Deadline Slide 1
Every once in awhile, the semantics for a word study intrigues me. A word peaking my interest this week was the word “deadline”. Today, we use deadline as a point in time which something must be completed. There is a deadline to mail my taxes. Or in the case, of submitting an absentee ballot, the deadline has passed. It’s too late. But in the 1700’s when the word came into use, a deadline was the space at either end of the printed page where the printing plate was least effective. In the Civil War, the deadline was a prisoner of war ground about 50 feet in length that escaping prisoners feared being shot dead. It was only in the 1920’s when deadline was first equated with time for reporters to get their news articles in.
Too Early Slide 2
But the concern Paul addresses is not being too late – but too early. Timothy report appears to include an observation the Thessalonians are consumed with worry for believers who died before Christ’s return. What follows is the third area Paul speaks to shortfalls in their faith. Over the last two weeks, we covered the first two – increasing in their love for each other and avoiding sexual immorality. All these lessons in chapters 4 and 5 are teaching gaps Paul covers because of his early exit due to the riots.
But unlike the first two lessons that built on previous lessons, Paul’s lesson sheds light on new material. Timothy doesn’t disclose why this is a cause for concern. But looking back to the culture of the day – Commentators like Dr. Weima offer some reasons based on well preserved archaeological ruins.
These include ancient tombstones. My in laws for example spent a lot of time recently walking the cemeteries in Ottawa County as they researched family genealogies. My father in law was dragged along for the effort. But many of the oldest stones were illegible.
Yet clear as day - Archaeological ruins of grave markers in Thessalonica were discovered well preserved – many with a phrase chiseled into them translated into English as “I was not and I was, I am not and I care not.” Compare that to today’s tombstones and the names of cemeteries such as where my mom and grandparents are buried in the Garden of Everlasting Life. To the Thessalonians at large, death was viewed as a hopeless end.
Ancient church historians cite a phrase found in the Apocrypha from that time indicating those who are left when Christ returns are more blessed than those who died too early.
There is a difference Slide 3
It’s no wonder Paul opens with the subject of grief. Verse 13 - Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
Paul is concluding there is a difference between the way believers and unbelievers face death. I’ve seen the best and the worst of both returning to on-call chaplaincy. This isn’t about tears – because there is no shame in shedding tears when a loved one dies or has been serious injured – Tears are a God-given means of releasing the burden of sorrow. For using Scripture to interpret Scripture we can flip the pages back to John 11 where Jesus wept on seeing his dear friend Lazarus dead. Or we can flip the pages ahead to Philippians 2, as Paul identifies a dear friend Epaphrodites who was ill and almost died, but God spared Paul sorrow by healing him. Paul’s point in what follows then is not to eliminate grief, but instead to offer a gentle corrective as to why their grief for their loved ones also includes hope. But compared to Christians whose faith serves as a bedrock of faith to fall back on - I’ve been present for deaths with surrounding family where prayers and the promises of Christ in Scripture are not welcomed. While the ministry of simply being present is at least something, they don’t have a faith foundation for real hope. These believers are reported to be grieving like unbelievers - without hope.
Today, when we attend funerals or visitation, Somewhere in that moment – even if it is just a passing thought - think of our own deaths as well. Paul’s encouragement for what follows is addressed directly to believers. While the Thessalonians were fearful for their loved ones, we may need this text as well because of our own fears about death and what the future hold. We can’t continue without saying that it’s never too early to accept God’s call on your life – but there is a point in time where it will sadly also be too late, for no one really knows in advance the hour or deadline for their death – Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. This is what Paul highlights
In the advice that follows, Paul sheds some light on a mystery to us – an area full of hope but difficult to understand in the full - The Resurrection of the Dead. I will frequently read this passage as part of the committal portion of the service in church or at the graveside just before the casket is lowered into the ground. We profess regularly in the Apostles’ Creed for the resurrection of the dead – I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
This gap Paul fills in is no less important today. Tying our text together with other Scriptures - we turn to Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer 57
Heidelberg Slide 4
The question involving death is also framed in hope - How does the resurrection of the body comfort you? Together we say – Not only my soul will be taken immediately after this life to Christ its head, but even my very flesh, raised by the power of Christ will be reunited with my soul and made like Christ’s glorious body.
Christianity without this doctrine of the resurrection of the dead would leave us little reason for hope in the face of death. But we have all the more reason ourselves to grieve with hope rather than hopelessness today too – The earthly body left behind, eternal life beginning already as the soul is brought into Jesus presence, along with a glorious future promise – the reuniting of soul with a glorified new body on Christ’s return.
Likewise Paul, in God-active language offers proof their loved ones who died prior to Christ’s return – did not die too early. Paul highlights two reasons for this hope.
Slide 5 – Reason 1 for Hope in the Face of Death
The first being an early form of an early confession of faith. This isn’t merely Paul’s personal proclamation. He speaks to a belief held in common by the Christians of his day – a lesson he had not yet taught them introduced by the words WE BELIEVE… V 14 “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” Who are the sleeping ones? The dead – In Greco Roman times it was the common way of referring to death regardless of believing status. Today we’ll often speak of passing away. But the point is the confession itself - Just as God saw to it the grave held no final say over Jesus Christ, neither does the grave hold ultimate power for the believer in Christ. That is where our hope lies.
Many are the times in following up with a widow or widower weeks or months after their spouses funeral, and they speak to the wonder as to how those without a belief in Jesus could go on after death – That’s the basis for real hope in the True Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Slide Reason 2
Then Paul offers a second if not greater reason for the Thessalonians to have hope for their believing loved ones who died – He offers it as a word of the Lord. He is either summarizing something Jesus Christ himself taught or possibly offering an oral teaching passed down but not written in the Gospels. He highlights the importance of Christ’s teaching with the application first - Verse 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord will certain not precede those who have fallen asleep. Targeting their concerns directly, Paul has just assured them their dead in Christ will not be at a disadvantage on Christ’s return. Here is where Paul speaks to the resurrection of the dead we read aloud earlier with the word of the Lord.
Verse 16 – For the Lord himself will descend from heaven, with a commanding shout, with a voice of an archangel, and with a trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. That text is one of the most explicit teachings from the Bible on Christ’s return. It’s not an ABC Reference Guide -All that happens at the end of time in the mind and operation of God could fill volumes. But its helpful all the same to restore an element of hope - Jesus return from heaven simultaneously with some sort of unmistakable sound or proclamation from heaven, and the dead in Christ rising – the soul reunited with a new and glorious body our catechism says.
Nor do our anxieties need to be triggered today because of how the remains are rendered following death - Casket, cremation, believers lost at sea, or bodies returned to ash or dust, nothing holds God back from this restoration. Then the believers who are alive at Christ’s return are considered -
Verse 17 – Then after that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. That phrase meeting the Lord – speaks to the common practice of a city welcoming a dignitary or military hero by sending out a welcoming party who would then escort the person back into the city with great rejoicing. That’s the imagery Paul offers here… And he concludes the Lord’s teaching with words so simple but leave us today with endless possibilities and images -- Together we will be with the Lord forever.
Slide Conclusion
Finally, Paul calls on fellow believers in verse 18 to encourage each other with these words. What a wonderful picture Paul offers to conclude on with the family of God – For often are the times in our Christian walk when grief or trauma strikes, that we need the encouragement of others.
When does all this take place? At God’s deadline – The Father’s appointed time God, the Father has designated. He won’t arrive too early. He definitely won’t arrive late. Known to the Father, it will be exactly according to God’s plan of salvation for all those who have accepted God’s call on their lives.
