Rachel Workman: 13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what
will happen to the believers who have died[f] so you will not grieve like
people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised
to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back
with him the believers who have died.
It is important to note that the revelation concerning death and the
afterlife was not given all at one time. Many cults use verses from the Psalms
and Ecclesiastes to “prove” their false doctrines. These verses seem to teach
that the grave is the end, or that the soul “sleeps” till the resurrection. We
must keep in mind that God’s revelation was gradual and progressive, and that
it climaxed in the coming of Christ “who abolished death and brought life and
immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10 nasb). We look to Christ
and the New Testament for the complete revelation concerning death. God gave
Paul a special revelation concerning the resurrection and the return of Christ
(see 1 Cor. 15:51–54). What Paul taught agreed with what Jesus taught (John
5:24–29; 1:21–27). And God’s revelation is based on the historic fact of
Christ’s resurrection. Since our Savior has conquered death, we need not fear
death or the future (1 Cor. 15:12ff.). The authority of God’s Word gives us the
assurance and comfort we need.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.[g] 16 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[h] will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.
Paul applied the word sleep to those believers who died. Jesus used the same expression (John 11:11–13). Paul was careful to state that Jesus died; the word sleep is not applied to His experience. It is because He died that we need not fear death. However, Paul did not say that the soul went to sleep at death. He made it clear that the soul of the believer went to be with the Lord: “them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” (1 Thess. 4:14). He cannot bring them when He returns unless they are with Him. It is not the soul that sleeps; it is the body. The Bible definition of death is given in James 2:26: “For as the body without the spirit is dead.” At death, the spirit leaves the body, and the body goes to sleep and no longer functions. The soul-spirit goes to be with the Lord, if the person has trusted Jesus Christ. “Absent from the body, and … present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).
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John Burnett: 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words. This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It promises that those who are born-again believers will be will the Lord always (v17). It also promises that those who are alive when Christ returns will be caught up (raptured) with him in the clouds when the trumpet sounds. I so look forward to this event and hope that I am alive during the rapture but if I don't live until that day, I get to go before those who are raptured. If you do not hate your sin like God hates sin, then chances are you are not born again and are not saved. True Believers have had their eyes opened to their sin and see themselves as wretched sinners. Only these will be caught up but you can still repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ. Today is the day of salvation.
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Tomorrow’s reading for 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5
5 Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters,[a] we don’t really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.[b] 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.
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