Reunion In The Air

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

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. 1 Thessalonians 4:17

IN WORD

In the ancient Near East, as well as many other cultures throughout history, victorious kings would return to their home cities after a battle, bringing captives with them. The citizens would come out of the city to greet the returning army and the conquering king. And the entire entourage would return with the king into the city for him to continue his reign.

That may be the picture Paul gives us in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Many assume that we meet the returning King in the air and then go off with Him into heaven, but in light of other passages that show Him reigning on earth, the more accurate picture may be of our meeting Him in the air and returning with Him into the “city” where He will continue His reign. Regardless, we know He will reign and we will be with Him forever. The location isn’t the big issue, since He will reign over everything everywhere. Our union “with Him” is infinitely more important. We who are alive—those in whom He now lives but whose eyes cannot see clearly—will see Him clearly. Everything that was evil in this world will be undone, even death.

IN DEED

That basic truth of Christianity may not impress those of us who are looking for deeper truths in Scripture today, but when someone close to us dies, there’s nothing deeper we need to hear. This is it, the ultimate comfort, the hope that keeps us going in a death-filled world. That’s why Paul’s next sentence urges us to encourage one another with these words. At any given moment, we can face existential questions of life, death, and meaning that overwhelm all our other questions. When we do, we need to know: Not only is He coming, He is coming to reign. And we will be with Him forever.

ADDITIONAL READING: Ephesians 4:7-8

Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection not in books alone but in every leaf in springtime.

MARTIN LUTHER