The Divine Lamp

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 is the second section of the final part (i.e., 4:1-5:28) of the letter.  It deals with the subjects of the resurrection and second coming. Because I’m pressed for time this morning I’ll comment on 4:13-18 and leave the remainder of the section (5:1-11) for another time.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  But we would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who fall asleep, that you not grieve like the others who have no hope.  Apparently Paul had given them instructions concerning the second coming and the resurrection of the dead but they were in confusion on a certain point: will the dead (Those who fell asleep) not see the glory of the coming of the Lord?  Paul will emphatically assert that they will (vs 15), and that it is a matter of faith (vs 14: Since we believe that Jesus died and rose…).  The living will not precede the dead in returning to the Lord, rather, the dead will precede the living in this matter; Paul is emphatic on  this point (vs. 15 shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.  The “shall not” is a double negative in Greek, giving emphasis).

The apocalyptic imagery of verses 16-17 is often interpreted quite literally, but it should be noted that what Paul is here describing is basically the visit of a king to a city.  Josephus give the following description of the Emperor Titus’s entry into Antioch (boldface type represents parallels with 1 Thess 4:16-17):

“When the people of Antioch learned that Titus was coming to the city, their joy was such that they could not rest within the city walls until he came.  Instead they went out to meet him, going a distance of more than thirty stadia.  Not only the men went, but a multitude of women also, with the children, and when they saw Titus coming ,they stood on either side of the road saluting him with their hands raised.  They brought him to the city with acclamations of all sorts, and while they applauded him, they did not cease to ask that the Jews be expelled from the city.”  (Quoted in SEVEN PAULINE LETTERS by Peter  F. Ellis).

For more on the over-literal interpretation of this passage see HERE.