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"The Lord Himself will descend from heaven..."

Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:16

THE GLORIOUS RETURN OF CHRIST

The apostle Paul focused on the return of the Lord Jesus in this text. His return would be full of glory. Every believer ought to look forward to the Second Coming of Christ.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16

1. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven”

a) This is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ.

b) He is presently in heaven.

c) He will descend from heaven to the earth.

d) This is a dramatic description of the glorious return of Christ.

2. “With a shout”

a) This is a shout of victory.

b) He will return to earth victoriously.

c) There is a high difference between the first and second coming of Christ.

3. “With the voice of an archangel”

a) Displaying authority

b) Displaying might and strength

c) Displaying great majesty

4. “And with the trumpet of God”

a) To highlight joy

b) To highlight triumph

c) To emphasise victory over the enemies

5. “The dead in Christ will rise first”

a) In spirit the dead in Christ is in heaven with Christ.

b) They will symbolically arise first.

c) They will be given a new resurrection body like that of Christ Jesus.

d) The resurrection of Jesus prefigures this event.

e) Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection.