1Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, 4that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor, 5not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God, 6that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified. 7For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. 8Therefore he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.
9But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, 10for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more; 11and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you, 12that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.
13But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, 17then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Comparative Chart Summarizing the Similarities and Differences
Between1 Thessalonians 4 and Matthew 24
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 | Matthew 24:3-31 | Comparison | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic Addressed | Paul's response to the Thessalonians' concern over believers who have died and the coming of Christ | Jesus' response to the disciples' questions about His coming and the end of the age | 1 Thessalonians focuses on comfort for believers regarding the resurrection, while Matthew 24 centers on judgment. |
| Sense of Urgency | Urgent explanation regarding the coming of Christ for His church | Watchfulness and endurance until the end | 1 Thessalonians urges hope; Matthew emphasizes preparedness for future tribulation. |
| Christ’s Coming | Christ’s coming described as imminent to gather believers | Christ’s coming in power and glory, associated with judgment | Both involve a “coming” of Christ, though with different focal points: rescue in Thessalonians, judgment in Matthew. |
| Use of Clouds | Believers will meet Christ in the clouds | Christ coming on the clouds with power and glory | Both passages mention clouds, but 1 Thessalonians includes meeting Christ, while Matthew focuses on His arrival. |
| Involvement of Angels | The voice of the archangel | Angels gathering the elect from the four winds | Angels are present in both, but their roles differ: in Matthew, they gather; in Thessalonians, they accompany. |
| Gathering of God’s People | Believers gathered to Christ in the air | The elect gathered from the ends of heaven | Both mention gathering, but Thessalonians implies rapture; Matthew implies regathering of the Jewish elect. |
| Death and Resurrection Emphasis | Strong emphasis on Christ’s death and resurrection as foundational | Minimal emphasis: focus is on Christ’s return in judgment | Thessalonians emphasizes resurrection hope; Matthew emphasizes judgment and the completion of prophecy. 1 Thessalonians highlights salvation from wrath; Matthew describes Christ’s role in executing judgment. |
| Judgment vs. Salvation | Focus on deliverance of believers from wrath | Focus on judgment and end-time events leading to Christ’s reign | |
| Son of Man Title | Not mentioned | Repeatedly |
“Son of Man” in Matthew reinforces messianic judgment; absent in Thessalonians where focus is on Lord and Savior. |
| Shout and Trumpet | A shout from Christ, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet call of God | Angels gather the elect with a great trumpet sound | Thessalonians includes a unique shout and trumpet, Matthew’s trumpet emphasizes gathering at the end times. |
| Taken Up vs. Left Behind | Believers “caught up” with Christ, the idea of a rescue | Some taken away in judgment, others left behind | Thessalonians emphasizes rapture for believers, Matthew emphasizes separation and judgment. |