The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 84

Vers. 14, 15.-Reasons against IOfT'01D for the dead. The apostle giv• 1everal reasons why the Thessalonians ought not to sorrow for their dead. I. THE F'Ul,'DAMEXTAL REASON IS THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CBBIBT. "If we believe that Jesus died and rose again." These are the primary facts of Christianity. They are inseparably linked together, for the resurrection was the crown of the redeeming sacrifice; for it" he was delivered for our offences, be was rnisi:,d again ror our justification. Deny either or both, we "are yet in our sins." IL 'l'HE SEOO!.'D BEASON IS, WHEN CHRIST COMES AGAIN FBOM THE F ATBEB'B BIGHT H.&.ND, llE WILL BRING WITH BDI TRE SLEEPING SAINTS. " Even so them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." 1. The dead saints slee1, in Jesus. They are associated with him botb in life and in death. They II die in the Lord ; " "they are present with the Lord." 2. They will accompany Jesus at his second coming. This includes (1) their resurrection from the dead,-for "he who raised up the Lord Jesus sha.11 raise up us also by Jesus" (2 Cor. iv. 14); (2) their joining the retinue of Jesus to share his triumph. As risen from the dead, he becomes " the Firstfruits of them that ~lept." ill. THE THIRD REASON 18 TB.AT TB.I!: LIVI:NG BAINTB WILL NOT PRECEDE TD DEAD SAINTB AT THE OOl4ING OF CHRIST. 11 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them which are asleep." This fact would effectively dissipate their sorrow for their deparwd friends. 1. It is a fact made known by special revelation. Such revelations were frequently made to the apostle, as in the case of his special mission field (Acts xxii. 18-21 ), the position of Gentile saints (Epb, iii. 3), the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. xi. 23), and the reality and proofs of Christ's resurrection (1 Cor. xv. 3). 2. It is a/act that does not imply either the nearness of the second advent, or the apostWs own share as a living man in its glories. He B11.ys, "We which are alive and remain to the corning of Christ;" he merely identifies the living believers of the last age with him- self as if he said "Those of us Christians who may be alive at the advent." He could not' have believed that he would not die before the advent, for (1) that would imply that "the word of the Lord•• had misled him; (2) he actually vreferred to be absent from the body, ai:J.d toward the end of his life spoke of death as " gain," and of his desiring "to depart and be with Christ," words quite inconsistent with this theor.>;; (3) he virtually declares in the Second Epistle that the advent could not happen 10 his liletime (2 Thess. ii.); (4) he knew that no man, not even the ::-;on of man, knew the tiwe of the advent (Mark xiii. 42). 3. It ia a fact that the living saints will not get the sf,art of the dead saints in the (,(ITTl,ing of the L<>rd. This is hiM express rtovelation from the Lord. " The dead in Christ shall rise first," or before the living are changed (1 Cor. xv.). The Tbessalonia.ns need not, therefore, sorrow for their departed friends, neither be afraid tbem;;;,lves to die.-T. C. Vers. 16-18.-The order of eventa al, the second advenl. The apostle justifies his statement hy a fuller revelation of the truth. He sets forth the order of events, I. THE DESCENT OF THE Loao FROM REA VEN. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven witb a shout, with the voice of the arcbrrngel, and with the trump of God." L It will lit a desr,er.t of fAM' persO'T.al LQ'l'd. "~o phantom, no p~ovidential 1111.iistitute, no vicarioW! spirit ; " the 81!.me Person that ascended is he that will defC:elld oa. 1v. 1-18.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THEBBALONIANB. 81