Sermon Tone Analysis

The Situation

Paul is responding to a question: what will happen to the dead in Christ?

This response implies that there were som who, in between the founding of the church and Timothy’s return to the church, some members of the church had passed away.

Paul offers this teaching as a means to comfort those who are troubled

The Problem

Confusion regarding the relationship between the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the rapture of living believers

Paul had taught on the connection between the resurrection of believers and the resurrection of Christ

Paul had also taught regarding the coming of Christ (see 2:19; 3:13 & 5:23)

A disconnect between their confession (what they believed to be true) and their emotional reaction to the loss of loved ones

The Concern

It is NOT to address idle curiosity about last things

It IS to provide encouragement to those who were contending with intense and even overwhelming grief

The Peculiarity of this Text

1 Thess 4:17 & 1 Cor.

15:52 are the primary texts used as the basis to support the belief of the rapture

Rapture comes from the Latin Vulgate’s use of the word rapio which means to seize or snatch away.

The doctrine of the rapture relates to the hope of the resurrection of all believers who have died and the transformation of believers who will be alive at the return of Jesus to their glorified bodies

The most significant and challenging interpretive issues revolve around the timing of the rapture

Since 1 Thess 4:17, although 4:13-5:11 provides the broader context of this doctrine, is a key text used in an attempt to understand the rapture, we will take the time to consider the various rapture views, and give particular attention to how each of these views understand 4:17.

The 4 Major Views

Pre-Trib.

Summary

The rapture occurs when Jesus gathers His church prior to a 7-year tribulation period that precedes the return of Christ to the earth.

It is important to note the distinction this view makes between the event of the rapture and the event of the 2nd coming of Christ.

Mid-Trib.

Summary

The rapture occurs after the first half of the tribulation at which point the Anti-Christ will assume power.

Pre-Wrath

Summary

The rapture will occur toward the end of the tribulation before the outpouring of God’s wrath with the bowl (Rev.

16) judgements prior to the return of Christ.

Post-trib.

Summary

The rapture will occur simultaneously with the return of Jesus at the end of the tribulation.

2 Camps

Camp #1: The rapture and the return of Christ are separate & distinct events

Key Distinctives

Emphasis on a literal interpretation of biblical prophecy

A belief in a future for national Israel

A strict separation between Israel and the church

Christ’s return for His church will occur in 2 distinct stages

Christ will return in the clouds to rapture all true believers

Christ will return to the earth to establish His millennial kingdom

Based on 1 Thess 4:13-18 & 1 Cor.

15:52, the rapture is the resurrection of all true Christians who died from the time of Pentecost until the rapture.

The rapture when the promise that Christ made in John 14:3 will come to fruition

Argue that if the rapture occurs at the end of the tribulation (post-trib.), then Jesus’ disciples return to the earth instead of His Father’s house as He promised.

Camp #2: The rapture and the return of Christ occur simultaneously at the end of the tribulation

Key Distinctives

Only 1 return of Christ

Both those who have already died and those that are still alive will rie to meet Jesus in the air

Understands the context of 1 Thess 4:17 to be centered on the resurrection of believers who have died before Christ’s return

The resurrection of believers and the transformation of living believers into their glorified bodies will occur at the visible return of Christ

The greek word parousia is understood as a reference to the 2nd coming of Jesus

Matthew 24:27 (ESV)

For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

1 Corinthians 15:23 (ESV)

But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

James 5:8 (ESV)

You also, be patient.

Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 (ESV)

For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

1 Thess 4:15, which is regarded as part of the rapture passage says that those who are left alive until the coming of the Lord will be caught up together with those who have been raised from the dead to meet the Lord in the air.