Keep Your Eye On the Prize

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. – Philippians 3:12-21 ESV

Paul has just expressed the motivating factor behind his life: “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection…” (Philippians 3:11 ESV). For Paul, this knowledge of Christ included a personal and tangible experience of the divine power that raised Jesus from the dead. This remarkable resource came in the form of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. As Paul told the believers in Rome, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you” (Romans 8:11 NLT). The power made available by the Spirit of God was producing spiritual fruit in Paul’s life in the form of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities were the direct result of the Spirit’s presence and power, not Paul’s own self-effort.

But Paul knew that the resurrection power made available by the Holy Spirit had an even more significant aspect to it that he longed to experience: His own physical resurrection from the dead. Paul had a long-term, eternal perspective. He knew that there was much more to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ than our earthly experiences. Yes, Paul was fully aware that the resurrection power he coveted had short-term, in-this-lifetime ramifications; it produced spiritual fruit and provided the power needed to live distinctively different lives.

For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. – Romans 6:4 NLT

But Paul longed to experience the full scope of that resurrection power in his life.

Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. – Romans 6:5 NLT

In his first letter to the believers in Corinth, Paul explained the implications of being physically resurrected just as Jesus was.

Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. – 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NLT

Paul understood that there was a transitional state after death. Upon breathing his final breath on earth, his physical life would come to an end, but his eternal life would begin. He would enter into God’s Kingdom and be reunited with Jesus, the one who had commissioned him for his earthly ministry. But the question is, what kind of body will Paul have? According to the Scriptures, the resurrection of our bodies will not take place until Christ returns for His bride, the church. Paul wrote about this in his first letter to the church in Corinth.

…our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. – 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 NLT

So, in the intermediate state, after death and awaiting the Rapture of the church and the resurrection, it would seem that the saints in heaven are in spiritual/non-corporeal form. In his vision of heaven recorded in the Book of Revelation, the apostle provides a brief insight into this matter.

I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. – Revelatioon 6:9 NLT

John saw those who had come to faith during the Tribulation and been put to death by the Antichrist, just prior to the Second Coming of Christ. They were standing before the throne of God, but in a non-physical form. John refers to them as “souls.” They will receive their resurrected bodies after the final judgment. Jesus talked about this final resurrection.

Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. – John 5:28-29 NLT

But Paul knew that the day would come when all believers will receive a new glorified physical body, just as Jesus did at His resurrection. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples in bodily form, but that new body was significantly different than the one He had before. Jesus ate several meals with His disciples and interacted with them just as He had before His death. But according to the gospel accounts, Jesus’ new body was not limited by time or space. He was able to enter a locked room with no difficulty (John 20:19), and yet John indicates that Jesus’ body was the same one that died on the cross because “he showed them his hands and his side” (John 20:20 ESV). His physical wounds were still evident even in His glorified state.

The apostle John also confirms that we will one day have glorified bodies just as Jesus does, and while we cannot fully comprehend the nature of our final resurrected state, it is something for which we should eagerly long.

…we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him. – 1 John 3:2 NLT

So, Paul was striving to live in the power of the Spirit in this life, but longing to experience the transformative power of the Spirit that comes only after death. He maintained a delicate balance between his thoughts on the here and now and the hereafter.

Paul confessed to the Philippian believers that he was far from perfect. In other words, he had not yet attained all that he longed for; he was a work in progress. But he had an unflinching desire to pursue and experience all that Christ had died to make available to him.

But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. – Philippians 3:12 NLT

He used the Greek word, diōkō, which has a range of meanings. It carries the idea of physical exertion or effort and is far from a passive word. It could mean “to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing,” and could also refer to someone running in a race using all their available energy to reach the finish line. Paul wasn’t sitting back and waiting for heaven. But he also wasn’t waiting for the Holy Spirit to do all the work. He knew he had a part to play in the process of his spiritual transformation in this life.

Paul had a singular focus: To become like Christ. He wanted to “possess that perfection” that Christ had in mind for him. He wanted to experience all that his new life in Christ had to offer.  That is why he says, “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:14 NLT). Notice that his attention is fixed on the prize, the finish line. Paul is not insinuating that our glorification is somehow tied to self-effort in this life. He is not teaching that we have to earn our way into heaven; he is simply emphasizing that he desired what God wanted. He understood that God had an eternal reward in store for him, and he would not be satisfied with anything less. He would not allow himself to be distracted by the things of this earth, and he urged the Philippians to follow his example.

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. – Philippians 3:17 NLT

Paul wasn’t bragging or holding himself up as some icon of spiritual virtue; he was simply encouraging them to live with the same focus on the finish line that he had. He warns them that there are other examples they could follow that would only leave them disappointed and defeated in their spiritual lives.

…there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. – Philippians 3:18-19 NLT

Notice his emphasis on conduct. As followers of Christ, we cannot attempt to separate our behavior from our beliefs; the two go hand in hand and are inseparable. Yet, Paul warned that there were those within the Philippian church whose conduct, if followed, would lead to destruction. The Greek word Paul used is apōleia, and while it can refer to damnation or eternal destruction, it can also be translated as “waste” or “ruin.” Keep in mind Paul’s metaphor of running a race. These were individuals who failed to finish the race well. They got distracted along the way and, rather than victory, they experienced defeat.

It seems unlikely that this is a reference to a loss of their salvation. Paul believed that salvation was the work of Jesus Christ alone. As he told the believers in Ephesus: “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (Ephesians 2:9 ESV). Jesus Himself promised, “And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day” (John 6:39 NLT).

What Paul seems to be referring to are those within the Philippian church who were living lives of licentiousness. They were what would later become known as antinomians, which simply means “anti-law.” They held a view that was diametrically opposed to the Judaizers. One group was made up of legalists, putting far too much weight on keeping the law; the other side simply said the law no longer mattered and taught that we could live however we wanted to live. This mindset had serious ramifications, and Paul points out the danger behind this anything-goes mentality.

Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. – Philippians 3:19 NLT

Jude had some strong words for this group as well.

…these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. – Jude 1:10 NLT

Paul pulls no punches when he states that their “conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18 NLT). Their conduct did not match their confession; their behavior didn’t line up with their expressed beliefs. They lived for the here and now, failing to focus their energies and attention on the long-term goal God had in mind.

And Paul leaves little doubt as to his point in all of this. He wants the Philippians to live with purpose and to conduct their lives according to their newfound status as citizens of the eternal Kingdom. That is their future home. That is their destiny.

…we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. – Philippians 3:20 NLT

Paul is not suggesting that they be so heavenly-minded that they end up being of no earthly good. He is not calling them to live with their heads in the sky, but to live with their eyes firmly fixed on the finish line. They are running a race that will require that they maintain their focus. They will have to strain and strive in this life, fight off exhaustion, and ignore the pain and suffering that comes along the way. And Paul brings it all full circle, reminding his brothers and sisters in Christ that the point of it all is the day when we will all experience the power of the resurrection.

He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. – Philippians 3:21 NLT

That’s the goal. That’s the prize. And that should be the very thing that keeps us running the race to win.

Father, there is a lot about the resurrection we will never understand until it takes place. I have a difficult time comprehending the nature of our resurrected bodies. I look forward to having a new-and-improved body that will be free from pain and suffering, and non-susceptible to the temptations of sin. But, in this fallen world, it is hard to imagine what that will be like. Yet, as Paul states, that is to be my focus. It is to be my motivation for running the race with determination. The finish line is the goal. The resurrection is the objective. Yet, how easy it is to pursue my best life in this life. How quick we are to try and make earth our heavenly home. But You have something far better in store for us. You have a future Kingdom prepared and a new heaven and a new earth in store that will make this one pale in comparison. That is where our citizenship is and that is where we will enjoy unbroken felloship with You and Your Son for eternity. Help me keep my eye on the prize. Amen. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Reality of the Resurrection

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. – 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 ESV

Whether or not some of the Corinthians wanted to believe in the possibility of the resurrection of the dead, Paul was unequivocally certain that Jesus had done just that. As far as he was concerned, it was a non-contestable fact, and he had firsthand knowledge of its reality. Paul had personally encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, and it had radically changed his life (Acts 9:1-7).

As Paul stated earlier, after Jesus was resurrected, He appeared to hundreds of individuals and, “Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Corinthians 15:8-9 ESV. When Mary Magdalene and Mary visited Jesus’ burial site that fateful Sunday morning, they found the stone had been rolled away and the tomb empty. But their shock and dismay was quited by the words of the angel. 

“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” – Matthew 28:5-7 NLT

As far as Paul was concerned, this was not a point open to discussion or debate; it was a fact, and one for which Paul was willing to give his life.

It was the resurrection of Jesus that made it possible for sinful men and women to be restored to a right relationship with a holy God. His resurrection proved that His sacrifice had been accepted by God, and because God was satisfied with His Son's payment, He was able to justify sinful men and women, forgive their sins, and declare them righteous in His eyes. The resurrection of Jesus is essential to the gospel message.

The first Adam, through his sin, brought death into the world, but Jesus came to rectify that problem. Paul clarifies the difference between Adam and Jesus in his letter to the Romans.

For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. – Romans 5:17-19 ESV

Adam brought sin and condemnation to humanity; his transgression resulted in death for all. But Jesus, through His death, made possible new life and forgiveness of sins. But had He not risen from the dead, none of that would have been possible. He would have been nothing more than a martyr, not the Messiah and Savior of the world. But Jesus was physically resurrected from the dead. The tomb was empty. He had a physical body and was seen and recognized by many who talked with Him and even shared a meal with Him. He was not a spirit without a body. However, His body, in its resurrected state, was different than before. But He ate with the disciples and could be touched by them. He had a tangible, corporeal body.

Paul’s point is that we will one day experience the very same thing when we receive our new resurrected bodies. Will our bodies appear just as they did at the point of our death? If I die at 80, will I be eternally an octogenarian in heaven? If a child dies at seven, will he or she bear that likeness throughout eternity? The Scriptures don’t answer these questions. But we are told that we will receive new bodies.

Later in the same chapter, Paul elaborates on the idea of our new, resurrected bodies. He wants to address the confusion and concerns the Corinthians have over the whole idea of dead bodies being given new life.

 But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. – 1 Corinthians 15:35-37 NLT

The point is that there is a body made for this earth and a body that God has intended for eternity. Our earthly bodies are designed to wear out, die, and decompose. But our heavenly bodies will be eternal and indestructible. He goes on to explain the difference.

Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. – 1 Corinthians 15:43-44 NLT

The designated day on which we will receive our heavenly bodies is at the resurrection of the dead, an event that has yet to take place. It is on that occasion that God will consummate His redemptive plan. Paul states that the “last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26 ESV). With the resurrection of our bodies, we will no longer be susceptible to death. We will experience eternal life, free from all fear of death, physical or spiritual.

In his letter to the Thessalonian believers, Paul offered them hope regarding the reality of the resurrection of the dead.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. –
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT

When Paul refers to the dead believers rising from their graves, he is talking about their newly resurrected bodies, not their souls. Their souls have been with God in heaven since their death. But they, along with all those who are alive when the Lord returns, will be given their newly glorified bodies that are imperishable and incorruptible.

For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. – 1 Corinthians 15:53 NLT

The truth is, there will be a resurrection from the dead, and Jesus was the firstfruits, “the first of a great harvest of all who have died” (1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT). His resurrection gives us confidence and hope that we, too, will share that same fate. We will experience resurrection just as He did, and that will take place when He returns for His church at the rapture. Paul described the scene in his first letter to the Thessalonians.

…we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. – 1 Thessalonians 4:17 NLT

This will be followed by the seven years of the Tribulation, which will culminate with the second coming of Christ. Then the millennial Kingdom of Christ will begin, when He will rule for a thousand years on earth, bringing everyone and everything under His subjection. At the end of that period of time, He will turn over all power and authority to God the Father. Satan will be defeated once and for all, and the reign of sin and death will end.

That is the truth, and it should bring us hope, joy, and confidence in the future. God’s will will be done. Christ’s mission will be completed. And we will be resurrected.

Father, Paul said that “in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling” (2 Corinthians 5:2 BSB). He’s right. The older I get, the more I realize that my earthly body is nothing more than a temporary vessel that houses my eternal soul. It isn’t meant to last and that becomes increasingly clear with each passing birthday. Sickness, injury, disease, and death are constant realities. But You have another reality in store for those of us who have placed our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Your Son. We will experience the same miraculous resurrection and glorification that He did. He was the first, but we will be part of the countless host of faithful followers who will be as He is. “He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own” (Philippians 3:21 NLT). Thank You for the assurance and hope we have in Jesus because You raised Him from the dead and one day He is coming back. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Ignorance Is Not Bliss

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 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. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV

As the Thessalonian believers continued to grow in their salvation and live in a manner pleasing to God, Paul knew they would do so in the hope that Jesus Christ would soon return. The imminent return of Christ was a common theme in the early church and proved to be a powerful motivational message for those facing the very real threat of persecution and even death. Paul regularly spoke and wrote about the second coming of Christ, reminding his children in the faith that His return was the ultimate goal.

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. – 1 Corinthians 20:21 NLT

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. – Romans 13:11-12 NLT

Paul has already addressed the return of Christ three times in his letter to the church in Thessalonica.

…they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. – 1 Thessalonians 1:10 NLT

After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! – 1 Thessalonians 2:19 NLT

May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. – Matthew 3:13 NLT

The return of Christ was the endgame for Paul, and he eagerly anticipated it because Jesus had promised it.

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. – John 14:2-3 NLT

And Paul was not alone in his confident claims concerning the Lord’s timely return. The apostle James also saw the imminent return of Christ as a powerful motivator when addressing believers experiencing life's pain and difficulties.

Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. – James 5:7-8 NLT

Peter, another one of the apostles, joined the chorus, reminding his readers that the Lord’s return would mark the end of all things.

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. – 1 Peter 4:7 NLT

And not to be left out, the author of the book of Hebrews encouraged his readers to use the reality of Christ’s return as motivation to model Christlikeness in their daily lives.

…let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT

However, when you live with the eager anticipation that something will happen soon and it fails to materialize, disappointment and disillusionment can set in. As the days pass and the promise remains unfulfilled, you may begin to lose hope. And, as Paul knew, watching the deaths of their fellow believers was causing a certain amount of confusion and concern among the members of the early church. Why had they died before Jesus had come back? What would be their fate?

It seems that all the talk about the imminent return of Christ had left some of the Thessalonians with the mistaken impression that all who believed in Him would live to see it happen. But as time passed, some of their fellow believers had died. So, Paul attempted to provide them with clarification and further insight into all the talk about the “end of all things,” and he gets right to the point.

…now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. – 1 Thessalonians 4:13 NLT

Their grief was not just over the loss of their friends, but it also included their concern over the eternal state of those who had died. Had they not believed? Were they doomed to spend eternity in hell? Had their deaths been the result of falling away from the faith?

It is important to remember that the early church had minimal access to doctrine or well-informed insights into theological matters. In its infancy, the church depended on Paul and others for theological training and instruction on issues such as the end times. Paul’s letter to the Romans was his attempt to provide a detailed doctrinal analysis of the faith, expounding on the teachings of Jesus and the gospel so that members of the early church could gain a deeper, more foundational understanding of their faith.

Paul has already told the Thessalonians that he regularly prayed for them, “asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith” (1 Thessalonians 3:10 NLT). And that is precisely what he is attempting to do in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

First, he addresses the 800-pound gorilla in the room: The untimely deaths of their fellow believers.

For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. – 1 Thessalonians 4:14 NLT

With this statement, Paul brings up another aspect of the end-time events of which they were unaware. This section of verses is one of the primary passages used to support the doctrine of the Rapture of the church. Paul is not talking about the Second Coming of Christ, but of His return for His bride, the church. The term “rapture” is not found in the Bible, but it is derived from the Greek word Paul uses in verse 17. There, he mentions that those who are still alive when Christ returns will be “caught up together…in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” The Greek word translated as “caught up” is harpazo, and it means “to seize, to snatch away, to carry off by force.”

In the late 4th century, the Bible was translated from its original languages into Latin. In this translation, called the Latin Vulgate, the phrase “caught up” was translated as rapturo, from which the term “Rapture” comes.

Paul was informing his readers about an event that would precede the Second Coming of Christ and usher in the rest of the end-time events. There was no need for the Thessalonians to grieve over the loss of their friends because God had a plan. Those who had died had gone to be with Him. Their bodies had been buried, but their souls had gone to be with the Lord in heaven. When Jesus addressed the thief on the cross, He promised him, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 NLT). There is no such thing as soul sleep or a holding place called Purgatory. Upon death, all believers go to be with the Lord.

Paul assures those left behind in Thessalonica that they will one day see their deceased friends again. In fact, they will accompany Christ when He returns for His church.

…when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. – 1 Thessalonians 4:14 NLT

But then Paul appears to contradict himself. He just said that the dead believers will come back with Christ, but then he states, “the believers who have died will rise from their graves” (1 Thessalonians 4:16 NLT). Well, which is it? Do they return with Jesus, or rise from their graves? And the answer is, “Both.”

Paul is describing the resurrection of their bodies. At the Rapture, the souls of all those who have died in Christ will return with Him and be reunited with their resurrected and transformed bodies. Paul talks about the need for this in his first letter to the church in Corinth.

But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting.… It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. – 1 Corinthians 35-37, 42-44 NLT

In his second letter, he provides greater detail regarding these spiritual bodies.

…we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. – 2 Corinthians 5:1 NLT

The departed saints will return with the Lord and be reunited with their new spiritual bodies, which God has prepared for them. Those who are still alive at the time of the Rapture will ascend into heaven, receiving their glorified bodies as they go. And the end result of all this? “…we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17 ESV).

Paul concludes by encouraging the Thessalonians to find comfort and hope in this new revelation about their lost friends and the church's future Rapture.

Therefore encourage one another with these words. – 1 Thessalonians 4:18 ESV

As the early church evolved, its need for sound doctrine increased exponentially. The teachings of Jesus needed to be expanded and expounded upon, and Paul spent a great deal of time in his letters helping his far-flung flock understand the depth and detail of the gospel message. Many in the early church were still expecting Jesus’ imminent return and the establishment of His Kingdom on earth. They were surprised by His seeming delay and confused by the trials they were forced to endure because of their faith in Him. For some, the “good news” was not turning out as expected.

But Paul wanted them to understand the depth and reliability of God’s plan. Jesus had not died to guarantee them their best life now, but to pave the way for eternal life. He knew a firm grasp of the end times was essential to their ongoing faith and would give them the strength to live with hope and confidence.

Father, even today, so many of Your children live with a cloudy understanding of Your plan for them. They live in fear and doubt because their lives have not turned out as expected. The presence of sorrow and suffering has caused them to question Your love and goodness. The difficulties associated with living the life of faith have diminished their hope and left them seeking comfort in the things of this world. They want their best life now and can’t imagine that You have something far greater in store for them that this world cannot offer. Would you help us to keep our eyes fixed on the prize and focused on the promise Your Son came to fulfill? He is coming back and He will finish what He began. Your plan is perfect but it is not yet complete. But, one day, You will fulfill all that You said You would do. We can count on it. Amen.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.