​Day 272 – September 29, 2021

​Day 272 – September 29, 2021
Scriptures: Psalms 81, Jeremiah 7-8, 1 Thessalonians 4
 
The important connection in today’s reading would be the call to holiness. Paul calls the church in Thessalonica to be holy, just as Jeremiah calls Judah to holiness as well.
 
Today I want to draw our attention to the hope we hold as the holy people of God.
 
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For 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. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 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. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)
 
It was N.T. Wright who helped me see what is going on with this familiar passage. It is commonly the chief passage used to explain the “rapture.” But is that what is going on here? Being whisked away from the earth on the day of judgment?
 
I’ve always struggled with rapture theology because of Revelation 21, God is making his home here with us. Heaven and earth join in Rev 21-22. So how do these passages jive together?
 
When a king returned after being gone for long periods of time, the people of the kingdom would go outside of the city gates and welcome the returning dignitary. It was a way of celebrating the return of their king.
 
Reading 1 Thessalonians 4, considering this, it is great to see that there is a beautiful depiction of Christ’s return. His people will go outside of the gates and welcome their king. Christ is coming and setting the world to rights!
 
As we reflect and hope in God today, we do so as those who know that there is a true king and ruler, Jesus Christ. We do not grieve as those who are without hope, we look ahead, and trust and know that Jesus is coming soon!
 
Await your king!