FIRST
THESSALONIANS CHAPTER FOUR
OBSERVATIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The purpose
of the obserevation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand in
accordance with the framework in which it was written: a framework
which is defined by the normative rules of language, context and logic
- rules which do not impose undue, unintendd meanings to the text 
,
and which largely limit the observer to the content offered by Paul's
epistle to the Thessalonians and his other writings. In order for any
passage from elsewhere to be considered, it must have a relationship
with the context at hand, such as a Scriptural quotation or a specific
cross reference in the passage at hand by the author. This will serve
to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly,
it will provide the framework for a proper and objective comparison
with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember
that
something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be
in view.
Note that
information on manuscript evidence is from "THE NEW TESTAMENT TEXT AND
TRANSLATION COMMENTARY," by Philip W. Comfort, Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc, Carol Stream, IL.
******
EXCERPT
FROM 1 THESSALONIANS CHAPTERS TWO AND THREE ******
OR
MOVE TO FIRST VERSE OF CHAPTER FOUR 
[(1 Thes 2:17-20; 3:1-13)
Commentary On 1 Thes 2:17-20; 3:1-13]:
[Compare 2 Thes
2:16]:
******
END EXCERPT 1 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER TWO AND THREE ******
I) [1 Thes 4:1-18]:
A)
[1 Thes 4:1-8]:
1) [Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes
4:1-8]:
a)
[Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes
4:1]:
b)
[Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes
4:3]:
2)
[Commentary On 1 Thes 4:1-8]:
a) [(1 Thes 3:10-13) Compare 1
Thes 3:10-13]:
2 cont.) [Commentary On 1 Thes
4:1-8 (cont.)]:
b) [(1 Thes 4:6b-7) Compare Bible
Knowledge Commentary On 1 Thes 4:6b-7]:
2 cont.) [Commentary On 1 Thes
4:1-8 (cont.)]:
B)
[1 Thes 4:9-12]:
1) [Manuscript Evidence For 1 Thes
4:9-12]:
a) [(1 Thes 4:11) Manuscript
Evidence For 1 Thes 4:11]:
2)
[(1 Thes 4:9-12) Commentary on
1 Thes 4:9-12]:
a) [(1 Thes 4:9-10) Compare Bible
Knowledge Commentary On 1 Thes 4:9-10]:
2 cont.) [(1 Thes 4:9-12)
Commentary on 1 Thes 4:9-12, cont.]:
b) [(1 Thes 4:11-12) Compare
Expositors
Commentary On 1 Thes 4:11-12]:
C) [1 Thes 4:13-18]:
1)
[(1 Thes 4:13-18) Manuscript
Evidence For 1 Thes 4:13-18]:
a) [(1 Thes 4:13) Manuscript
Evidence For 1 Thes 4:13]:
b) [(1 Thes 4:16) Manuscript
Evidence For 1 Thes 4:16]:
c) [(1 Thes 4:17) Manuscript
Evidence For 1 Thes 4:17]:
d) [(1 Thes 4:18) Manuscript
Evidence For 1 Thes 4:18]:
2) [(1
Thes 4:13-18) Commentary On 1 Thes 4:13-18]:
a) [(1 Thes 4:13) Commentary On 1
Thes 4:13]:
i) FELLOW BELIEVERS ARE BEING
ADDRESSED
i_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:1, 7; 4:14]:
ii) THE PHRASE "FALL ASLEEP" IS
ADDRESSING BELIEVERS WHO HAVE
PHYSICALLY DIED WHO ARE FURTHER DESCRIBED AS 'ASLEEP IN JESUS' AND
'DEAD IN CHRIST'
ii_a) [Compare 1 Thes 4:14-16]:
iii) PAUL INDICATES THAT THE REST
OF MEN, I.E., THOSE HE IS
NOT ADDRESSING IN THIS EPISTLE = UNBELIEVERS, HAVE NO HOPE AS OPPOSED
TO BELIEVERS WHO DO HAVE THE SURE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE
iii_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:3-5]:
iv) PAUL ADDRESSES AN ISSUE
STEMMING FROM THE THESSALONIAN
BELIEVERS UNDERGOING SEVERE PERSECUTION AND DEATHS. THEY MISTOOK THIS
PERSECUTION FOR THE FUTURE WRATH OF GOD, AND SINCE THEY HAD NOT BEEN
RESCUED FROM THIS PERSECUTION BY THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST, THEY
GRIEVED LIKE THE REST OF MEN WHO HAVE NO SURE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE
v) THE THESSALONIAN BELIEVERS WHO
WERE GOING THROUGH SEVERE
PERSECUTION WERE TOLD BY PAUL THAT THEIR HOPE IS IN JESUS, THAT HE
WOULD RESCUE ALIVE BELIEVERS FROM THE COMING WRATH, AND ALL BELIEVERS
WILL ACCOMPANY THE LORD AT HIS COMING - SO THEY SHOULD NOT GRIEVE LIKE
UNBELIEVERS WHO HAVE NO SUCH HOPE
v_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:3-5]:
v_b) [Compare 1 Thes 1:6-10]:
v_c) [Compare 1 Thes 2:14-15]:
v_d) [Compare 1 Thes 2:19 KJV with
1 Thes 4:13]:
vi) BELIEVERS WHO ARE ALIVE ON THE
EARTH WILL BE RESCUED FROM
GOD'S FINAL WORLDWIDE EARTHLY WRATH BY PHYSICAL REMOVAL FROM THE EARTH
AND INTO CHRIST'S PRESENCE. GOD'S ETERNAL WRATH IS NOT IN VIEW
vi_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:8-10]:
vii) TWO DIFFERENT APPEARANCES OF
OUR LORD ARE INCLUDED IN THE
SURE HOPE: (1) JESUS CHRIST WILL APPEAR IN THE CLOUDS ABOVE THE EARTH
TO RESCUE BELIEVERS FROM GOD'S FINAL WRATH ON THE EARTH BY PHYSICAL
REMOVAL TO REMAIN WITH HIM FOREVER. (2) JESUS CHRIST IN HIS SECOND
COMING WILL THEREAFTER ARRIVE WITH THE RESCUED BELIEVERS ONTO THE
SURFACE OF THE EARTH TO END THE WRATH AND BEGIN THE REIGN OF HIS KINGDOM
vii_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:10]:
vii_b) [Compare 1 Thes 2:19 KJV]:
vii_c) [Compare 1 Thes 3:13]:
vii_d)
[Compare 2 Thes 1:10]:
viii) THE THESSALONIAN BELIEVERS
ARE REMINDED OF THE SURE HOPE
OF RESCUE FROM THE COMING WRATH IN ORDER NOT TO MISCONSTRUE THE SEVERE
PERSECUTION THEY WERE UNDER FOR GOD'S FINAL WRATH. THEY HAD CONCLUDED
THAT THEY HAD MISSED BEING RESCUED FROM THE COMING WRATH
b) [(1 Thes 4:13-14) Commentary On
1 Thes 4:13-14]:
i) PAUL TELLS THE THESSALONIAN
BELIEVERS NOT TO GRIEVE LIKE
THE REST OF MEN WHO HAVE NO HOPE. BELIEVERS WILL ACCOMPANY THE LORD AT
HIS SECOND COMING AND THUS HAVE ETERNAL LIFE: THOSE WHO ARE ASLEEP AND
THOSE WHO REMAIN ALIVE
c) [(1 Thes 4:13-17) Commentary On
1 Thes 4:13-17]:
i) THE LORD SPOKE OF BELIEVERS
BEING CAUGHT UP TO HIM
ii) PAUL ASSURES THAT BELIEVERS
ALIVE AND ASLEEP IN CHRIST
WILL TAKE PART IN EVENTS AT THE PARTICULAR APPEARANCE OF OUR LORD TO
RESCUE THEM WHO ARE ALIVE AT THE TIME FROM THE COMING WRATH ON THE EARTH
ii_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:10]:
iii) COMMENCING WITH THE
ARCHANGEL'S LOUD COMMAND AND THE
TRUMPET CALL OF GOD THE COMING OF THE LORD TO RESCUE BELIEVERS IS TO
COMMENCE FROM HEAVEN, WHEREUPON THE DEAD IN CHRIST RISE FIRST, THEN
ALIVE BELIEVERS WITH THEM WILL BE CAUGHT UP TO MEET THE LORD IN THE
CLOUDS IN THE AIR TO BE WITH THE LORD FOREVER
iii_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:10]:
iv) BELIEVERS WHO ARE ALIVE ON THE
EARTH AND THOSE
WHO ARE
ASLEEP WILL BE CAUGHT UP FROM THE EARTH INTO CHRIST'S PRESENCE INTO THE
CLOUDS IN THE AIR - EVIDENTLY AS A RESCUE FROM THE COMING WRATH - THIS
IS NOT THE SECOND COMING
iv_a) [Compare 1 Thes 1:8-10]:
iv_b) [Compare 1 Thes 2:19 KJV]:
iv_c) [Compare 1 Thes 3:13]:
******
EXCERPT FROM STUDY ON THE
RAPTURE ******
(biblestudymanuals.net/1thes4v18.htm)
I) [1 Thes
4:13]:
H) "LIKE
THE REST OF MEN WHO
HAVE NO HOPE" = "HOPE" = "ELIPDA" = REFERS
TO THE SURE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE AND THE ACCOMPANYING RESURRECTION
WITHOUT BEING SUBJECT TO THE WRATH OF GOD
1) [Compare 1 Pet 1:3-4]:
2) [Compare 1 Jn 5:13]:
3) [Compare Titus 2:11-13]:
4) [Compare 1 Thes 5:9]:
5)
[Compare Rev 3:9-10]:
I) THE
SURE HOPE OF THE BELIEVER
INCLUDES THE FACT THAT HE WILL NOT
HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE WRATH OF THE FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD, I.E., THE
TRIBULATION PERIOD
1) INTRODUCTION
2) THE
BLESSED HOPE OF THE
BELIEVER IS THAT HE WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO
THE WRATH OF THE FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD
a) THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY OF
THE LORD IN GENERAL
b) THE
DAY OF THE LORD IN THE
FUTURE
i)
INTRODUCTION
[2 Thes 2:1-2]:
ii) THE FUTURE DAY OF THE LORD:
WRATH THEN BLESSING
[Joel 2:1-2]:
[Amos 5:18-20]
[Zech 1:14-15]:
[1 Thes 5:1-11]:
[Joel 3:9-21]:
iii) THE BACKGROUND OF THE FUTURE DAY
OF THE LORD
iv) THE BROAD AND NARROW SENSE OF
THE DAY OF THE LORD
[Gen
1:5]:
[Compare Mt 24:29-30]:
[Compare Zep 1:14-18]:
[Compare Zech 14:1-9]:
v)
EVIDENCE FOR THE NARROW SENSE OF THE DAY OF THE LORD
[Rev 16:12-16]:
[Joel 3:9-16]:
[Compare Zech 14:1-5]:
vi)
THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD = THE NARROW DAY OF THE LORD
vii) SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NARROW VS
THE BROAD DAY OF THE LORD
b
cont) THE DAY OF THE LORD IN THE
FUTURE, cont.
viii) [Compare 2 Thes 2:1-4]:
viii_1) THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL NOT
OCCUR UNTIL THE 'APOSTASIA' OCCURS
viii_1_a) DERIVATION & AVAILABLE
MEANINGS OF APOSTASIA, APOSTASION
viii_1_b) BIBLICAL USAGE OF APOSTASIA,
APOSTASION
[Compare Acts 21:21]:
[Compare Mt 5:31, 19:7]:
[Compare
Mk 10:4]:
viii_1_c) ANCIENT USAGE OF APOSTASIA,
APOSTASION SUPPORTS THE
POSSIBILITY APOSTASIA POINTING TO THE RAPTURE
viii_1_d) CONTEXT IN 2 THES CHAPTER 2
POINTS TO THE RAPTURE
[1 Thes 1:10]:
[1 Thes 2:19]:
[1 Thes 3:13]:
[1 Thes 4:13-5:10]:
[1 Thes 5:23]:
viii_1_e) APOSTASY = DEPARTURE FROM A
RELIGIOUS FAITH IS NOT IN VIEW
[Compare 1Tim 4:1-4]:
[Compare 2 Timothy
3:1-6]:
viii_1_f) PAUL REFERS TO HAVING TAUGHT
THE APOSTASIA PREVIOUSLY - WHICH
SCRIPTURE POINTS MOST POWERFULLY TO THE RAPTURE
[Compare 2 Thes 2:1-5]:
[Compare 1 Tim 4:1-4]:
[Compare 2 Timothy 3:1-6]:
viii_1_g) THE APOSTASY OF MANKIND TO
WORSHIP THE DEVIL IS PROPHESIED IN
SCRIPTURE BUT IT DOES NOT FIT THE CONTEXT OF 2 THES 2:3
[Compare 2
Thes 2:1-5]:
[Compare Rev 13:4-8]:
[Compare Rev 13:11-15]:
[Compare Dan 11:31; 12:11]:
[Compare Mt 24:15-16]:
ix) THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL NOT
OCCUR UNTIL THE REVELATION OF THE MAN
OF SIN OCCURS
[Compare 2 Thes 2:1-4]:
x) THE MAN OF SIN WILL NOT BE
REVEALED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 70TH WEEK,
RATHER HE WILL MAKE HIMSELF KNOWN AT ITS BEGINNING
xi) THE DAY OF THE LORD IS REFERRED
TO AS FUTURE DUE TO PAUL'S
COMFORTING MESSAGE TO THE THESSALONIANS
xii) SINCE MOST CHURCH AGE BELIEVERS
HAVE ALREADY DIED & ARE
"PRESENT WITH THE LORD" AND WERE NOT SUBJECT TO PURIFICATION REFINING,
I.E., THE KIND OF WRATH AS REVEALED IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD PASSAGES,
THEN TO PROPOSE THAT THE REMAINING FEW IN THE LAST DAYS WILL BE PUT
THROUGH A PURIFICATION REFINING IN THE TRIBULATION WRATH OF GOD IS NOT
CONSISTENT
3) OTHER
PASSAGES WHICH INDICATE THAT THE CHURCH AGE BELIEVERS WILL NOT
BE PRESENT IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD
a) THE
JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST FOR
BELIEVERS TAKES PLACE IN HEAVEN
UNLIKE THE EVENTS OF THE SECOND COMING WHICH OCCUR ON THE EARTH
i) [Rev 19:8]:
ii) [2 Cor 5:10]:
iii) [1 Cor 3:11-15]:
b) THE
"RESTRAINER OF SIN", THE
HOLY SPIRIT, IS TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY
NECESSITATING THE CHURCH TO GO LIKEWISE SINCE IT WAS INDWELT WITH HIM
i) [2 Thes 2:6-7]:
[Compare Gen 6:3]:
[Compare
John 16:7-8]:
[Compare 1 Jn 4:3-4]:
[Compare
1 Thes 1:6]:
c) THE 24
ELDERS REPRESENTING THE
CHURCH ARE IN HEAVEN BEFORE THE
TRIBULATION AND SECOND COMING
d) THE
WEDDING IN REV 19:7-10 OF
OUR LORD & THE CHURCH OCCURS IN
HEAVEN BEFORE THE TRIBULATION
i) [Rev 19:7-10]:
e) THE
RAPTURE CANNOT INVOLVE
TRIBULATION SAINTS FOR THAT WOULD LEAVE
NO MORTALS TO LIVE IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM AS GOD PROPHESIED THERE
WOULD BE:
i) [Isa 65:20-25]:
f) A RAPTURE OF
SURVIVING
TRIBULATION BELIEVERS SERVES NO PURPOSE &
DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF GOD'S JUDGMENT ON THE EARTH
g) A
RAPTURE AT THE SECOND COMING
OF THE CHURCH WOULD RESULT IN THE
CHURCH IMMEDIATELY COMING BACK TO EARTH SERVING NO PURPOSE EITHER
II)
[1 Thes 4:14]:
A) THE
BELIEVER'S BODY, SOUL &
SPIRIT WILL BE REJOINED IN A PERFECT
& RIGHTEOUS RESURRECTED BODY & BE BROUGHT BACK TO HEAVEN WITH
OUR LORD
III) [1 Thes 4:15]:
A) THIS IS THE
COMING OF OUR LORD
FOR HIS CHURCH AND NOT THE SECOND
COMING TO THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH TO BEGIN HIS REIGN
1)
[Compare Jn 14:2-3]:
IV) [1 Thes 4:16-18]:
A) FOR THE LORD HIMSELF WILL COME
DOWN FROM HEAVEN TO MEET HIS CHURCH
IN THE AIR, (NOT ON THE EARTH AS IN THE SECOND COMING), & TO BRING
HIS CHURCH BACK TO HEAVEN WITH HIM
B) THE TRUMPET CALL OF THE RAPTURE
VS THE TRUMPET CALL OF THE SECOND
COMING
1)
[Compare 1 Cor 15:51-53]:
2)
[Compare the trumpet which
announces the Second Coming]:
i) [Mt 24:30-31]:
3) WHAT
THE LAST TRUMPET OF 1
CORINTHIANS 15:52 CANNOT MEAN
i)
[Mt 24:36]:
4) THE
LAST TRUMP = THE LAST TRUMP
OF A PARTICULAR SERIES OF TRUMPETS
IV) [1
Thes 4:16-18 cont.]:
C) "WE
WHO ARE STILL ALIVE AND ARE
LEFT WILL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER IN
THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR"
D) "SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER IN
THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE
AIR." = TO BE RESCUED BY GOD FROM THE DANGER OF THE ENTIRE 7 YEAR
TRIBULATION PERIOD
1) [1
Thes 1:8-10]:
2)
[Compare 1 Thes 5:9-10]:
3)
[Compare Rev 3:9-10]:
V) [1 Thes
4:17-18]:
A) THE COMING OF THE LORD TO CATCH
UP HIS SAINTS IS IMMINENT
1) INTRODUCTION
2) THE NEW TESTAMENT SUPPORTS THE
IMMINENT COMING OF CHRIST
a) [1
Cor 1:7]:
b) [1
Cor 4:5]:
c) [1
Cor 15:51-52]:
d) [1 Cor
16:22]:
e) [Compare 1
Cor 11:26]:
f) [Compare
Phil 3:20]:
g)
[Compare Phil 4:5]:
h)
[Compare 1 Thes 1:9b-10]:
i) [Compare Titus 2:13]:
j)
[Compare Jas 5:7-9]:
k) [1
John 2:28]:
l) [Rev
3:20; 22:7, 12, 20]:
VI) CONCLUSION
A) A PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE WAS HELD TO BY AT LEAST SOME BELIEVERS
DURING THE EARLY CHURCH AGE
B) SUMMARY CHART OF RAPTURE VS THE
SECOND COMINGC) THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE IS
PICTURED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
C) THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE IS
PICTURED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
1) [Mt
24:36]:
******
END OF EXCERPT FROM STUDY ON
THE RAPTURE ******
(biblestudymanuals.net/1thes4v18.htm)
