1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  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.  Then we who are alive, who are left, 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.  Therefore encourage one another with these words.

 

Death is a reality for which all of us must prepare.  We all experience the death of loved ones that serve as a constant reminder of the brevity of our own life.  Believers do not live in fear of death because the Scriptures prepare us as to how we should respond to this reality.  In times of persecution where people are being killed for their faith; a biblical doctrine of death is essential for all to understand.

 

BE INFORMED ABOUT THE RESURRECTION IN CHRIST: The church must have asked some questions to Timothy when he was there, and Paul wants to make sure that they understand the truths about the death of believers.  Paul does not want them to be ignorant of the hope that believers have in death.  It is not that death isn’t sad or traumatic for believers; it is simply that we have the assurance that those who die in Christ with be resurrected by Christ upon His return.  We grieve the loss of loved ones in death because we love them and miss them and long to be in their company right now.  However, we know we will enjoy an eternal reunion in the presence of Christ.  It is important to constantly remind ourselves of these truths.

 

BE PREPARED FOR THE RAPTURE WITH CHRIST: Death will not be the experience of all believers.  On a day that we do not know, Christ will rapture all believers into His presence.  However, moments before that rapture, the dead in Christ will be resurrected.  Apparently, Paul fully expected to be raptured because he said: “we who remain.”  Obviously, he was not raptured and faced death.  But his death and the death of all in Christ who died before or since will be resurrected on the day when Jesus calls us into His presence.  Believers die with this hope and assurance from Scripture.  However, as long as we live, every believer should live in a state of preparedness for being raptured.  That does not mean we shouldn’t make long range plans or that we should sell everything and go stand on a hill dressed in white.  That means we should be busy about accomplishing the mission that Christ gave us with a sense of urgency.  

 

BE ENCOURAGED BY THE RETURN OF CHIRIST: This truth should be a constant source of hope, motivation, and encouragement for every believer.  When things are difficult and we face failure, illness, or death; we need to be faithful to remind one another of these truths.  In times of trials, it can be easy for us to forget these precious truths, so Paul encourages us to graciously remind one another of them.  That does not mean that we should discount the grief of someone who has recently lost a love way by flippantly saying: “remember the rapture and resurrection!”  It means we should be constantly reminding one another of these truths so when trouble or tragedy strikes these hope giving truths are weaved into the fabric of our hearts.  

 

APPLICATION: Be sure to teach members of our family and new believers the truths about death, rapture, and resurrection.  Take comfort from these truths as we remember loved ones who have been called into God’s presence.  Live with intentionality in fulfilling the mission of the Lord as we anticipate His imminent rapture of the Church.  Faithfully encourage one another with the truths of Christ’s return. 

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