1 Thessalonians 4:16 — With a Shout of Command

16 for the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall be rising first.

Paul explains why the living will by no means outstrip those who have fallen asleep at the parousia. The Lord Himself will descend from heaven! His descent is accompanied by a command, the voice of the archangel, and the sound of God’s trumpet. Three expressions, each with its own meaning. Here we focus on the command, which is evidently the signal for those who have fallen asleep to rise.

The Greek word for “command” denotes an authoritative order that demands to be carried out. It stands to reason that the Son of God Himself gives this command: after all, it is His voice that brings the dead to life (John 5:21, 25). This is no request that may or may not be heeded, but a command with divine authority.

Just as an alarm clock awakens someone who is sleeping, so the divine command will awaken the dead from their sleep. Scripture does not call them “those who have fallen asleep” for nothing. Their sleep in death is not permanent, but ends as soon as the command sounds. And then what is impossible for human beings happens: the dead in Christ will rise! They will even be the first, before the living who remain go to meet the Lord.

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