1 Thessalonians background

1 Thessalonians

Author: Paul
[See Ecclesiastical History by Eusebius; Book 3, Chapter 25, Verse 2.]

Date: About 50 A.D. (1)

Language: Greek

Place: Writing from Corinth

Purpose: To encourage and instruct Christians in the midst of persecution.

What kind of book?: Letter re: a specific occasion

Reflection: I Thessalonians 4:16-17 is a verse with varied interpretations.  I personally interpret this passage to teach a "rapture," because Paul leads into the statement by talking about the resurrection of Christ.  Jesus, who was resurrected, later ascended into heaven, as is clearly shown in Acts.  Thus taking verse 17 literally is fitting to the context, rather than this being a metaphor for Christians meeting Jesus somewhere else.
  Three key points need to be made.  First, when Jesus returns, which in a sense is in two stages, it will not be unnoticed to anyone.  Verse 16 reveals there will be "the trumpet call of God."  Professor Tafoya explained his conviction regarding this in (my New Testament) class, and I really agree with what he said.
   Second, the first stage of the Second coming will be a surprise to those who are not waiting for it.  I Thessalonians 5:1 teaches that the return of Jesus will be a surprise, and obviously the surprise element is for the first stage.  Anyone who turns to Christ during the tribulation, which I think is meant to be a part of the last call by our loving God, will recognize that the second stage of Christ's return is going to follow the tribulation, as Christ enters the world in His glory.
  So third, it only makes sense for the rapture to take place before the tribulation, otherwise, during the tribulation, Christians would come to realize they were in the tribulation period, and they would be expecting Jesus at the conclusion of it.
Hunter Irvine
(1) J.B. Phillips, Letters To Young Churches (New York: The Macmillian Company, 1947).