The Acts of the Apostles (1911) — PDF Scan 265

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THE THESSALONIAN LETTERS 259 The hope and joy that this assurance brought to the young church at Thessalonica, can scarcely be appreciated by us. They believed and cherished the letter sent to them by their father in the gospel, and their hearts went out in love to him. He had told them these things before; but at that time their minds were striving to grasp doctrines that seemed new and strange; and it is not surprising that the force of some points had not been vividly impressed on their minds. But they were hungering for truth, and Paul's epistle gave them new hope and strength, and a firmer faith in, and a deeper affection for, the One who through His death had brought life and immortality to light. Now they rejoiced in the knowledge that their believing friends would be raised from the grave, to live forever in the kingdom of God. The darkness that had enshrouded the resting-place of the dead was dispelled. A new splendor crowned the Christian faith, and they saw a new glory in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. ^ ^ Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him,'' Paul wrote. Many interpret this passage to mean that the sleeping ones will be brought with Christ from heaven; but Paul meant that as Christ was raised from the dead, so God will call the sleeping saints from their graves, and take them with Him to heaven. Precious consolation! glorious hope! not only to the church of Tliessalonica, but to all Christians wherever they may be. While laboring at Tliessalonica, Paul had so fully covered the subject of the signs of the times, showing what events would occur prior to the revelation of