Answers | To Your Questions About the Bible, Theology and Christian Living

I am confused about the meaning of “dead in Christ” in 1 Thessalonians 4:16: “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.” I have always been taught that when we die, we instantly go to heaven. If we are already in heaven and alive with Christ, how are we dead in Christ and caught up at His reappearance?

The apostle Paul makes it clear that believers go immediately into the Lord’s presence when they die. He calls this being “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8, NIV). Those who are “dead in Christ” are called “those who have fallen asleep in him [Jesus]” (v. 14), “those who have fallen asleep” (v. 15), and “those who fall asleep” (v. 13). Sleep is stressed, not to indicate lack of consciousness but because, for believers, death is simply the appearance of sleep.

The body is dead and the spirit is with Christ. When Jesus returns he brings these believers with him (1 Thessalonians 4:13), their bodies will be glorified (made incorruptible) and reunited with their spirits “in the air” (v. 17).

“For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:52-53; read the whole chapter).

Ken Horn

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I have learned not to put too much emphasis on current news. The day after Mussolini died I went into the Bible college bookstore and saw a big stack of books entitled Is Mussolini the Antichrist? They were marked “Five cents each.” In Israel in 1962 a converted Jew tried to persuade me that President Nixon was the antichrist because his name in Hebrew letters as Nigson added up to 666.

Jesus did not ask us to focus on current news. He said not to be alarmed by wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6). Most important is to live ready Jesus’ return (24:44). Jesus emphasized that the gospel of the Kingdom (the same gospel He and the apostles preached) must be proclaimed “in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (24:14, NIV). The question we should be asking is: “How much more can we do to get the gospel out to the many who still have never heard?”

Stanley M. Horton

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I have heard that the Second Coming of Christ is divided into two stages. Is this true and, if so, what are they?

The Second Coming of Christ in evangelical theology is often divided into 2 phases: (1) the Second Coming for the Church (the Rapture); (2) the Second Coming to reign.

The Blessed Hope of the Church is clearly the Rapture (see Titus 2:13). Assemblies of God theologians see this as the first phase of the Second Coming. The Assemblies of God perspective is presented in this excerpt from Bible Doctrines by William W. Menzies and Stanley M. Horton:

The definition of the term “Second Coming” is broad, used in at least two different ways. Sometimes this term is used of the total end-time drama, encompassing both the rapture of the Church and the revelation of Christ in triumphant glory (2 Thessalonians 1:7), when He will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4). Sometimes the term is used specifically of the revelation of Christ, in distinction to the Rapture, which precedes it. The first phase of the Second Coming, then, used in this broader sense, refers to the rapture of the Church.

William W. Menzies and Stanley M. Horton, Bible Doctrines (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1993), p. 216.

Ken Horn

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Both the dead and living believers will be caught up together to meet Jesus in the air at His appearing (1 Thessalonians 4:17). All without exception will then be brought before the judgment seat of Christ where each will receive “what is due him [or her] for the things done while in the body” (2 Corinthians 5:10, NIV; see also Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

At the end of the Tribulation the Bible shows the believers following Jesus, coming from heaven, riding triumphantly on white horses, “and dressed in fine linen, white and clean” (Revelation 19:14). The fine linen identifies them as the Lamb’s bride (the Church) who are fully clothed with “the righteous acts of the saints” and have already taken part in the wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). Thus, they are ready to reign with Jesus during the Millennium.

Stanley M. Horton

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Will the Holy Spirit be here on the earth after Jesus raptures His church? Will the Holy Spirit be left on the earth during the Tribulation?

It is commonly held evangelical belief that the Holy Spirit will not remain on earth after the Rapture in the same sense that He is here now during the Church Age. This is based upon 2 Thessalonians 2:7: “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way” (NIV). The Holy Spirit, as the one who restrains evil on the earth (a concept known as common grace), seems to be the one referred to in this verse. (There are varying interpretations.)

The first response to this answer makes a good point. The Rapture de facto removes the true Church and it is in the sense of the Holy Spirit indwelling the Church that He will not be present. Of course, as God He continues to be omnipresent.

Ken Horn

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The second coming of Jesus Christ has been preached as imminent for a long time. Why is it taking so long?

Where is this coming He promised? Everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. If that is what you think when you hear mention of Christ’s return to snatch away His people, be careful. Peter predicted last-day scoffers, following their own evil desires, would be saying just that (2 Peter 3:3-4).

Yet, with the many centuries since the promise was given (Acts 1:11), it is natural to wonder if such a supernatural intervention will actually take place.

Count on it. It is going to happen. The Bible is full of references to this glorious event, the blessed hope of every believer (Titus 2:13). However, don’t be misled by our human way of counting time. The average human lifetime is 70-80 years. But some life forms live fewer years than humans and some much longer. God’s lifetime is forever, without beginning or end. As Psalm 90:4 says, “A thousand years in [God’s] sight are like a day that has just gone by” (NIV). So it has been just “a couple of days” since the promise was given to first-century Christians.

But why might Christ delay His return even for another instant? Several reasons come to mind:

1. He is giving our generation a chance to repent and receive His salvation.

2. He is testing the strength of our faith and commitment.

3. He is giving the church opportunity to evangelize the lost.

4. His delay encourages us to work faithfully, as though death is yet in the future, but to be ready for His coming at any time.

God is not willing that any should perish or experience spiritual death. His delay is not slowness in fulfilling His promise (2 Peter 3:9). He is preparing His bride “to present her … as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:27).

Our natural minds tend to be concerned about the millions since the first century who have lived on earth without accepting Christ as their Savior. And we should have a burden for the lost of our day. But we should be even more concerned about becoming the holy and blameless bride of Christ without wrinkle or blemish. Christ tarries now so we may have opportunity to become that prepared and perfect bride.

As God’s children, our earthly lives will end in one of two ways: by death or via the Rapture. A faithful elderly Christian woman left detailed instructions for her funeral. But at the end of the note she wrote, “Prefer to go in the Rapture.”

Are you ready for either departure route?

Zenas J. Bicket

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