1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

In these words the apostle comforts the Thessalonians who mourned for the death of their relations and friends that died in the Lord. His design is to dissuade them from excessive grief, or inordinate sorrow, on that account. All grief for the death of friends is far from being unlawful; we may weep at least for ourselves if we do not weep for them, weep for own loss, though it may be their fain. Yet we must not be immoderate in our sorrows, because, I. This looks as if we had no hope, 1... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

4:13-18 We do not wish you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who are asleep, because we do not wish you to sorrow as the rest of people do because they have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we can be sure that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. For we tell you this, not by our own authority but by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who survive until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not take precedence over... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Then we which are alive and remain ,.... See Gill on 1 Thessalonians 4:15 . shall be caught up ; suddenly, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and with force and power; by the power of Christ, and by the ministry and means of the holy angels; and to which rapture will contribute, the agility which the bodies both of the raised and changed saints will have: and this rapture of the living saints will be together with them ; with the dead in Christ, that will then be raised; so... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Verse 17 17And so we shall be ever. To those who have been once gathered to Christ he promises eternal life with him, by which statements the reveries of Origen and of the Chiliasts (588) are abundantly refuted. For the life of believers, when they have once been gathered into one kingdom, will have no end any more than Christ’s. Now, to assign to Christ a thousand years, so that he would afterwards cease to reign, were too horrible to be made mention of. Those, however, fall into this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Then we which are alive and remain ; or, are left ; that is, the saints who shall then be found alive on the earth. The apostle classes himself among the living, because he was then alive. Shall be caught up. The expression describes the irresistible power with which the saints shall be caught up, perhaps by the ministry of angels. Together with them ; with the dead in Christ who are raised. In the clouds . Our Lord is described as coming to judgment in the clouds of heaven ( ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Then we which are alive - Those who shall then be alive; see 1 Thessalonians 4:15. The word here rendered “then” (ἔπειτα epeita), does not necessarily mean that this would occur immediately. It properly marks succession in time, and means “afterward, next, next in the order of events;” Luke 16:7; Galatians 1:21; James 4:14. There may be a considerable interval between the resurrection of the pious and the time when the living shall be caught up to meet the Lord, for the change is to take... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. The Lord himself The Lord Christ, arrayed in all his own glory, and in that of his Father; shall descend from heaven “This expression does not imply that the Lord Jesus will fix his tribunal on the earth; but that he will descend so as to fix his seat in the air, at such distance from the earth that every eye shall see him, and every ear shall hear his voice, when he passes the awful sentence by which their state shall be unchangeably fixed. This conjecture is... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

4:13-5:11 CONCERNING CHRIST’S RETURNThose who have died (4:13-18)Among the Thessalonians, some were worried that those in their church who had died would not share in the return of Christ and the final triumph of his kingdom. Paul assures them that they will share in his return just as they share in his death and resurrection. (13-14). Believers who have died, far from being at a disadvantage, will be raised to life first. Believers still alive will join them, and together they will meet Christ... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Then . Greek. epeita, thereupon, thereafter. caught up . Greek. harpazo. See Acts 8:39 . 2 Corinthians 12:2 , 2 Corinthians 12:4 .Revelation 12:5 . together . Greek. hama. the . Omit. meet . Greek. See Matthew 25:1 . in . App-104 . so . i.e. by resurrection, or translation. ever . App-151 . read more