A Blessed Reunion!
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 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:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
In this portion of Scripture, Paul begins by telling us the specific issue that he wants to inform us about. He clearly states the subject of his discourse, which is a hope that he wants us to have and to know concerning those who have died before us.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Paul begins addressing an issue concerning, ‘them which are asleep,’ which is an appropriate term for those who are children of God when they die physically because they will rise again. Furthermore, he is explaining something about our relationships after death. Going forward, as we break down what he had to say, keep in mind that this was something important enough to Paul that he wanted us to have this knowledge and not live without it.
I lived from childhood to adulthood without knowing the main point of the apostle’s message in this portion of scripture. I had no idea that he was informing us about something that would comfort us about our loved ones who died before us and that this comfort had something to do with our relationships with them in eternity. Nor did I know that this had been important to Paul.
Knowing that, in his time, not everyone was aware of this hope, Paul decided to fill them in. He did not say that we should not be concerned about our connection to our loved ones after they pass, because that is something that will not matter in eternity. To the contrary, it was important to him to make them aware of a hope that is for the living, concerning those who sleep (die) in Christ. It was valuable. It would comfort them and lift their spirits.
Death cannot keep its hold on God’s children. It is a temporary condition. But, let me ask you: when you die, what part of you is it that sleeps? It is not your spirit, for if you are God’s child, your spirit goes straight to God at the time of your death.
2 Corinthians 5:6,8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
It is our body that sleeps. It is important for us to keep this in mind as we hear what Paul has to tell us in 1 Thessalonians. After telling us that there is something he does not want us to be ignorant of, in the following verses, he begins to make known an important connection between the body and spirit and the living to those who sleep in Jesus. However, as these verses of 1 Thessalonians 4 have been read from pulpits time and time again for sermons on the rapture of the church and, in fact, have become foundational to the belief in the rapture, the main point of Paul’s message has often been overlooked. People have heard them read, heard sermons preached, believed them, and rejoiced at the very thought of such an amazing event. Probably more often than not, the individuals doing the rejoicing
were rejoicing at the thought that they, personally, had a hope of being raptured, while not even considering the main purpose for which Paul was giving this information.
What is it he does not want us to be ignorant of? Did he say, “I would not have you to be ignorant concerning the fact that one day the church will be raptured?” He did not! Did he say he would not have us to be ignorant of the fact that the Lord is going to return or how this will take place? He did not!
Do not misunderstand. I am not saying these things are not important or that we should not rejoice in the knowledge of them. But what I am attempting to do is direct our attention to the very thing the Apostle Paul was directing our attention to - the thing he did not want us to be ignorant of. If it was this important to Paul, we would be wise to focus in on what he wanted us to know.
It is important not to miss the connection of verse 13, which is the very preface of Paul’s discourse, or the subject, or topic, he is addressing, to verses 14-18. Now, let us read on, going back to verse 13, with careful consideration of the point that the author is making. Notice the step- by-step layout of what is going to happen concerning our loved ones who ‘sleep’ in Christ.
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
After saying there is a hope that he wants us to know about, so that we will not sorrow like unbelievers, he then tells us, in the next verse, what the foundation is that this hope rests upon. That is, he tells us what we are to base this hope on and the reason we should have it.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Our hope is based on what happened to our Savior!
There is a direct correlation between what happened to Christ, what is going to happen to our loved ones who sleep in him, and what is going to happen to those who are alive at that time.
Consider the words ‘even so,’ which, in Greek, means “in this way (referring to what precedes or follows) ... so, (in like manner) ....” (Strong’s)
Now, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we should also believe that, in the same manner, those who are asleep in Jesus (those born-again believers who have gone to Heaven), God is going to bring with him.
Bring them with him? If they have not yet been raised from death, how can he be bringing them with him? Does this sound a bit confusing? What does this mean? When the answer is found, it makes perfect sense. So, let us go on and consider what happened to Jesus.
In 1 Corinthians, Jesus is said to be the firstfruits of those who slept.
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary gives this definition of ‘firstfruits.’ First-fruits: “1. The fruit or produce first matured and collected in any season .... 2. The first profits of any thing. 3. The first or earliest effect of any thing, in a good or bad sense ....”
Jesus was not the first to be resurrected. He himself raised Lazarus from the dead. But when Lazarus was raised, though his body was restored to life, it was still a mortal body, and salvation had not yet come.
Jesus was the first whose mortal body had sin in it, who died, was cleansed from that sin, and then was raised immortal. I say cleansed from sin, not because he had ever sinned. He had not! But he had taken the sins of the entire world in his body and was cleansed from those sins with the shedding of his own blood. He was the first to be resurrected in victory over sin and changed to immortality.
Again, please do not misunderstand. As soon as Jesus gave up the ghost, or that is, his Spirit left his mortal body there on the cross, he was sinless. He did not have to suffer the torments of hell for our sins, as some preachers might teach. He had already suffered all the suffering for our sins that he would ever have to suffer. He bore our sins and griefs, carried our sorrows, was wounded for our transgressions, was bruised for our iniquities, and gave his very life.
What he suffered for sins that were never his in the first place was unfathomable Having the agony of the sins of the entire world put into his sinless body, being separated from the Father, suffering a crown of thorns, being punched, having some of his beard pulled out of his face, being beaten by soldiers, carrying a cross after being tortured, being stressed and weakened to the point of sweating as it were great drops of blood, being hung on a cross to die, speared in his side, and dying for all mankind, was enough. Yet through all of this, Jesus himself never sinned, nor had he ever sinned.
The worst of his sufferings had to have been when he was separated from the Father and the Holy Spirit because of the sins in his body. Though this was only the separation of his physical body, never before had he endured such a separation. This is why he cried out on the cross - Matthew 27:46 ... My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Then he allowed his body, that body containing the sins of the world, to die. As soon as the body of sin died, Jesus’ pure spirit was free. He had paid the price, and no further punishment was required. His spirit went to his Father as soon as his body died, though his body remained in the tomb for three days. Then came his resurrection.
And how did his resurrection take place?
What part of him was raised from death? The resurrection spoken of in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and 1 Corinthians 15:20 is resurrection of the body.
Notice that there is no suggestion that Christ’s body was only a house for his Spirit and not a part of him. To the contrary, when speaking of the resurrection of his body, the Word of God says that Jesus – himself – was raised. His body was part of him, not just a house for the real him to temporarily live in. When our sins were in his body, scripture tells us that he ‘was made to be sin.’
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
He who had never sinned was made to be sin because our sin was in him. He (his body) died. He (his body) was put in the tomb. He (his body) rose from death.
That body that arose was Jesus!
Consider what Jesus made known when he was on the cross, and one of the thieves, who was being crucified at the same time, spoke to him, saying, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”
Luke 23:42-43 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Jesus told him that he would be with him in paradise that very day. His body would go to the grave, but his spirit would go directly to paradise.
When our spirit leaves our body, we are physically dead, but our spirit remains alive. The Bible tells us that, after saying, “It is finished,” Jesus gave up the ghost.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost.
This is telling us that his spirit left his body at that point. So, in order for the body of our Lord Jesus to rise from the dead once again, after being in the tomb for three days, his spirit had to re-enter his body. This it did do! His body could not live without his spirit.
Some may say, ‘No! You misunderstand! Jesus did not keep the body that was made of dust! He gave up his earthly body and received his glorious body.
Is that so? While this may be what some think and believe, it does not agree with what the Bible actually says. Scripture clearly tells us that the body that was laid in the tomb rose again; the same body only changed from mortal to immortal.
This is vitally important because, as Paul told the Thessalonians, it is if we believe this happened with Jesus, that we can then believe it is going to happen to those who ‘sleep’ in him.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Again, there is no part of you that ‘sleeps’ when you die, except your body! Your spirit is the part of you that, when present, gives your body life and, when absent, leaves your body asleep.
What happened to Christ is going to happen to us. We are told that if we believe that ‘Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which sleep in Jesus, God is going to bring with him. Even so, or in like manner as it happened to Jesus, it will happen to us!
This is the basis for the belief in the ‘hope’ that Paul is presenting to the believers. If we are confused about what happened to Jesus, we will be confused about what is going to happen to us.
Jesus rose physically after his spirit re-entered his body. And for those who sleep in Jesus, their bodies cannot rise again until their spirits also re-enter their bodies. At the present, those spirits are with the Lord. Therefore, when Jesus comes, what did Paul tell us God is going to do?
He will bring them – that is – their spirits - with Him!
When we see the meaning of the words ‘rose again,’ in the Greek, we can see that when the scripture speaks of Jesus rising again, it is referring to his body. Both the words ‘rose” and ‘again’ have the same meaning. It is “anistemi, an-is’-tay-mee; “to stand up (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive): - arise, lift up, raise up (again), rise (again), stand up (-right).” (Strong’s)
Notice that this is not referring to the ascension into Heaven. This is speaking of what was in the tomb for three days. This is speaking of actually, physically, standing up. Not only standing but rising up again! Jesus was temporarily physically dead, but he - his body - most definitely stood upright once again when he came out of the tomb victorious over sin and death!! Ask Mary. She saw him!
This is exactly what the Sadducees of Jesus’ day did not believe in. Today, many Christians who believe in eternal life for the soul may not believe in it for the body.
They can accept eternal life for the spirit and perhaps a completely new and different body made of some spiritual matter that we know nothing about. But the truth is, the same body Jesus had before his death did stand up once again. And he is the firstfuits of all those who sleep in him, so the same thing is going to happen to us!
As Paul goes on in 1 Thessalonians 1:15, he uses a Greek word that has been translated in such a way as to make it difficult to get his full meaning. Perhaps in the days of King James, this word was understood differently than the way it is used in the English language today. It is the word ‘prevent.’ He tells us:
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
The meaning of the word phthano, which is translated as “prevent,” has this meaning: “to be beforehand, i.e. anticipate or precede; by extension, to have arrived at: - (already) attain, come, prevent.” (Strong’s)
What he is telling us, by the word of the Lord, is that when Jesus returns, those of us who are alive are not going to go to meet the Lord before our loved ones who are asleep. We will not precede them. Now he goes on to tell us how all of this is going to play out.
16 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:
I used to think, as I imagine most people do, that when it says that the dead will rise first, it means they will rise into the air to meet Christ before those who are alive when he comes. But that was a mistake. That is not what Paul said.
Here, the word ‘rise’ has the same meaning as the word ‘rose’ in verse 14. It is speaking of standing up again.
Paul is telling us that our Lord is going to descend from Heaven, the archangel is going to shout, and the trump of God is going to sound, as Jesus is descending from Heaven with our loved ones (their spirits), whom he is bringing with him. Those who were dead will be able to stand up alive once again, having their spirits reunited with their bodies. And they will do so before anyone is caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
1 Corinthians 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
We know that when this verse states that Christ rose from the dead, it is not speaking of his ascension into the air but of him rising from the dead – standing up again.
The word ‘rose,’ in this verse is the Greek word “egeiro, eg-i’-ro; “(through the idea of collecting one’s faculties); to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e. rouse (literally from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death ... - awake, lift (up), raise (again, up), rear up, (a-) rise (again, up), stand, take up.” Strong’s)
How can a dead body stand up once again? How can a dead man collect his faculties again? It can only happen if his spirit re-enters his body. Praise the Lord! And this is going to happen to those who sleep in Jesus, before any of us rise into the air to meet our Lord. Now, see what Paul tells us in verse 17.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Now, notice carefully how the apostle uses the word ‘then’ after he tells us that the dead are going to stand up again - then ....
This word ‘then,’ in Greek, is “epeita, ep’-i-tah; “thereafter: - after that ....” (Strong’s)
So then, after the dead come back to life and stand up again - after this happens - then - we who are alive are going to be caught up - together - with - our loved ones, and - together - with them, - we are going to meet the Lord in the air.
How are we going to be caught up to meet the Lord? What did he say? We will be caught up together! This is a reunion!
Notice that, speaking of our leaving together, Paul uses the term ‘caught up.’ There is a vast difference between this term and the word ‘rise’ in the previous verse.
‘Caught up’ comes from one Greek word “harpazo, har-pad’-zo; “to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).” (Strong’s)
At this point, we are going to be seized, taken by force, and taken up to be with the Lord! The dead are not going to be caught up to meet the Lord before us. We are not going to be caught up to meet the Lord before them. We are all going to be caught up together. Paul wanted us to know about this blessed reunion that is going to take place when the Lord comes for his own.
Just think of how Paul has laid this all out. He took the time to explain that we will hear a shout and a trumpet when our Lord returns with the spirits of our loved ones. He takes the time to point out that we will not go to meet the Lord ahead of them. They will stand up, resurrected from death, alive and well, we will be reunited, and then God will forcibly take us up to meet him in the air! What a picture he painted for us! What words of hope for those whose hearts were broken when their loved ones died before them!
But he does not stop there. After telling us that we are going to be ‘caught up’ together with our loved ones who have previously been asleep in Jesus, Paul uses two very important words that I feel are usually overlooked. He uses the words – and so.
Look at the meaning of the word ‘so.’ ‘So’ comes from the Greek word “houto, hoo’-to, meaning, “in this way (referring to what precedes or follows): - after that, after (in) this manner ... on this fashion (-wise), so (in like manner), thus, what.” (Strong’s)
“... and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” In this way, shall we ever be with the Lord. In what way? TOGETHER!
How amazing are the plans and works of our God! He has planned for every detail of all that concerns his people. He has left nothing to our enemy. No matter how cunning Satan has been in devising plans to thwart the plan of God, God has already been many steps ahead of him, arranging complete victory and restoration for his creation and the fulfillment of his purposes!
Colossians 1:20-22 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.�21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Reconcile, here, means “to reconcile fully: - reconcile” (Greek [Strong’s]) Notice where the reconciling of us to God took place. It was in the body of his flesh! Hallelujah! And he is going to reconcile all things unto himself - things in Earth and things in Heaven!
God created mankind as immortal beings. Satan deceived them, and death overtook them. But God will never be defeated! He meant for us to have sweet communion with each other and with him forever, and he will see his will performed!
Reconciliation had to take place in a body because that is where the sin took place, and thus death passed on us all. Jesus reconciles, redeems, cleanses, and reconstitutes the whole man, not just our spirit.
He takes our body and makes it a spiritual house where he can come and live!
Something changed in mankind’s bodies when they went from immortal to mortal. But God is going to restore us to the way he created us in the beginning. He will restore all that he created ‘good’ in the beginning. And how did Paul conclude his message to God’s people? He told them to:
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The word ‘wherefore’ is translated from the Greek word “hoste, hoce’-teh, meaning: so too, i.e. thus, therefore (in various relations of consecution, as follow): - (insomuch) as, so that (then), (insomuch) that, therefore, to wherefore.” (Strong’s)
Insomuch means: “So that, to that degree.” (Webster’s 1828)
Therefore means: “1. For that; for that or this reason, referring to something previouslu stated. 2. consequently.” (Webster’s 1828)
So, therefore, consequently, because of these things that are true and told to us in the Word of God, knowing this now, let us comfort one another with these words.
Let me ask you: has anyone ever attempted to comfort you with these words? I imagine few who have heard these verses read in sermons on the rapture have ever been told that Paul’s main point was to lay out the facts concerning our loved ones who sleep in Jesus and our reunion with them when we go to meet the Lord in the air.
These verses have been used to warn people to be ready for the sudden coming of Christ. They have been used to spread joy and hope of the rapture of the church. And, certainly, all of that is good and important. But how could so many have missed Paul’s main point - his
main message to us? Why has this been hidden from the minds and hearts of the church? It is time for the blinders to be removed and for God’s people to see what the great apostle took the time to tell them about. It is time for ignorance to pass and treasures to be found.
When the loved one of an unbeliever dies, the word ‘lost’ seems appropriate. But when the loved one of a believer, who is also a believer, dies, they are not lost. We know where they are. It is appropriate to say that they ‘sleep,’ for, indeed, they are going to wake up and rise up again. So, we who are in Christ do not ‘lose’ our loved ones. We are only temporarily separated from them until the day that the Lord descends, and they are awakened to rise and be reunited with us. Brother and sister, we are going to go meet our Lord in the air with them!
Paul understood that when Jesus descends, death will no longer be able to hold any of God’s children. Death will lose its sting, and the grave will be unable to hold them any longer! It will no longer be able to separate the saint’s spirits from their bodies, nor the living from the dead!
In summary, those of us who are alive when the resurrection takes place, will experience a glorious reunion. The bodies of our loved ones who had gone on before us will stand up, alive once again. We will be caught up by God, together with them, to meet the Lord in the air. In this way, that is, together with them, we will live forever with the Lord. And we are to share the hope God has given to those whose hearts would
1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting, O grave, where is they victory?
Those of us who are alive when the resurrection takes place, will experience a glorious reunion. The bodies of our loved ones who had gone on before us will stand up, alive once again. We will be caught up by God, together with them, to meet the Lord in the air. In this way, that is, together with them, we will live forever with the Lord. And we are to share the hope God has given to those whose hearts would otherwise be grieving at the passing of their loved ones by sharing the words of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.
Why should we comfort one another in this way? Does this really matter? Is it really important for us to know what is going to happen to our bodies when our spirits are already with the Lord?
ABSOLUTELY!
This is good news! And it was important enough for Paul to not want us to be ignorant about these things! It is part of the gospel message that Satan has stolen from many. It is hope we are meant to have. Not only did Paul not want us to be ignorant about these things and to sorrow as though we have lost our loved ones forever, as do unbelievers, but he knew it was important for us to comfort each other with this truth as well.
