I was blessed to have seen these verses again from the Apostle Paul, as he wrote to the Thessalonians – Followers of Jesus Christ, those who are “In Christ”
Those Who Died in Christ – (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
The Apostle Paul has something really encouraging to say … and I will share…
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
15 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 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 and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NASB)
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“so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. ”
A death of a loved one is devastating. It is so final. It is the end.
For those who do not believe in Jesus, in His resurrection, when death of a loved one happens, they grieve to the point of hopelessness.
“so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. ”
And then Paul explains further:
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
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“if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, “
There are people who know that Jesus died. They caused His death. They still crucify Him with their sins and disobedience.
There are people who knew and know “about” Jesus and do not believe IN Jesus.
There are those who just reject Jesus.
And there are people who KNOW and BELIEVE IN Jesus, who also believe that Jesus will rise again.
There is THAT difference. That distinction.
So it is VERY important to let people know about Jesus . (Matthew 11:25-30 KJV)
https://www.christianlifegroups.com/come-to-me-and-i-will-give-you-rest-matthew-1125-30-kjv/
It’s every Christian’s responsibility (Matthew 28:16-20 KJV) – to plant those seeds (Luke 8:4-8) of The Word of God in people.
https://www.christianlifegroups.com/the-great-commission-matthew-2816-20-kjv/
https://www.christianlifegroups.com/the-parable-of-the-sower-luke-84-8-kjv/
God will make it grow in the hearts of those people if they choose not to harden their hearts.
And here’s God’s promise:
“even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”
So since Jesus rose again, those who are “in Jesus”, those who believe and follow Jesus, will also rise again, because God will bring our departed loved ones with Jesus.
“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.”
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Note that ” the dead in Christ will rise first.”
Meaning, those dead who are believers and followers of Christ, those who are dead in Christ.
17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
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“we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air,”
Isn’t that comforting?
We will see our departed loved ones again! Those who have died believing and following Christ will be raised again, with Christ!
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
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Thanks to the Lord God who used the Apostle Paul to write these verses, and explaining it this way that can be understood by those who believe in Jesus Christ.
Share the message! 🙂
This is what it means when Jesus said
40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” –
Read what Jesus said in John 6:26-40 (KJV)
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