Page 192 - The Rapture Question by John F. Walvoord

The Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4
needed further revelation, and Timothy was unable to answer
their questions.
In addressing them in the passage beginning in 1 Thes­
salonians 4:13, Paul pointed out that their fears were ground­
less. When the Lord came for those who were living, He would
also resurrect the dead, and there would be no waiting period.
Accordingly, they not only had the certain hope of resurrec­
tion for the dead in Christ and the hope of their own transla­
tion, but inasmuch as both events were imminent, their sepa­
ration from their loved ones might be short.
In expounding the doctrine, Paul began by stating that
he did not want them to be ignorant, as unbelievers are, con­
cerning their wonderful hope. Their expectations of the rap­
ture of the church were as certain as the historical fact that
Jesus had died and risen again (1 Thess. 4:14). The death and
resurrection of Christ at one time had been the subject of
prophecy. Now it was fulfilled, and it had become the basis of
their Christian faith. In like manner, in the future, and
perhaps soon, the rapture of the church would take place; and
when Christ came, the dead in Christ would be raised and the
living Christians would be raptured.
Paul pointed out that when Jesus came, He would bring
those with Him who were asleep in Christ. By this He was
referring to Christians who had died and whose souls had
gone to heaven. When He returned from heaven to the air
above the earth, He would bring the souls with Him. This
would make possible the reentry of souls into the resurrected
bodies of the saints who had died; and together with those
translated, they would meet the Lord in the air.
The coming of the Lord at the Rapture would be “with a
loud command” (1 Thess. 4:16), in keeping with the earlier
revelation of the authority of Christ to raise the dead (John
5:25). The voice of the archangel, Michael (Jude 1:9), would
also be heard, probably a shout of triumph. It would be a
great victory for the archangel who had led the forces of the
201