(a) Describe the coming of the Lord according to Paul's teaching. (b) What does this teach us as christians?

(a) The coming of the Lord according to Paul's teaching (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:1-11; cf. 1 Corinthians 15)

Paul wrote to comfort the Thessalonians who were anxious about believers who had died before Christ's return. He assured them that they should not sorrow as those who have no hope, because of the certainty of the second coming.

• The dead in Christ are not lost: "If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus."
• The manner of His coming: "The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God."
• The resurrection of the dead: "The dead in Christ will rise first."
• The gathering of the living: "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."
• Eternal fellowship: "And thus we shall always be with the Lord," words meant to comfort one another.
• The suddenness of the day: "The day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night." When people say, "Peace and safety," sudden destruction comes upon them, and they shall not escape.
• Believers must be watchful: they are children of light, not of darkness, so they should not sleep but watch and be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation.

(b) What this teaches us as Christians

• We should live in constant readiness and watchfulness, for no one knows the day or hour.
• We should have hope and comfort concerning departed believers, knowing there will be a resurrection and reunion.
• We should live holy, sober and godly lives as children of the light, avoiding the works of darkness.
• We should encourage and build up one another, remaining faithful until the Lord returns to receive us into eternal fellowship with Him.