1 Thessalonians 4:16

King James Version (KJV)

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

The Lord himself - That is: Jesus Christ shall descend from heaven; shall descend in like manner as he was seen by his disciples to ascend, i.e. in his human form, but now infinitely more glorious; for thousands of thousands shall minister unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand shall stand before him; for the Son of man shall come on the throne of his glory: but who may abide the day of his coming, or stand when he appeareth?

With a shout - Or order, εν κελευσματι· and probably in these words: Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment; which order shall be repeated by the archangel, who shall accompany it with the sound of the trump of God, whose great and terrible blasts, like those on mount Sinai, sounding louder and louder, shall shake both the heavens and the earth!

Observe the order of this terribly glorious day:

Jesus, in all the dignity and splendor of his eternal majesty, shall descend from heaven to the mid region, what the apostle calls the air, somewhere within the earth's atmosphere.

Then the κελευσμα, shout or order, shall be given for the dead to arise.

Next the archangel, as the herald of Christ, shall repeat the order, Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment!

When all the dead in Christ are raised, then the trumpet shall sound, as the signal for them all to flock together to the throne of Christ. It was by the sound of the trumpet that the solemn assemblies, under the law, were convoked; and to such convocations there appears to be here an allusion.

When the dead in Christ are raised, their vile bodies being made like unto his glorious body, then,

Those who are alive shall be changed, and made immortal.

These shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.

We may suppose that the judgment will now be set, and the books opened, and the dead judged out of the things written in those books.

9. The eternal states of quick and dead being thus determined, then all who shall be found to have made a covenant with him by sacrifice, and to have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, shall be taken to his eternal glory, and be for ever with the Lord. What an inexpressibly terrific glory will then be exhibited! I forbear to call in here the descriptions which men of a poetic turn have made of this terrible scene, because I cannot trust to their correctness; and it is a subject which we should speak of and contemplate as nearly as possible in the words of Scripture.

Was this helpful?

Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven - notes, Acts 1:11.

With a shout - The word here used ( κέλευσμα keleusma), does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It properly means a “cry‘ of excitement, or of arging on; an outcry, clamor, or shout, as of sailors at the oar, Luc. Catapl. 19; of soldiers rushing to battle, Thuc. 3:14; of a multitude of people, Diod. Sic. 3:15; of a huntsman to his dogs, Xen. Ven. 6:20. It does not mean here, that the Lord would himself make such a shout, but that he would be attended with it; that is, with a multitude who would lift up the voice like that of an army rushing to the conflict.

With the voice of the archangel - The word archangel occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, except in Jude 1:9, where it is applied to Michael. It properly means a chief angel; one who is first, or who is over others - ἄρχων archōnThe word is not found in the Septuagint, and the only archangel, therefore, which is named in the Scriptures, is Michael; Jude 1:9; compare Revelation 12:7. Seven angels, however, are referred to in the Scriptures as having an eminence above others, and these are commonly regarded as archangels. Revelation 8:2, “and I saw the seven angels which stood before God.” One of these is supposed to be referred to in the Book of Tobit, 12:15, “I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.” The names of three only of the seven are mentioned in the Jewish writings: Michael, the patron of the Jewish nation, Daniel 10:13, Daniel 10:21; Daniel 12:1.

Gabriel, Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:21; compare Luke 1:19, Luke 1:26. Raphael, Daniel 10:13; and as “the great prince,” Daniel 12:1; compare notes on Ephesians 1:21, and see an article by Prof. Stuart in the Bibliotheca Sacra. No. 1, on Angelology. It seems evident from the Scriptures, that there is one or more among the angels to whom the name archangel properly belongs. This view is in accordance with the doctrine in the Scriptures that the heavenly beings are divided into ranks and orders, for if so, it is not unreasonable to suppose that there should be one or more to whom the most exalted rank pertains; compare Revelation 12:7. Whether there is more than one to whom this name appropriately belongs, it is impossible now to determine, and is not material. The word here (in Greek) is without the article, and the phrase might be rendered, “with the voice of an archangel.”

The Syriac renders it, “with the voice of the prince of the angels.” On an occasion so august and momentous as that of the coming of the final Judge of all mankind; the resurrection of the dead, and the solemn transactions before the tribunal of the Son of God deciding the destiny of countless million for ever, it will not be inappropriate that the highest among the heavenly hosts should be present and take an important part in the solemnities of the day. It is not quite certain what is meant here by “the voice of the archangel,” or for what purpose that voice will be heard. It cannot be that it will be to raise the dead - for that will be by the “voice of the Son of God” John 5:28-29, and it seems most probable that the meaning is, that this will be a part of the loud shout or cry which will be made by the descending hosts of heaven; or perhaps it may be for the purpose of summoning the world to the bar of judgment; compare Matthew 24:31.

And with the trump of God - The trump which God appoints to be sounded on that solemn occasion. It does not mean that it will be sounded by God himself; see the notes on Matthew 24:31.

And the dead in Christ - Christians.

Shall rise first - That is, before the living shall be changed. A doctrine similar to this was held by the Jews. “Resch Lachisch said, Those who die in the land of Israel shall rise first in the days of the Messiah.” See Wetstein, in loc. It is implied in all this description, that the interval between their resurrection and the change which will occur to the living, will be brief, or that the one will rapidly succeed the other compare notes, 1 Corinthians 15:23, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.

Was this helpful?

Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Here is comfort for the relations and friends of those who die in the Lord. Grief for the death of friends is lawful; we may weep for our own loss, though it may be their gain. Christianity does not forbid, and grace does not do away, our natural affections. Yet we must not be excessive in our sorrows; this is too much like those who have no hope of a better life. Death is an unknown thing, and we know little about the state after death; yet the doctrines of the resurrection and the second coming of Christ, are a remedy against the fear of death, and undue sorrow for the death of our Christian friends; and of these doctrines we have full assurance. It will be some happiness that all the saints shall meet, and remain together for ever; but the principal happiness of heaven is to be with the Lord, to see him, live with him, and enjoy him for ever. We should support one another in times sorrow; not deaden one another's spirits, or weaken one another's hands. And this may be done by the many lessons to be learned from the resurrection of the dead, and the second coming of Christ. What! comfort a man by telling him he is going to appear before the judgment-seat of God! Who can feel comfort from those words? That man alone with whose spirit the Spirit of God bears witness that his sins are blotted out, and the thoughts of whose heart are purified by the Holy Spirit, so that he can love God, and worthily magnify his name. We are not in a safe state unless it is thus with us, or we are desiring to be so.

Was this helpful?

SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

16. For. Rather, “because.” Paul is stating the factual basis for his teaching in v. 15.

The Lord himself. The personal, visible, bodily appearing of the Lord in great majesty is here clearly described. Christ does not send a deputy, nor does He come spiritually. He Himself comes in person. The same Jesus who ascended to heaven now descends from heaven. Just before He went to heaven He promised to return (John 14:3). The church was assured when He ascended in a cloud that “this same Jesus” would “come in like manner” (Acts 1:9-11). Paul reiterates these promises and records additional details concerning the manner of their fulfillment.

Shall descend. Gr. katabainÅÂ, “to go down,” “to come down,” “to descend,” used nowhere else in the NT for Christ’s second advent, but used of the Son of man’s coming down from heaven for the first advent (John 3:13; 6:33, 38; etc.). Christ’s descent at His second coming is implied in other scriptural accounts of His return (Matt. 16:27; 24:30; etc.).

A shout. Gr. keleusma, “a command,” “a shout of command.” The word occurs only here in the NT. In non-Biblical writings keleusma is used of an officer issuing orders to his troops or of a charioteer urging his horses. It is not clear from the Greek construction whether Christ utters the command or whether another being cries aloud as the Lord descends, but contextual evidence favors Christ as the speaker (see below on “archangel,” and “the trump of God”). No specific reason is here given for the “shout,” but the “shout,” “the voice of the archangel,” and “the trump of God” are immediately followed by the rising of the “dead in Christ”; hence the arousing sounds may be taken as preliminaries to the resurrection of the just (cf. John 5:25, 28, 29; 11:43). Christ comes from heaven proclaiming His victory. He has conquered death and the grave (Rev. 1:18). No longer can the enemy, death, hold any of the redeemed in his cold grasp. The righteous dead respond to their Lord’s command and rise from their graves.

Archangel. Gr. archaggelos, “chief angel,” “first angel,” compounded from archi, a prefix denoting “chief,” or “high,” and aggelos, “angel,” hence, “chief of the angels.” The word archaggelos appears in the NT only here and in Jude 9, where Michael is said to be the archangel. This commentary holds the view that Michael is none other than our Lord, Jesus Christ (see on Dan. 10:13; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7). This interpretation makes it possible to conceive of Christ’s own voice, as the voice of the archangel, being heard as He descends (see on Jude 9).

The trump of God. Or, “a trump of God.” This does not necessarily refer to any particular trumpet as belonging exclusively to God, but rather to an instrument that is used in God’s service. The OT frequently refers to trumpets in connection with notable interventions by God, either actual or predicted (Ex. 19:13, 16, 19; Ps. 47:5; Isa. 27:13; Joel 2:1; Zeph. 1:16; Zech. 9:14). Trumpets were also used for assembling God’s people (Num. 10:2-4), for the sounding of war alarms (vs. 5-9), and for national occasions (v. 10). In the NT the sounding of a trumpet is associated with the gathering of the elect and the raising of the dead (Matt. 24:31; 1 Cor. 15:52).

And the dead in Christ. The conjunction “and” is used to indicate the result accompanying the heaven-reverberating sounds, namely, the raising of the righteous dead. The “dead in Christ” are those who fell asleep in faith, including OT saints (see on Rom. 4:3; 1 Cor. 15:18; cf. Rev. 14:13). They are included among those whom Jesus described as “the children of the resurrection” (Luke 20:36). Paul elsewhere calls them “they that are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Cor. 15:23). Their being raised corresponds to the “first resurrection” (see on Rev. 20:5, 6). The phrase “the dead in Christ” is here used to distinguish the sleeping saints from two other classes of people: (1) the unrighteous dead, who, as a body, are not raised at Christ’s second coming; (2) the living Christians, who are being assured that their beloved dead will be at no disadvantage when Jesus returns, but will rather receive prior attention by being first raised and thus being placed on an equal footing with the living saints.

Shall rise first. That is, shall rise before the living are caught up to meet the Lord in the air (v. 17).

Was this helpful?

Ellen G. White
The Acts of the Apostles, 257-9

“Ye are witnesses, and God also,” the apostle continued, “how holily and justly and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory. AA 257.1

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” “What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy.” AA 257.2

In his first epistle to the Thessalonian believers, Paul endeavored to instruct them regarding the true state of the dead. He spoke of those who die as being asleep—in a state of unconsciousness: “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.... For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” AA 257.3

Read in context »

Was this helpful?

Ellen G. White
The Desire of Ages, 527

“If any man walk in the day,” He continued, “he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.” He who does the will of God, who walks in the path that God has marked out, cannot stumble and fall. The light of God's guiding Spirit gives him a clear perception of his duty, and leads him aright till the close of his work. “But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.” He who walks in a path of his own choosing, where God has not called him, will stumble. For him day is turned into night, and wherever he may be, he is not secure. DA 527.1

“These things said He: and after that He saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go that I may awake him out of sleep.” “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth.” How touching the words! how full of sympathy! In the thought of the peril their Master was about to incur by going to Jerusalem, the disciples had almost forgotten the bereaved family at Bethany. But not so Christ. The disciples felt rebuked. They had been disappointed because Christ did not respond more promptly to the message. They had been tempted to think that He had not the tender love for Lazarus and his sisters that they had thought He had, or He would have hastened back with the messenger. But the words, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth,” awakened right feelings in their minds. They were convinced that Christ had not forgotten His suffering friends. DA 527.2

“Then said His disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that He had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.” Christ represents death as a sleep to His believing children. Their life is hid with Christ in God, and until the last trump shall sound those who die will sleep in Him. DA 527.3

Read in context »

Was this helpful?

Ellen G. White
The Great Controversy, 547-8

The martyr Tyndale, referring to the state of the dead, declared: “I confess openly, that I am not persuaded that they be already in the full glory that Christ is in, or the elect angels of God are in. Neither is it any article of my faith; for if it were so, I see not but then the preaching of the resurrection of the flesh were a thing in vain.”—William Tyndale, Preface to New Testament (ed. 1534). Reprinted in British Reformers—Tindal, Frith, Barnes, page 349. GC 547.1

It is an undeniable fact that the hope of immortal blessedness at death has led to a widespread neglect of the Bible doctrine of the resurrection. This tendency was remarked by Dr. Adam Clarke, who said: “The doctrine of the resurrection appears to have been thought of much more consequence among the primitive Christians than it is now! How is this? The apostles were continually insisting on it, and exciting the followers of God to diligence, obedience, and cheerfulness through it. And their successors in the present day seldom mention it! So apostles preached, and so primitive Christians believed; so we preach, and so our hearers believe. There is not a doctrine in the gospel on which more stress is laid; and there is not a doctrine in the present system of preaching which is treated with more neglect!”—Commentary, remarks on 1 Corinthians 15, paragraph 3. GC 547.2

This has continued until the glorious truth of the resurrection has been almost wholly obscured and lost sight of by the Christian world. Thus a leading religious writer, commenting on the words of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, says: “For all practical purposes of comfort the doctrine of the blessed immortality of the righteous takes the place for us of any doubtful doctrine of the Lord's second coming. At our death the Lord comes for us. That is what we are to wait and watch for. The dead are already passed into glory. They do not wait for the trump for their judgment and blessedness.” GC 547.3

Read in context »

Was this helpful?

Ellen G. White
Selected Messages Book 2, 263

In much love and sympathy.—Letter 143, 1903. 2SM 263.1

Read in context »

Was this helpful?

More Comments

Cross References

the Lord

Isaiah 25:8

Isaiah 25:9

Matthew 16:27