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”
So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:13-17

• These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

• Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

• They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.

• And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Why no discussion of the first fruits of the harvest?
Them who are sealed before these people are saved?

 

[JLB]

Why no discussion of the first fruits of the harvest?
Them who are sealed before these people are saved?

If you have something to share concerning the topic of this thread then please do so using scripture.

 

[Shilohsfoal]

If you have something to share concerning the topic of this thread then please do so using scripture.

Well you mentioned them who are saved during the great tribulation but them who recieve the name of God in their foreheads,you didn't mention.

The 144,000 who follow the lamb wherever he goes.Them who are the first fruits of the harvest,redeemed from the soil.


Revelation 14
14 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.





The first fruits are gathered at the time of harvest. They are brought to the high priest in Jerusalem .
These are the elect who the angels gather at the time of Christs coming.


Revelation 20
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.



First,there are the first fruits
Then later the regular harvest.

 

[Marilyn C]

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:4

Hi JLB,

Some good insight there. Just a point. The word `Day` in Hebrew and Greek means - a period of time and a specific day.
It all depends on the context. Now you have confused the two and made them all appear as though the Day is a specific day when in actual fact some of your scriptures refer to the Day as a period of time.

Day -Specific: 1 Thess. 4: 13 - 18, Rev. 19: 11 - 14, Zech. 14: 1 - 5, 2 Thess. 2: 1 & 8, 1 Thess. 5: 9. also Rev. 6: 12 - 17.

Day - Period of time: 1 Thess. 5: 1 - 5 (note times & seasons, periods of time) 2 Thess. 2 : 3 & 4, also Joel 2: 1- 20, Zeph. 1: 14 - 18.