Smoodock's Blog

In my previous study I began to look in earnest at chapter four in Paul’s ‘first’ letter to the Thessalonians. Up to that point, I had been considering Paul’s eschatology by reading what he had claimed both before 1Thessalonians 4 and afterward (including what we call his second letter). In those studies it became obvious that Paul wrote of one united eschaton, and he could only be speaking of events in the first century AD. In other words, Paul believed and taught Jesus would return during that generation in which Jesus was crucified, and all his disciples lived (cp. Matthew 23:36; 24:34).

Notice what Paul claimed:

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14)

In other words, by believing in the resurrection of Jesus, we have been enabled to understand and believe that we, too, will be resurrected. Not only so, but the Lord will bring the righteous dead with him when he comes, and this idea points to our gathering to him (verse-16, and 2Thessalonians 2:1). This gathering has to do with the establishment of the New Covenant, and ending the Old Covenant (Hebrews 4:9). Notice what Paul claimed in his letter to the Ephesians:

Therefore He says, “When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men.” (Ephesians 4:8).

This text is speaking of Jesus’ victory over the authorities of this world who slew him (cp. Psalm 2:1-3), but God changed their victory into defeat by raising Jesus from the dead (Psalm 2:7; cp. Romans 1:4), and put all things under Christ’s feet (Psalm 2:8-12; cp. 1Corinthians 15:25, 27; Revelation 11:15). This text is understood in the context of the first century AD, when conquering kings led the captive authorities (conquered kings and princes) in a parade in the victor’s honor in his home country and in the capital city. In the resurrection Christ gained victory over his enemies who crucified him—Jerusalem and Rome (Jerusalem’s high priest, Pilate and Herod). When he ascended on high (Acts 1:9). He led captivity (those he conquered) captive, and gave gifts (freedom) to men who trusted him (cp. Ephesians 4:8 above). The question is, who saw this parade? While Jesus’ disciples did see Jesus ascend into heaven, his home and ‘capital city,’ did they see him leading Caesar, Herod and the Jew’s high priest captive into heaven with him? Obviously, they did not, but does the “failed” literal meaning nullify the spiritual truth of Ephesians 4:8?

Notice that according to 1Corinthians 15:26 the last enemy to be destroyed was death. The question is, does the “failed” literal meaning, i.e. what we are able to see in this life, nullify the truth of the resurrection, or must that be literal also? If leading captivity captive wasn’t to be understood literally, why must the raising of the dead who come with Christ at his return (1Thessalonians 4:14) be a literal, physical resurrection that everyone **must** be able to see to believe?

If our gathering together with the dead and Jesus at his return (1Thessalonians 4:14, 16; 2Thessalonians 2:1) actually points to a covenantal gathering, i.e. the establishment of the New Covenant, because the Old Covenant was destroyed with the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, why must that be a physical event that the whole world should be able to see? Was Jesus speaking literally when he lamented over how often he would have gathered Israel together unto him, but they refused to be gathered (Matthew 23:37)? While the ancient Jews entered the Promised Land, they refused to enter the rest that was promised them (Hebrews 4:3-6). Therefore, there remained a rest for the people of God to enter, and it is for the rest that we labor (Hebrews 4:9-11). It is by faith that we enter in; we don’t enter by sight. Therefore, the gathering (2Thessalonians 2:1; cp. 1Thessalonians 4:14, 16) is by faith and not by sight!