(13) В¶ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (15) 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 prevent them which are asleep. (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Perhaps there is not a more affectionate passage in the word of God, to soothe the sorrows of our nature, under the humbling prospect of the grave, in the death of our friends, and the sure departure of ourselves, than what God the Holy Ghost hath here given to the Church, by his servant the Apostle. I have often read it, with, I hope, profit and delight. And I do not conceive, that a child of God, under divine teaching, can ever read it, but at every renewed perusal, with increasing comfort.
It appears, that the Church of the Thessalonians had very imperfect apprehensions, on the interesting subject of the dead in Christ. And it was our mercy, that their ignorance gave occasion to God the Spirit, to teach the Church, what is here so blessedly explained, concerning it. The first thing I beg the Reader to remark with me, in the passage, is, the expression, of being asleep in Jesus. He doth not call it death, but sleep. It is remarkable, that in relation to the death of Lazarus, Jesus called it sleep. Our friend Lazarus, sleepeth; but I go that I may awake him out of sleep! See John 11:11. and Commentary. The blessed dead, which die in Christ, die in union with his Person. As such, they are part of Christ. The voice John heard from heaven, declared this, and bid the beloved Apostle write it down. Revelation 14:13. Hence, this is more properly called sleep, than death; for by virtue of this union, there is a principle, by which they are still part of Christ, and by which the Lord becomes to them at the last day, the resurrection and the life. John 11:5. So that, in death, or life, Christ is the believer's portion; and the believer is a member of Christ's mystical body. And this oneness, union, and interest in Christ, so totally differs from the Christless dead, that the Holy Ghost is pleased to call it sleep, rather than death. They sleep in Jesus.
Secondly. The Holy Ghost by Paul, commands the Church concerning all such, that the sorrow which surviving believers feel, in their departure, is not to be as the grief of those who mourn over the hopeless dead. The Lord doth not forbid all sorrow; for the Lord allows nature's feelings to have vent. And Jesus, himself wept at the grave of Lazarus. John 11:25. But the tears of God's people, shed over the remains of the dead which die in the Lord, are like the spiced wine of the Pomegranate. The tears of nature, are sweetened in Christ. There is a blessed hope, yea, an assured hope, they shall again live. See a beautiful account by Job, (Job 14:13-15.)
Thirdly. The belief in Christ's resurrection, brings up after it, a full assurance, of the resurrection of all his members. They who sleep in Jesus, must arise with Jesus. For Christ died, and arose, as the common head of his body the Church. Not as a private person; but in a public capacity. Hence, in his resurrection, the Church, in every individual member, is included; for Christ was declared to be the first fruits of them that sleep. For to this end, (saith the Holy Ghost by Paul), Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. Romans 14:9. See 1 Corinthians 15:1 and Commentary.
Fourthly. There is somewhat particularly striking, in the Apostle's manner of expression on this subject, when he saith: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord. It is not said when Paul received this message to deliver to the Church. Neither doth he make any other preface, by way of introduction. But, it should seem, from the words themselves, that though all the Apostle delivered to the Church, was in the Lord's name, and by the Lord's authority; yet he had now somewhat to deliver on this subject, of the resurrection of the bodies of saints sleeping in Jesus: and of the change to be wrought on the bodies of saints, which would be found alive at the last day; which he had not had either the knowledge of himself before, or direction to communicate to the Church. Hence, like the Prophets of old, who frequently, in the midst of their preaching, called up the attention of the Church yet more strikingly, with breaking off, and saying; Thus saith the Lord: so Paul here adopts a similar manner of expression, and saith: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord. Reader! we have great cause to bless God the Spirit, for this special revelation, on a subject so very interesting, both to ourselves, and to all the Members of Christ's mystical body, whereby we learn, under divine teaching, wherefore we ought not to sorrow, concerning the departed in Christ, as others that have no hope. And I pray the Reader, to be particularly attentive, to the very blessed manner, in which God the Holy Ghost hath taught the Church, on those most momentous points.
The Apostle begins with the state of those saints of God, which are found in the body at Christ's Coming. We (saith he) which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. Now, let the Reader observe, that by the we, which are alive; Paul did not mean himself, or any of the Church of God then living. For, in his second Epistle to this same Church, he positively declared to them, that the day of Christ was not at hand. For (saith he) that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-3. But Paul speaks in the name of the Church, in that part of Christ's members which shall be alive, when Christ comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe. 2 Thessalonians 1:10. Hence, by the way, we are taught, that there shall be a portion of Christ's mystical body alive, at his second coming.
The Apostle next proceeds, in the name of the Lord, to show the Church, how they are to be disposed of, who pass not through the territories of death, and the grave, to the embraces of Christ. We shall not prevent them (saith Paul) which are asleep. The word prevent is an old English word, and means, to go before: we shall not be first changed, before the dead which sleep in Jesus shall be awakened to Christ's arms. This is a sweet thought, on every account. For it shows the watchful care of Jesus over his sleeping members; and becomes a blessed comment of the Lord's own, on that sweet Scripture: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Psalms 116:15. And it is blessed on another account. The living members of Christ's mystical body, will find their spirits abundantly strengthened, in beholding the dead in Christ arise to the wonders of eternity. And what joy will burst forth, at the second voice of the Archangel, and the trump of God! Yea, what inexpressible emotions will be felt by all the living in Christ, at that time, when they shall see Jesus personally descending from heaven, in all the splendor, as here described, of glory?
Next, Paul describes the wonderful change, after the dead in Christ have first risen, which will instantly follow, on the bodies of the saints then living. Then we (saith he) which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord! The Apostle doth not say how the change of our vile bodies, which have not gone down to the grave, shall be accomplished. It is sufficient for the Church to know, that it shall be done: though the process we are not made acquainted with. But, as those bodies of the saints, which are sown in corruption, are promised to be raised in incorruption; and their natural bodies, raised spiritual bodies: 1 Corinthians 15:44. we are led to conclude, the same change will be accomplished, though not in the same way: So that all the members of Christ's mystical body, shall be alike prepared, and qualified, for the everlasting enjoyment of God in glory. Oh! what unknown felicity will the saints of God be brought into, when those bodies, which now interrupt the spiritual pleasures of the renewed soul, will interrupt them no more; yea, then will join in all their enjoyments. Well might the Apostle add: wherefore comfort, or exhort one another with these words. Let God's people, under all bereaving providences, when at any time the Lord takes home any of his redeemed ones; let them call to remembrance, what God the Holy Ghost hath here so sweetly, and fully unfolded: they that live in Christ by regeneration, sleep in Jesus at death till the resurrection. They are part of Christ; and whether living or dying, in life or death, they are the Lord's. And they whom the Lord appoints to be alive in the body, at his coming, shall be instantly changed into a glorified body in Christ, as those of Christ's which arise at the voice of the Archangel, and the trump of God. Both shall be equally blessed in Christ; and be everlastingly happy with him, in glory. See Jude 1:9.