Paul has some teaching to do here. Perhaps one of the disadvantages of Paul having not been able to spend a great deal of time with the Thessalonians is that there are some gaps in their understanding. Specifically, in the first half of today’s reading, a view had developed that because Jesus had triumphed over death, no believer would die before he returned. But then, some believers died…and it’s left those who remain understandably perplexed.

In answering the question, Paul gives an outline of what we can expect, and a guarantee that those who’ve died in the faith will in no way be left out of proceedings! As we read Paul’s words, we are reminded of Jesus’ ascension, where the angel there promised he would come back in the same way (Acts 1:11). The language Paul uses is also similar to some we find in Revelation (8:7, for example and the sounding of a trumpet). This passage, in fact, is one of the most detailed we have in the New Testament regarding the second coming – but even so, there’s not masses of information! There’s as much information, if not more, about how to prepare (5:1-11). We cannot know the detail, certainly in terms of timing, but we can be those who look for Jesus’ coming and prepare ourselves for it (see Matthew 25:1-13, for example).

In the second part of today’s passage, Paul goes on to outline some practical advice which is not really all that disengaged from what he’s just been talking about. The relationship between those who oversee and those who are overseen is important (5:12-13, remembering that this in the first group are in the second, too – and vice versa!); work, patience, kindness, forgiveness and joyfulness are all important too (5:14-16). In what, I think, is a tie for the shortest verse in the Bible, we are exhorted to do perhaps one of the most important things – pray (5:17); we are to be thankful, respectful of prophecy and to avoid evil (5:18-22). All this is crucial as we prepare ourselves for Jesus coming again – regardless of whether it’s in our lifetime or not!

Overall, It’s good to think about, and look forward to, Jesus returning. But in the second part of the passage, Paul reminds us that how we are now is important: we are not to get carried away to the extent that we lose sight of why we’re here. Our future hope informs the hope we carry today.

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Father God, thank you for the promise of Jesus coming again. Please help us carry that hope to the world. Amen.