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/ /1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Stephen Caswell © 2000
* *
Hide and Seek
As the kids have grown up we have played a number of games with them.
Soccer and cricket are popular now.
There is one game that I love to play with them, and it is called hide and seek.
First of all someone is chosen to do the seeking and they go away into a particular room of the house.
Then they begin to count while everyone else hides.
When the number twenty is reached the person doing the seeking yells out, /" coming, ready or not.
"/ And then the search begins.
God will one day search out His people all over the world, only when He does so, they will all disappear simultaneously.
/When God's time is up Christ will come./
*/Ready or not!/*
Introduction
The Thessalonians were concerned about their loved ones that had died.
Some thought that only those alive at Christ's return would receive a new body and would therefore miss out on some of the blessings associated with Christ's return.
So Paul addresses this.
Paul encourages them with the message he received directly from God. */He was given direct/*
I.
Revelation* */ - The Lord's Precept/
*1 Thessalonians 4:13-15a says this: */But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord.
/
Paul uses a negative statement to emphasize the positive teaching that he wants to impart.
He is literally saying, /" I want you to know this about those who have died in the Lord.
"/ */Paul does not want them to be ignorant about this important truth./*
Non-Christians have only uncertainty and judgment to look forward to when they die.
Non-Christians can only speculate about what lies beyond the grave on the other side.
We know that hell awaits all who reject Christ!
Paul on the other hand confidently states because of */God's revelation/*, Christians have great hope, and certainty beyond death.
Therefore /they need not sorrow about those who have died in Christ/, like non-Christians do.
For /to be with Christ is far better/ than to be here on earth.
What does Paul mean by sleep?
Paul says that some have */fallen asleep/.
*/Why does he use this word to describe death?/ /Do believers sleep in the grave until the resurrection, as the Jehovah's Witness' claim?/
The literal translation of this verse is, */those which have been laid asleep, or fallen asleep./*/
But what is Paul referring to here?/
/Is it the soul, as Jehovah's Witnesses claim, using this verse to support/ "/ soul sleep?
"/ /Or is Paul referring to the body that rests in the grave?/
The Scriptures never use the term */sleep/* to refer to unbelievers.
They use it, referring to believers bodies and not their souls.
*2 Corinthians 5:6-8 says:* / So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
/
Paul says this following on from the idea that God has a new tent for us kept in the heavens in the first 5 verses.
Paul says that if we should put off this tent, or our current bodies that God has a new tent for us in heaven.
And again in/ /*Philippians 1:23: */For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better./
The Certainty of Revelation, Christ's Death and Resurrection
Paul now gives */the content of his revelation/* and why we have such certainty.
It is because Christ has conquered death and promised us that we too shall overcome this enemy through Him.
Verse 14 can be literally translated,/ *Since* we believe that Jesus died and rose again/.
*/Paul is stating this is a fact./*
Christ has risen from the dead.
He has borne the punishment we should have received.
Notice it doesn't say that /Jesus slept/, but that He died.
Christ was separated from God the Father when He bore our sins on the cross; *Hebrews 2:9 says: Christ*/ tasted death for every man./
He has taken our death so that we can come to God through Him.
Since He overcame death, then we too will overcome death.
But Paul */Reveals/* not only did Christ die and rise again He will also:
II.
Return* - */The Lord's Person/
Paul has just explained how we shouldn't sorrow for those who have died in Christ.
Now he focuses on the Lord's return and how Christ will bring the departed saints with Him.
If Christ brings the departed saints with Him then only their body can be in the grave, their souls and spirits must be with Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 and Philippians 1:23 harmonize perfectly with 1 Thessalonians 4:14-15:
/For *since* we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus./
/For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
/ / /
Christ will bring the Saints
When Christ returns, He will bring the souls and spirits of the dead saints with him.
Death is not limbo or unconsciousness, but the separation of soul and spirit from the body.
Paul assures the Thessalonians that the living saints, who are alive and remain, will not receive the blessings of the resurrection before the departed saints.
Paul reveals that the departed saints will enjoy all the blessings of the resurrection when they come with Christ.
There is a generation of believers who will not die since Christ will come back for before they die.
Whilst on earth Christ promised to return and take His disciples to glory.
We read of this in *John 14:2-3.*
When Christ comes back He will bring our departed loved ones who have trusted in Him too.
Paul was able to encourage the Thessalonians, by */revealing/*/ /these marvelous truths to them.
*/Ignorance brings uncertainty and fear, but God's revelation brings hope!/*
The Jewish Wedding Ceremony
The Jews took marriage very seriously.
A wedding ceremony was a big event in the life of the Jews.
In Jewish wedding ceremonies the bridegroom would go to the brides home and then take her to the celebration, held at his home.
The Church is called the Bride of Christ and He is called the Bridegroom.
In the same way, Christ will come back to earth to collect His bride, the church, and take her to the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven.
In *Ephesians 5:22-33* Paul compares the husband and wife relationship to the relationship between Christ and the Church.
*2 Corinthians 11:2 says this:* /For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy.
For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ./
The Timing of Christ's Return
/But when will Christ return?
Do we know the date of His return?/ *Many have set dates only to be proven wrong.
We don't no the day or the year!* Jesus said that no one knows the day nor the hour.
Paul expected the Lord to return in His day and that is why he said /we/ in verse 17.
The fact of the matter is that even though we don't know when He will come, there is no prophecy that needs to be fulfilled before He can come.
/Are you ready for Jesus Christ's return?/
He will come one day,*/ ready or not!/*
If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Savior then you need to prepare today, since tomorrow could be too late.
~* (story/ of the fishermen and wives/).
Paul */revealed/* that Christ would return with His saints, but */also/* that they would be first in the:
III.
Resurrection/ - The Lord's Provision /
*1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 says: */For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
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