1 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 1 Thessalonians 4:16 cry of command... voice of an archangel... trumpet of God. The three noises summon the dead. The only “archangel” identified in the Bible is Michael (Jude 1:9). Trumpets in the OT proclaimed the Lord’s presence (Exodus 19:16; Psalms 47:5). In Jewish tradition, the “trumpet” was associated with battle, the day of the Lord, and the resurrection (see 1 Corinthians 15:52). first. Then. Dead Christians will rise from their graves, then the living and the dead together are caught up (“to grab or seize suddenly, to take away”) from the earth into the air to meet Christ. together with. The dead Christians and those still alive join Christ at the same time. clouds. Probably the clouds of glory that surround the presence of God (see Exodus 33:9; 1 Kings 8:10; Psalms 97:2; Matthew 17:5; Mark 13:26). to meet. The Greek term often describes the reception given by the inhabitants of a city for an important visitor. They celebrated their honored guest’s arrival, then led him into the city (see Matthew 25:6; Acts 28:15).

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