The Believer’s Hope

Brandon Carmichael

Wildfires. Wars. Moral collapse in the Western world. In these and other ways, catastrophic world events seem to be escalating, leading many Christians to wonder whether the end times are almost upon us. What should Christians expect from the last days? Is Scripture being fulfilled in front of our eyes? How should Christians respond to uncertain times?

God does not intend to leave us hopeless in the face of these questions. Instead, He tells us through the apostle Paul what Christians should expect and prepare for in these last days. He wants us to establish our hearts in hope and peace. One of the clearest texts written to console Christians in uncertain times is 1 Thessalonians 4–5.

GOOD NEWS IN TROUBLED TIMES

In this text, Paul extends hope to believers by explaining two arrivals. The first is the coming of Christ for His saints (sometimes called the rapture). The second is the subsequent arrival of the day of the Lord. He concludes both these teachings with the instruction to “comfort [encourage] one another with these words.” These teachings bring good news to troubled days. Particularly encouraging is the first arrival, the rapture of the church.