Bible Commentary

1 Thessalonians 4:16

1 Thessalonians 4:16

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven,.... Not by proxy, or by representatives; not by the ministry of angels, as on Mount Sinai; nor by the ministers of the word, as under the Gospel dispensation; nor by his spirit, and the discovery of his love and grace, in which sense he descends in a spiritual manner, and visits his people; but in person, in his human nature, in soul and body; in like manner as he went up to heaven will he descend from thence, so as to be visible, to be seen and heard of all: he will come down from the third heaven, whither he was carried up, into which he was received, and where he is retained until the time of the restitution of all things, and from whence the saints expect him: and this descent will bewith a shout; the word here used is observed by many to signify such a noise or shout as is made either by mariners, when they pull and row together; and shout to direct and encourage one another; or to an army with the general at the head of it, when about to undertake some considerable action, to enter on a battle, and make the onset; Christ will now appear as the King of kings, and Lord of lords, as the Judge of the whole earth, attended with the host, or armies of heaven, and the shout of a king will be among them: perhaps the same is intended, as by the voice of a great multitude, as the voice of many waters, and of mighty thunderings upon the coming of Christ, the destruction of antichrist, and the marriage of the Lamb, in Re 19:1.

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1 Thessalonians 4 — Overview1 Thessalonians 4 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleIn this chapter the apostle gives earnest exhortations to abound in holiness, with a caution against uncleanness, enforced with several arguments, ver. 1-8. He then mentions the great duties of brotherly love,…1 Thessalonians 4 — Overview1 Thessalonians 4 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledge1 Thessalonians 4:1, He exhorts them to go forward in all manner of godliness; 1 Thessalonians 4:6, to live holily and justly; 1 Thessalonians 4:9, to love one another; 1 Thessalonians 4:11, and quietly to follow their…1 Thessalonians 4 — Overview1 Thessalonians 4 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleIn this chapter the apostle proceeds to exhort in general to the performance of good works, particularly to purity of life, to brotherly love, to quietness, diligence, and industry in the several callings of life, and…1 Thessalonians 4:13-181 Thessalonians 4:13-18 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleIn these words the apostle comforts the Thessalonians who mourned for the death of their relations and friends that died in the Lord. His design is to dissuade them from excessive grief, or inordinate sorrow,…1 Thessalonians 4:161 Thessalonians 4:16 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledgethe Lord: Isaiah 25:8-9; Matthew 16:27, Matthew 24:30-31, Matthew 25:31, Matthew 26:64; Acts 1:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 1:7 with a: Numbers 23:21; Psalms 47:1, Psalms 47:5; Zechariah 4:7,…