Page 190 - The Rapture Question by John F. Walvoord

The Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4
In the closing verses of 1 Thessalonians 2, he described
his joy when they will all stand in the presence of the Lord:
“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will
glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes?
Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy” (1 Thess.
2:19-20). Again in this passage the Rapture is presented as an
event that could occur at any time and one that should bring
great joy to the apostle. No preceding events are mentioned.
In 1 Thessalonians 3:13, a similar thought is expressed.
“May he give you inner strength that you may be blameless
and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our
Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” Some have taken
this as the time of meeting Christ when the Rapture occurs in
the earthly sphere. Others picture this as possibly referring to
the arrival of the church in heaven, as indicated in the phrase
“in the presence of our God and Father.” Although not a clear
reference, it is in harmony with the pretribulational Rapture
point of view that the church will be taken from earth and
presented in heaven in the presence of the Father.
These concepts are confirmed in the closing verses of the
epistle. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Paul expressed the prayer,
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through
and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept
blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Again, no
preceding events are mentioned, and it is implied that the
Lord’s coming could be very soon. These passages, of course,
are confirmed and explained in greater detail in the major
section on the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 5:1-11.
The Comforting Hope of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
From the frequent references to the Rapture in 1 Thes­
salonians, it is clear that Paul had taught this doctrine in the
few short weeks he was with these new converts in Thes-
salonica. They apparently understood that the Lord was
coming and that when He came, they would be caught up to
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