4 December 2010
Psalm 20, 21; Isaiah 4.2-6; I Thess 4.13-18; Luke 21.5-19

The Lord promises that His judgment will have an end and after it is complete the city will be glorious. Its glory will be like that of the nation in the wilderness with a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night. Over that glory will be a canopy of protection, not unlike the chuppa under which Jewish couple stand as they are married (remember the old song Beulah Land – Beulah means married and it comes from the book of Isaiah). The chuppa symbolizes the home the new couple will make together and the faithfulness that will keep them together. Here that image is used over the land and the assemblies of the people. It is a beautiful image of God’s love and protection for the nation. We see this vision fulfilled in the Revelation of John in the 21st chapter. When the bride of Christ takes her place in the city of God.

It is a horrible prophecy that Jesus gives of persecutions, wars, and betrayals. The only hope is that the prophetic word is from the Lord Himself and it provides for the perseverance of the saints, that “not a hair of their heads will perish. Does this apply to us or only the apostles? We face little or no persecution in the west and have not for many centuries but we know that in the end of days we will all face this persecution. We need to remember our brothers and sisters all over the world are being persecuted for their faith and killed at an incredible rate in our day. They need our prayers for endurance and perseverance and, above all, faith and presence. Let us never fail to give thanks for the freedom we have to tell the Good News and let us make the most of every opportunity.

Is Paul here attempting to give a complete eschatology or is he dealing with a pastoral issue in Thessalonica? When he speaks of those who are asleep in the Lord being the first to rise first is he speaking literally that they are now asleep, waiting in the grave or somewhere else for that voice of command? I don’t believe Paul is attempting to say that there is a state of non-being in between life and resurrection. The Lord is the lord of the living and that would indicate that we do not lie in a state of suspended animation. Remember in Matthew’s Gospel some of the dead were raised upon the crucifixion of Jesus and it seems that this is a place where we can learn something of the Church Triumphant, when we are finally all gathered together in worship. We see in the heavenly vision of John that there are those who have died already on the scene prior to the end of this creation, so we believe that more than physical sleep is in store for us after death.

Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.