1 Thessalonians 4:15

‘For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and are left to the Parousia of the Lord, will in no way precede those who are asleep.'

Paul assures the Thessalonians that there is no way in which Christians living at the time of Christ's coming and divine presence will have precedence over those who have died in Christ.

‘By the word of the Lord.' This may be seen as signifying a literal word of the Lord of which Paul was aware, or it may be signifying that, as with the prophets of old, the word of the Lord came to Paul. Some have seen in Matthew 24:31 one ‘word' that may have been in mind with ‘His elect' meaning all, both dead and living. It certainly contains the idea of the trumpet and the gathering together in a miraculous way of His people.

‘We who are alive and are left.' At this time Paul was still hopeful of being alive when Jesus came and states this position on that basis. He wanted to make the words personal and link himself with the Thessalonians in their faith, and not just make a doctrinal statement. Had Jesus come at that moment Paul would have been among those alive, and that was his earnest hope. It was only later that he learned that that was not to be and that it was to be his privilege to die for Christ (2 Timothy 4:6).

‘To the Parousia of the Lord.' ‘Parousia' means ‘presence', but it was used of royal visits by which the presence of the royal person would be among them. It indicated that He was on an official visit in order to fulfil some purpose. Many see it as including the carrying out of His judgments (e.g. Matthew 24:50 to Matthew 25:46). ‘Of the Lord'. This confirms what we have just said. It was ‘the Lord' Who was here, He Who bore the name above every name and was sovereign over the Universe, to Whom one day every knee shall bow (Philippians 2:9). And the Lord was coming in triumph and victory to exert His royal right.

‘Will in no way precede those who are asleep.' The fears of the Thessalonians had not been about precedence, however Paul here assures them that not only will the dead in Christ rise, but they will also not lose anything or any privilege by having died. They will join in the royal procession.