Introduction
“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living.” 1 Thessalonians 4:1
Living to Please God
After concluding their prayers for the Thessalonians which included Paul’s desire to see them again and that they are established blameless in their living, he now goes ahead to instruct them on how to live a life that pleases God.
Notice that they are already doing this ‘as in fact you are’. What a compliment this is to this congregation who are already walking the talk, practising what the apostles are preaching and being such a great example to many other churches even beyond the borders of Thessalonica, 1 Thessalonians 1:8.
As we go through the second part of this letter, we will see that they are going to be encouraged to increase and abound in love, so that they may be found blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus.
“Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 4:2
Paul doesn’t just suggest but urges them how they should live a life that pleases God and twice he appeals to the Name of Jesus for his authority in doing so.
Hubbard, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Paul’s commandments were stamped with the authority of Jesus, who is Lord, the exalted Ruler of Life.’
He wants their service to God to be evermore increasing as he mentioned earlier in 1 Thessalonians 3:12, and he will urge them again later in 1 Thessalonians 4:10.
We always need to remember that the Christian walk never stands still, walking involves moving, hence, why we are to abound more and more and increase our levels of service to God, especially in terms of living morally pure lives for God.
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6
There is absolutely no misunderstanding of what God’s will is in this text. He wants all Christians to be sanctified which means simply put means to be set apart for God’s purpose, 1 Thessalonians 4:3. It’s important to understand that this is a process that doesn’t suddenly happen after we’ve been Christians for a while.
The sanctification process starts with God’s Word, John 17:17. And so it’s the very Word of God, the Truth, that begins the setting apart process when we allow His Word to change us. We’re also later going to be reminded that it is God who sanctifies our whole being, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 / 1 Peter 1:2.
But when we obey the Truth we see the real start of the sanctification process beginning at our baptism, 1 Corinthians 6:11 / Ephesians 5:26. But it’s important to understand that it doesn’t end there. This setting apart process continues throughout our Christian lives as Hebrews 2:11, and Hebrews 10:14, remind us.
But when will our sanctification end? Well, as we will see later in this letter, it will be completed when Christ returns, 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
From the text, we can see that part of our sanctification involves some self-denial, in this case, it’s sexual immorality, 1 Thessalonians 4:3.
The Greek word used here for sexual immorality is the word porneia which is a general word used to describe anything which is unlawful and immoral such as sexual intercourse and immoral relationships.
This would include pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, adultery, and homosexuality, in other words, any sexual activity outside a lawful, marital relationship between husband and wife.
As Christians, we are commanded to control our bodies in a completely different way from the world, 1 Thessalonians 4:4 / Ephesians 4:17-19.
The world loves pornography and the abusing of their own bodies and the bodies of others for sexual gratification but as Christians, we are to be different.
But how do we go about doing that? We remind ourselves we are not pagans, we do know God, 1 Thessalonians 4:5. We remind ourselves by the renewing of our minds, Romans 12:1-2, and being on our guard against the lust of the flesh as Romans 13:13-14, tells us.
It is sad that even in the religious world today, there are those who will take advantage of their own spiritual family members, even for sexual purposes, 1 Thessalonians 4:6, and so we can understand why we need to practice self-denial and allow God’s Word to sanctify us every day of our lives.
After all, if we have our mindset on heavenly things, Colossians 3:1-2, the less chance there will be of allowing the fleshly, earthly things to actually happen.
Remember we need to live godly lives and stay clear of these things because it’s God’s will and if that isn’t enough motivation to stay clear of sexual immorality then we need to read on.
God will punish those who commit such sins, 1 Thessalonians 4:6 / Hebrews 13:4.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The Lord is an avenger in all wickedness; but here it is especially declared that the Lord will judge and avenge against the sexual vices under consideration. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for gross wickedness, but it was their sexual impurity which precipitated their destruction.’
And so the Christian should stay clear of sexual immorality because it’s God’s will and the Christian knows that God will punish anyone who gets involved in such sin. We must listen to the warning, 1 Thessalonians 4:6, we must live a life that pleases God is to remember our calling.
“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The new morality is only the old morality brought up to date. There is a claimant necessity in Britain, as there was in Thessalonica, to place before men and women the uncompromising demands of Christian morality, ‘for God did not call us to impurity, but to consecration.’
It’s worth noting at this point that sexual immorality is sinful in at least four ways.
1. 1 Corinthians 6:18, tells us that it is a sin against our own bodies.
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:6, tells us that it’s a sin against our fellow brothers or sisters in Christ.
3. 1 Thessalonians 4:8, tells us that it is a sin against God.
4. 1 Thessalonians 4:8, tells us that it is a sin against the Holy Spirit.
And so, God has called us to holiness, 1 Thessalonians 4:7 / Jeremiah 7:8-18. He hasn’t called us to live our lives trying to please our own fleshly desires, remember our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit according to 1 Corinthians 6:18-20.
We need to live up to that calling otherwise through our actions we can actually reject God and His calling for us as 1 Thessalonians 4:8, implies. Take a moment to read Isaiah 59:1-2, to remind yourself that we cannot preach one way and walk in another way.
“Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10
It seems pretty obvious to me that two of the most obvious characteristics of the early church were the way they strived to live in purity and holiness and also the way they loved one another. Can you imagine how the church would flourish today if all Christians strived to do the same?
Remember Paul has just finished praying to the Lord that the Lord will increase their love for one another and for everyone, 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13.
But here in chapter four we have seen that not only are the Christians in Thessalonica already living a life which pleases God, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, but here in 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, the writer also tells us that they are practising love for one another and love for all of God’s family throughout Macedonia.
But notice that Paul once again urges them to love more and more, 1 Thessalonians 4:10 / 1 Thessalonians 4:1. Did they take Paul’s words and put them into practice? They certainly did, 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4.
“And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
Already here in chapter four Paul has urged and encouraged them to continue to live a life that pleases God. He’s urged them to continue to love everyone as they have been doing so and now here in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, he is going to encourage them to be diligent with those ‘outsiders’.
It should be the ambition, which is the Greek word ‘philotimeomai’, meaning to be found in honour, of all Christians to lead a quiet life. Romans 12:18 / Romans 14:19 / Hebrews 12:14.
But as we know this is not always the case, I personally find that as a Christian, my life is usually very peaceful but it is others who come along and bring trouble into it, but nonetheless, we strive to live a peaceful life.
There was a woman who used to live in our street who knew everyone and everyone’s business. I guess she would be classed as a gossip and a ‘nosey-parker’, that is someone who wants to know what everyone else is up to.
Now there is a big difference between wanting to know what’s going on in someone’s life just for the sake of knowing and wanting to know what’s going on in someone’s life because you genuinely care and want to help.
Here in our text, the Thessalonian church are being told to mind their own business, the KJV says, ‘and to do your own business’ but what the writer is telling them is simply not to become busybodies, don’t interfere in the affairs of others.
Now as great as this church was, this is one area where they did have problems as we will see when we get to 2 Thessalonians 3:10-14.
This is a real problem that can have serious consequences, Peter in his first letter puts ‘busybodies’ or ‘meddlers’ in the same category as murderers and thieves, 1 Peter 4:15.
And so, we shouldn’t be interfering in people’s lives for all the wrong reasons but we should be working with our own hands, 1 Thessalonians 4:11. What does the writer mean?
Simply put, he means that we should be working to provide for our own families as 1 Timothy 5:8, reminds us. It also means we should be working to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves, Ephesians 4:28 / Acts 20:34-35.
So why is it so important to lead a quiet life and not to become busybodies but work with our own hands? The answer as always is in the text, in order for us to win the respect of those who aren’t Christians and so we can become independent, 1 Thessalonians 4:12.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The effect of the conduct of some of the Thessalonians was that others had to support them. Paul told them that they must aim at independence and never become spongers on charity. It is the Christian’s duty to help others; for many, through no fault of their own, cannot attain independence; but it is also the Christian’s duty to help himself.’
Believers Who Have Died
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15
As we noted at the beginning of our studies of the Thessalonian letters, we see that Paul concludes every chapter with thoughts concerning the Lord’s return, and this chapter is no exception.
In 1 Thessalonians 1, we saw that the Thessalonian church had turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and were waiting for His Son from Heaven, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10.
We saw in 1 Thessalonians 2, that the apostle’s hope, joy or crown was that the Thessalonians would be found in the presence of Jesus at His coming, 2 Thessalonians 2:19.
We also saw in 1 Thessalonians 3, that Paul’s desire for the Christians in Thessalonica was that they would abound in love one toward another and that they would be found blameless in holiness before God at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints, 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13.
It seems that Paul had taught them about Jesus’ return while he was in Thessalonica but it also seems that there was some misunderstanding on the part of these Christians. So, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul will deal with the topic of the dead in Christ and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If you’re older physically, the chances are you’ve probably heard this text readout on several occasions, especially during funeral services. And you will know that there is no escaping the fact that losing someone you know and love is a very real and often traumatic time for those who are left behind.
The sorrow is often overwhelming and the grief which follows is often hard to deal with and as someone once said, ‘it is probably one of the most stressful times, we humans have to go through.’
Yes, as Christians we need to go through these times too, but at the same time for Christians, there is hope, hope in knowing where our loved ones have gone and that we will see them again and this, in turn, brings up great comfort.
And this is what Paul is going to try to explain to the saints in Thessalonica. He’s trying to explain that they can find comfort in knowing that Jesus will return one day and they will find comfort in the events which will surround His coming.
The Bible often talks about sleep which in Greek is the word koimao. This word is found eighteen times within the New Testament, 4 of those times refer to literal sleep, Matthew 28:13 / Luke 22:45 / John 11:12 / Acts 12:16.
The other fourteen times including the passage above refer to those who are literally dead. The Bible nowhere speaks about ‘soul sleep’. In fact, nowhere do the Scriptures ever suggest that the soul ‘sleeps’. The word is only ever used with reference to the body, the ‘tent’, or ‘tabernacle’, as Peter calls it in 2 Peter 1:13. You will see, in 2 Corinthians 5:1, Paul uses the same expression, when he refers to the death of the body.
And so here the apostle Paul is referring to those who have literally died in Christ, in other words, faithful Christians, 1 Thessalonians 4:13 / 1 Thessalonians 3:13.
The text tells us that God Himself will bring those who have died in Christ back when Jesus returns, 1 Thessalonians 4:14. And so we can find comfort in this and we can know it’s true because we know that Jesus Himself died and rose again from the dead.
And notice also that this text implies that these saints are with Jesus now since God says He will bring them with Jesus, 1 Thessalonians 4:14. We can see this thought clearer in 1 Thessalonians 5:10 / 2 Corinthians 5:8 / Philippians 1:21-23.
But it seems there were some Christians in Thessalonica who were worried about those who had already died in Christ would miss out on the blessings of Christ and Paul has to reassure them that this is not the case.
He’s already told them that God will bring those who have fallen asleep in the Lord with Jesus when Jesus returns, 1 Thessalonians 4:14, and he now tells them that by no means will those Christians who are still alive precede those Christians who are dead in Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:15.
Paul’s point is simply this, those who are alive when Christ returns, whenever that happens will have absolutely no advantage over those who have died in the Lord.
He tells them that they can have assurance about this because it is ‘by the word of the Lord’, 1 Thessalonians 4:15. This is the same word that lives and remains forever as 1 Peter 1:23-25, reminds us.
This is the same word that foretold and brought about the great flood of the earth as 2 Peter 3:3-6, reminds us. This is the same word that tells us that Jesus will indeed return again one day as 2 Peter 3:7-13, reminds us. In other words, if God says He is going to do something, He will.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
As Paul continues to clear up any misunderstanding about the Lord’s return, he now proceeds to discuss the processes which will take place when the Lord returns. He says when Jesus Himself returns there will be a loud command, the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
Notice that God is not sending a substitute or any kind of helper, it’s the Lord Himself who will be coming down from heaven, Matthew 24:30 / Revelation 1:7.
The NIV uses the words ‘loud command’ other translations use the Greek word keleuma translated ‘shout’. This makes no difference as they both are telling us that this is a shout of command.
The idea of a charioteer giving a command to his horses to go, or a shipmaster giving the orders to start rowing to the rowers, or someone who is in charge of many soldiers and gives them the command to go. The point is there is a tone of authority behind the command.
With reference to the voice of the archangel, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, we cannot be certain exactly who is this archangel is, it possibly could be Michael as this is how he is described in Jude 9, and Revelation 12:7, but along with the voice comes the sound of the trumpet, 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
Trumpets are used in various ways throughout Scripture. We know that Moses was commanded to make two for use in the tabernacle, Numbers 10:2, but later Solomon made much more for use in the temple, 2 Chronicles 5:12.
We know that they were made of either silver or ram’s horns, Numbers 10:2 / Joshua 6:4, we also know that they were used as musical instruments in the Old Testament, 1 Chronicles 13:8.
God also instructed them to be made and used for getting his people’s attention when it comes to making journeys from place to place, Numbers 10:2 / Numbers 10:5-6.
We also see from Numbers 10:2-3 and Numbers 10:7, that they were used to call God’s people together. They were also used for blowing over the sacrifices on the feast day, Numbers 10:10 / Psalm 81:3. They were also to be used at all other religious processions and ceremonies, 1 Chronicles 13:8 / 1 Chronicles 15:24 / 1 Chronicles 15:28 / 2 Chronicles 5:31 / 2 Chronicles 15:14.
Trumpets were used to assemble God’s people in times of war, Judges 3:27, and were used when they went into battle to help God’s people remember the Lord, Numbers 10:9 / Numbers 31:6-7.
They were also used when the people proclaimed a king, 2 Kings 9:13 / 2 Kings 11:14. They were also used as alarms in times of danger, Ezekiel 33:2-6.
Now I’m going to stop here as I don’t want you to get distracted from our main text, if you want to find out other things for which trumpets were used please feel free, but for a moment I think it worthwhile just quoting two other verses from 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.
Notice that it’s after the loud command, the voice of the archangel and the trumpet sound of the Lord that the dead in Christ shall rise first, 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
And so not only will the Lord’s return be very audible, we see that the dead in Christ will rise first, which is obvious as they will come with Jesus when He returns.
It’s important to say that it will be their ‘souls’ which will be coming with Jesus as implied in 1 Thessalonians 4:14, but their ‘bodies’ will be raised from the grave as implied in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 / John 5:28-29 / 1 Corinthians 15:50-57. And so this will happen first, so we who are alive will not precede those who are dead.
Next, we see what will happen to those who are still alive when Christ returns. Paul says that those who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds, 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
Paul explains this more in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, where he tells us that those who are still alive will be transformed, and their bodies will put on immortality and their bodies will become incorruptible. And it’s that this same point in time when the righteous living will join the righteous dead together in the clouds, 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
I don’t know about you but this doesn’t sound like the second coming that so many religious groups believe these days. Notice that there is no mention of Jesus literally touching the Earth with His feet when He returns as some people believe, but we will meet with Him in the air, 1 Thessalians 4:17 / 2 Peter 3:7-11.
And I don’t know about you but I just can’t wait to be with the Lord forever as Paul says, 1 Thessalonians 4:17, and as Jesus promised us in John 14:3.
When will the resurrection occur? Paul did not know when the resurrection would occur and neither has anyone else in the history of man, Matthew 24:36-44.
Rather than answering the question of when, Paul gives details as to what will transpire when the resurrection does happen.
1. Total victory over Satan and death will be achieved by Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.
2. The trumpet of the Lord shall sound, 1 Corinthians 15:52 / 1 Thessalonians 4:16, and all the dead shall rise, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
3. Mankind will be changed to a state of immortality in the blink of an eye, 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
What an amazing scene this is and how difficult it is to even begin to try and imagine what this day is going to be like.
The Rapture
Dispensationalists teach that Christ is coming a second time to take all the saints both living and dead up in the sky where they will be with Him for seven years, they call this the ‘Rapture’.
The purpose of the rapture is to deliver the righteous from the terrible tribulation which will be poured out on all the unrighteous during this seven-year period of time.
Our English word rapture comes from the Latin word raptus. The Greek word is ‘harpazpo’, which means ‘caught up’ or ‘taken away’. This will be a sudden and mysterious disappearance of the church.
Those who are alive will be caught up in the sky, ‘clouds’ and all saints in the graves will also be caught up with the Lord. They will ‘hover’ over the earth invisible for seven years.
The time that the rapture will occur varies among dispensationalists. Some say it will be at the beginning of the seven years of tribulation, while others say it will come at the midpoint of this period. This block of seven years is to proceed the thousand-year reign of Christ in Jerusalem.
At the end of the seven years, Christ is to descend with all his saints. He will then set up his kingdom and the saints will rule with him by being placed in high positions all over the earth.
With all the wars and turmoil taking place on the earth each generation sees and thinks there is clear evidence that the tribulation is about to begin thus everyone should be ready for the rapture to take place at any time.
This is very exciting to many. While they will not be caught up in heaven itself, they will be with the Lord in the sky above the earth. From this vantage point, they will be able to observe the tribulation taking place on the earth. The thought of suddenly without warning being snatched up into the sky by the Lord can sound very sensational and exciting.
The main proof text for their rapture doctrine is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. A careful reading of this scripture will reveal that it does not teach the rapture doctrine. Note the following observations.
First, the word ‘rapture’ does not occur in the passage. The Greek word is ‘harpazpo’, which means ‘caught up’ or ‘taken away’. The fact is the word ‘rapture’ is not found anywhere in any of the translations of the Bible.
Second, not one word is said about ‘hovering’ over the earth for seven years.
Third, Paul plainly says that the dead in Christ will rise first, 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Then he says those who are alive at the time will be caught up next to meet the Lord in the air, 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The order of being caught up is just the opposite of the rapture doctrine.
This passage written to the Thessalonians deals with a concern they had for their loved ones who had already died. They had the impression that their dead loved ones would be left behind in their graves when Christ returned. Paul is assuring them that the dead in Christ rise first, before the living when Christ returns.
Fourth, when we meet the Lord in the air we will ‘ever be with the Lord’, 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Paul did not say it would be for seven years but ‘ever be,’ which means always, eternal, forever, not just seven years.
Obviously, Paul is speaking of the end of the world and the great general resurrection of both faithful and wicked and not some theory about ‘hovering’ in the sky. This will be the second and only return of the Lord.
The words, ‘ever be’ also destroys the theory that those in the rapture will come back again to earth to reign with the Lord for a thousand years. If they are to ‘ever be’ with the Lord in the heavens, then there is no time allowed for them to return back to the earth again.
Fifth, nothing about this event suggests it will be secret or mysterious as the rapture doctrine claims. This return of the Lord will be accomplished by a ‘shout,’ with ‘the voice of the archangel’ and ‘the trumpet of God,’ 1 Thessalonians 4:16. This will be anything but secret.
Dispensationalists also use Jude as proving a third return of Christ. This supposedly will occur after the rapture (His second return) and just before He is to begin a reign of a thousand years.
Notice the wording of Jude 14-15. A careful reading of these two verses puts the judgment a thousand years ahead of the dispensationalist theory.
According to their theory, the judgment of the ‘ungodly’ will not take place until after the thousand-year reign. Notice that the Lord will come to execute judgment ‘upon all’, Jude 14-15.
If this passage applies to a third return, then according to Jude the judgment will take place immediately when Christ returns. Thus, Jude has the wicked being judged a thousand years before the millennial theory allows for the judgment of the wicked.
The theory that this is a preliminary judgement of the nations will not hold up, as nations are not mentioned in Jude 14-15. It is the ungodly, not nations that are to be judged.
The theory of two future comings with the rapture between would really require four comings.
First, there would be the coming of Christ into the world as an infant, Matthew 1:18-25.
Second, there would be the coming for His saints, ‘rapture’.
Third, there would be His coming with His saints to begin the thousand-year reign in Jerusalem on David’s throne, Revelation 20:6.
Fourth, He is supposed to come to judge the unrighteous. This is an impossible theory with absolutely no Biblical basis whatsoever.
What does the Bible teach about the return of Christ?
First, the Lord has gone to prepare a place for His faithful disciples, John 14:2-3.
Second, He will return a second time only. He will take the faithful with Him to heaven for eternity and the wicked will be condemned to an eternal hell, John 5:28-29.
Third, the earth will be burned up, 2 Peter 3:10.
The conclusion to all the above is that there is no room in the scriptures for four comings of the Lord with a period of seven years between the second and third comings.
There is no room for a thousand-year period between an unproven third and forth coming. All this goes beyond what the Bible teaches.
“Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18
Remember, despite the NIV using the word ‘encourage’, these words are all about comforting the saints who remain alive in Thessalonica and who were concerned about those who were already dead in Christ.
Yes, when Christians pass on to be with the Lord it can be and is very painful but it can be even more painful if that person isn’t a Christian and dies without any hope, 1 Thessalonians 4:13.
Paul says encourage each other with these words, which is something he also reminds all Christians to do, Romans 12:15 / 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 / 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11.
Now as we enter 1 Thessalonians 5, we will see once again that Paul isn’t finished talking about the Lord’s return but for the moment he wants them to understand that losing a loved one is very sorrowful but not so much for Christians who have passed on.
He reminds them that those who have already died in Christ will not lose out on any blessings when the Lord returns and he talked them through the process which will take place when the Lord returns and finally he reminds them of the purpose of all his words in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, to comfort them, 1 Thessalonians 4:18.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Not only did the words of this passage allay the weeping, dry the tears and comfort the bereaved in Thessalonica, they are still doing so after some nineteen centuries have rolled away; and they are just as appropriate now as when they calmed and comforted the hearts of the bereaved in ancient Thessalonica.’
What a day it will be when Christ returns, or as the songwriter, Eliza E. Hewitt, writes.
