90 - The Coming of the Lord

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

First Thessalonians is believed to be the earliest extant letter written by Paul, and indeed the first writing of the New Testament.  The letter shows the great affection Paul has for the people of Thessalonica, and his appreciation for their loyalty to the gospel in spite of persecution.  He encourages them to follow the precepts of holiness in behavior towards family and community.

In our reading today he reassures the church that believers who have died will also be taken up at the parousia - the return of the Lord.  The expectation is that the second coming will be within the lifetime of the readers 

¹⁷Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever.

Because of this, Christians should be watchful, and should be prepared.

Jesus' Second Coming

In the next letter, Second Thessalonians, Paul corrects the impression that the parousia is imminent, insisting instead that a series of historical events must take place first.

Two thousand years later and what are we to think?  We still have people proclaiming the end is near (anyone remember Harold Camping?).  Are we to live with our bags packed, thinking only of our own and our family's ride to heaven?  Is that what Christianity is about? Or are we to live out the gospel on earth, feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and visiting the prisoners, as Jesus commanded in his only teaching on the Judgment?