The Unity of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 5:1-11

A technical term for the Parousia, the day of the Lord is used in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 to speak of the coming of the Lord. There are other events associated with this day. Some believe it follows what is commonly referred to as the rapture. In other words, it is a very common belief that the events of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, are separated in time by at least one thousand years from the events of 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3. Ironically, there is no mention of a period of a thousand years in either text.

Expositor, John MacArthur, reasons that peri de, the Greek for but found in chapter 5:1 is the basis for this alleged transition from one event to the next. MacArthur posits that each time peri de is found it represents a new subject. See his The Rapture and The Day of the Lord," study on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11.

General Time Versus Precise Time

The shift noted by peri de is much more subtle than the gap proposed above. Both texts mention events to occur in the time of the end. What is critical is that in chapter 4:15-17, the expectation of Christs return in the lifetime of the Thessalonians is quite apparent. Most expositors dismiss this expectation of nearness with a comment that it was Gods intent to have every generation live with an expectation of the nearness of Jesus return.

Such theories fail to honor the clear message of imminence in the passage. The Thessalonicans clearly expected Jesus return in their lifetime. They had begun to despair because it appeared that the event would not occur as their loved ones had begun to die. This made them question would the event truly happen before they all died.

Those Who Were Alive and Remained To See The Parousia

Paul assured them, saying we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord. (v. 15). He repeats the phrase in verse 17. By this he reminded the church that Christ would return in their lifetime. This statement is the equivalent to that found in Matthew 24:34, in which Jesus assures the disciples that this generation" (Christ's contemporaries) would not pass till all things were fulfilled.

There, as in the text before us, peri de is used in the verses following, i.e. Matthew 24:36, not to change the subject of the events under discussion, but to speak more precisely about the timing of the event. In fact, there is a direct parallel in the manner Jesus uses the term and in that of Paul. In Matthew 24, Jesus moves from a general time for the Parousia, this generation to the more specific time of that day and hour of which no man knew. That is not a change in the overall theme of the end time, but in the precise day and hour in which it occurs.

Likewise, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 speaks of the final coming of the Lord which occurred before those then living died. Chapter five continues the dialogue adding that the precise time was unknown, nevertheless the day of the Lord was the same event.