For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them who are asleep.
Read Chapter 4
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
With commandment. God's command will in a moment raise and bring all to judgment.
And the dead, who are in Christ, in the grace of Christ, shall rise first, not as to time, but in dignity. (Witham)
Shall rise first. Not in order of time, for all shall rise in the twinkling of an eye, but first in order of dignity. St. Chrysostom, however, thinks that the elect rise before the reprobate, to go before the Lord; whereas the latter shall come behind him, only to appear before the tribunal of justice. (St. Chrysostom)
Speaking concerning the faithful, and them which are fallen asleep in Christ 1 Corinthians 15:18; and again, the dead shall rise in Christ. Since his discourse is not concerning the Resurrection only, but both concerning the Resurrection and concerning the honor in glory; all then shall partake of a Resurrection, he says, but not all shall be in glory, only those in Christ. Since therefore he wishes to comfort them, he comforts them not with this only, but also with the abundant honor, and with its speedy arrival, since they knew that. For in proof that he wishes to comfort them with the honor, as he goes on, he says, And we shall be ever with the Lord: and we shall be caught up in the clouds.
But how do the faithful fall asleep in Jesus? It means having Christ within themselves. But the expression, He shall bring with Him, shows that they are brought from many places. This. Something strange he was about to tell them. On this account he also adds what makes it worthy of credit; Fro...
The Prophets indeed, wishing to show the credibility of the things said by them, before all other things say this, The vision which Isaiah saw Isaiah 1:1; and again, The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah Jeremiah 1:1, Septuagint; and again, Thus says the Lord; with many such expressions. And many of them even saw God sitting, as far as it was possible for them to see Him. But Paul not having seen Him sitting, but having Christ speaking in himself, instead of Thus says the Lord, said, Do ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me? 2 Corinthians 13:3 And again, Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ. For the Apostle speaks the things of Him who sent him; showing that nothing is of himself. And again, I think that I also have the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 7:40 All those things therefore he spoke by the Spirit, but this, which he now says, he heard even expressly from God. As also that which he had said discoursing to the Elders of Ephesus, It is more blessed to give than to receive, he h...
He says that those who "remain unto the coming of Christ "along with "the dead in Christ, shall rise first "being "caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.".
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 too shall ourselves 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."
