1 Thessalonians 4:16 kjv
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:
1 Thessalonians 4:16 nkjv
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 niv
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 esv
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 nlt
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
1 Thessalonians 4 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew 24:31 | And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds... | Rapture, Trumpet Call |
| 1 Corinthians 15:52 | in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable... | Resurrection, Resurrection Sound |
| Acts 1:9-11 | After he said this, he was taken up, while they were watching, and a cloud obscured them from view. ...And they stood looking intently into the sky as he went into heaven. Two men dressed in white stood beside them... | Ascension, Angels Present |
| Revelation 11:15 | The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of the Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” | Final Trumpet, Kingdom Reign |
| Revelation 1:7 | Look, he is coming with the clouds," "and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. | Visible Return, Universal Mourning |
| John 11:25 | Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies... | Resurrection and Life |
| Romans 8:11 | And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies... | Spirit's Power in Resurrection |
| 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 | But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to Christ. | Christ's Resurrection, Order of Resurrection |
| Philippians 3:20-21 | But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. | Heavenly Citizenship, Body Transformation |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 | Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances... | Christian Conduct |
| 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 | and give relief to you who are troubled and to us when our Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people... | Lord's Revelation, Punishment |
| Isaiah 26:19 | But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you dwellers in the dust! For the dew you receive is like the dew of morning, and the earth will give birth to those long dead. | Resurrection Prophecy |
| Revelation 1:10 | By the Spirit I was on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet... | Voice like Trumpet |
| John 5:28-29 | Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. | Resurrection for Judgment |
| Mark 13:32 | “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. | Unknowable Day/Hour |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:14 | For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. | Sleep in Jesus, God brings with Him |
| 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 | Now if the dead are raised, why do they appear and what is the benefit? If for this life only people have hoped in Christ, they are of all people most to be pitied. | Hope in Christ, Resurrection Significance |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 | May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. | Sanctification, Body Preservation |
| Ephesians 5:27 | and to present to himself the church in all its glory, without any spots or wrinkles or any such things, but holy and without blemish. | Christ Presents the Church Blameless |
| Zechariah 14:5 | and you will flee toward the valley of my mountains, For the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. | Lord Comes with Holy Ones |
1 Thessalonians 4 verses
1 Thessalonians 4 16 Meaning
This verse describes the manner in which the Lord Jesus Christ will descend from heaven. It specifies that His arrival will be accompanied by a divine summons, a call, and the powerful sound of God's trumpet. This event is linked to the resurrection of believers who have died.
1 Thessalonians 4 16 Context
First Thessalonians chapter 4 addresses concerns the early Christians had about believers who died before Christ's promised return. Some Thessalonians feared these departed believers would miss out on the blessings associated with Christ's coming. Paul assures them that this is not the case. He previously taught them about the Lord's return and the resurrection of believers (v. 14). This verse, verse 16, is a pivotal part of that assurance, detailing the authoritative and trumpet-accompanied nature of Christ's descent and the subsequent resurrection of the dead in Christ. It is part of a larger discussion on the order of events at the Second Coming, culminating in believers being taken up to meet the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4 16 Word Analysis
- Ὥστε (Hoste): Thus; so; therefore. Introduces a conclusion or consequence from what was previously stated. It signals that what follows is a result of the preceding arguments about the resurrection of the dead in Christ.
- αὐτὸν (auton): Him. Refers directly to the Lord Jesus Christ, the subject of the discussion.
- τὸν Κύριον (ton Kurion): The Lord. The definite article emphasizes the supreme authority and sovereignty of Jesus. “Lord” is a title of honor, power, and divine lordship, echoing the Old Testament's use of Yahweh.
- ἐξ οὐρανοῦ (ex ouranou): From heaven. Specifies the origin of Christ’s descent. Heaven is the dwelling place of God and where Christ ascended.
- καταβήσεται (katabesetai): Will descend. A future active indicative verb. This signifies a literal, downward movement from heaven to earth. It contrasts with His ascension.
- μετὰ ἀγγελίας (meta anglias): With a cry. “Metā” (with) and “anglias” (cry, shout, call). Refers to a command or loud summons. It’s a signal of authority and urgency. This implies Christ issues the command for the resurrection and gathering.
- μετὰ φωνῆς ἀρχαγγέλου (meta phones archaggelou): With the voice of an archangel. “Phones” (voice) and “archaggelou” (archangel, chief angel). This phrase indicates that a specific, high-ranking angelic messenger will be associated with this cry, amplifying its divine authority and importance. This is not just any voice, but a voice of significant angelic rank.
- καὶ (kai): And. A conjunction connecting the preceding elements of Christ’s descent with the sound of the trumpet.
- τῶν νεκρῶν (ton nekron): Of the dead. Refers to deceased believers who have died "in Christ."
- τοῦ Θεοῦ (tou Theou): Of God. Clarifies that the trumpet blast is divinely initiated, not merely a natural phenomenon.
- ἐν Χριστῷ (en Christō): In Christ. Denotes believers whose union with Christ is established through faith, a crucial qualifier for those included in this resurrection.
- ἀναστήσονται (anastesontai): Will be raised. A future passive indicative verb. Emphasizes that the resurrection is an action performed upon them, by divine power.
Word Group Analysis
- "The Lord Himself will descend from heaven": This emphasizes Christ's personal involvement in His return. It's not a delegated event but His direct action. The phrase “from heaven” indicates the ultimate source and divine authority of this descent.
- "with a cry, with the voice of an archangel": This compound phrase highlights the resounding and authoritative nature of Christ's command at His return. It signifies a majestic, divinely ordered announcement. The "archangel" likely refers to Michael, the chief angel.
- "and the dead in Christ will rise first": This specifies a particular group ("in Christ") and an order of events. They are raised before living believers are caught up, demonstrating Christ's power over death for His own. This is the first resurrection for believers.
1 Thessalonians 4 16 Bonus Section
The "trumpet" mentioned here is distinct from the trumpets in Revelation, which often signify judgments or specific divine pronouncements. This trumpet is directly associated with the resurrection and the gathering of the saints. The imagery of trumpets in the Old Testament often signaled gatherings, convocations, or divine appearances (e.g., at Sinai). Paul uses this familiar concept to convey the authoritative nature of Christ’s second coming and the gathering of His people. The mention of an "archangel's voice" adds a layer of celestial authority to the divine call.
1 Thessalonians 4 16 Commentary
The verse powerfully describes the visible, audible, and authoritative return of the Lord Jesus. His descent from heaven is not a silent event but is marked by a commanding shout and the distinct voice of a chief angel, announcing His arrival. This divine trumpet call signifies a universal, irresistible summons. Crucially, this divine fanfare signals the resurrection of believers who have already died. They are the first to be raised, being resurrected from their earthly resting places to be reunited with their transformed bodies and meet Christ in the air. This assures believers that no one who dies in faith will be left behind but will participate in the resurrection at Christ's coming, preceding the rapture of the living.