1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - Hope in Grief

Introduction:

I’m sure many of us have heard of the Left Behind series in which the end times is depicted in a fictional series of books - three of which became movies. There is something about eschatology - or the study of end times - that seems so fascinating to us. There are countless other books written on the subject as well.

For the next two weeks we are going to see Paul discuss a brief overview of a couple of aspects of the end times. Today’s message introduces the kickoff to end times understanding. Today, we are going to discuss the Rapture.

Here is an eschatological outline that I got from Pastor Kenny Stidham - the former pastor at Good Shepherd in Scott Depot. Note that the very first thing seen here (noted by the green arrow) is the Rapture of the church. Unfortunately, time will not allow us to go through all of the events throughout the seven year Tribulation and final return of Christ followed by the Millennial reign of Christ today. These will be things that we will gradually cover as we go through Scripture verse by verse and book by book.

But as we begin studying this first event that is the start of the end, I want us to really spend some time learning what Paul is truly teaching in this passage. Yes, there are great truths that we can glean from this regarding end times theology. We learn a lot about the Rapture in these vivid and powerful verses. However, the real heart of this section of Scripture is to instill hope in the life of grieving believers. Paul’s main concern was to comfort this church in Thessalonica that was undergoing persecution. Join me as we see what the Word of God has for us today:

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV

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.

Let us pray.

Prayer.

Today we are going to discuss three ways that we show that our hope in Christ. The first is...

I. We Who Have Hope in Christ Should… Mourn Differently (13)

1 Thessalonians 4:13 ESV

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.

I’m sure context clues have shown most here that when Paul mentions those that are asleep - he means those who have died. This Greek word, koimaō (q-mah-o), is commonly understood to refer to those who had passed away throughout the New Testament in verses such as Matthew 27:52, John 11:11, among many others.

But notice that this does not refer to soul sleep. Those who have died do not experience a time of soul sleep or a time in purgatory as some false teaching asserts. We see Paul teach in 2 Corinthians 5:8 the following:

2 Corinthians 5:8 ESV

Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Those who have died and are absent from the body - are at home with the Lord. They are in the Lord’s presence. He says a similar statement in a book we went through last year - Philippians 1:23:

Philippians 1:23 ESV

I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

As he struggles in prison with thoughts of whether he is called to continue on earth working for Christ or be with Christ through martyrdom- he states that to depart and be with Christ is far better. It wouldn’t be far better for him to die and be asleep for many years. Finally, we find another clear verse in Luke 23:43:

Luke 23:43 ESV

And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

As Jesus hangs on the cross, he looks over at the penitent thief beside Him and guarantees salvation to Him that very day. He doesn’t say tomorrow you will be with me - or in a thousand years you will be with me - He says today!

Getting back to our verse we come to the second half of it:

1 Thessalonians 4:13 ESV

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.

That you may not grieve as others do who have no hope...

Morning and grieving is entirely Biblical. Jesus even showed us an example of mourning when Lazarus died. It is during this account that we come to the shortest and most simple passage in the Bible - Jesus wept (John 11:35).

I’m afraid that our contemporary church has developed an aversion to brokenness and mourning. It seems that the false teachings of wealth and prosperity have crept into the church and twisted Biblical mourning. The Joel Osteens of the world, with their painted smiles, have made it unacceptable to be real and share the hurt and struggles that are in our lives.

My friends, there is nothing holy about not mourning when you lose a loved one. There is nothing holy about not mourning when you receive a terminal cancer diagnosis for yourself or a loved one. There is nothing holy about suppressing your emotions and shutting down your feelings and faking that everything is ok.

In our Scripture today, Paul is certainly not teaching against mourning here. Mourning is Biblical. In fact, he commands elsewhere that we are to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15).

Yet our mourning looks different than those who are unbelievers. We mourn as those with hope. Atheists have no hope. Once they lose a loved one, there is no promise of seeing them again. Death brings finality and leaves only room for gloom. Life for the unbeliever seems but a meaningless vapor on earth.

Not so for the believer. Death is entrance into eternal life! Death on earth is freedom from the burden of sin - freedom from temptation - freedom from aches and pains - freedom from cancer and other ailments - and freedom from depression, pain, and anxiety. When Jesus decides to take us home - we are going to a wonderful homecoming that we can be excited about!

Because of this wonderful promise of God, we should mourn differently than the world.

Next we see that...

Scripture References: Matthew 27:52, John 11:11, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:23, Luke 23:43, John 11:35, Romans 12:15

II. We Who Have Hope in Christ Should… Be Motivated Differently (14-17)

1 Thessalonians 4:14 ESV

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

Before diving into this wonderful eschatological teaching, I think it is important to remember last week’s sermon as a preface to this. Paul has just warned against being idle busybodies and encouraged the church to work diligently for the Lord. So as we study this passage, let’s remember that although we need to look forward to the coming of Christ, we also need to be working for Him through His power in the meantime. The hope and expectation of His coming back should motivate us to work even harder because it is a sure thing that He is coming back. We know not the day or the hour - but we have the promise from a God who never lies (Hebrews 6:18) .

Paul gives a pre-understanding in verse 14 that is the basis for everything else he is going to say. He starts with pointing to the power of the resurrection. Since Christ died and rose again - He has the power to raise us! Such a wonderful thought as we move forward. He points to the fact that those who had fallen asleep - the dead in Christ - are not forgotten. They are risen as well.

Most scholars think Paul presses in on these deceased believers because the church in Thessalonica was really concerned that their loved ones would be left when Jesus came. There was a strong sentiment, as we saw in last week’s sermon, that Christ was coming back very soon. And because of that sentiment, some didn’t work as they should and others spent time worrying about those who had died - thinking that Christ would forget about them and that they would miss out on eternity in heaven with Christ.

Paul comforts the church by letting them know that Christ will bring these believers who had passed on through persecution and natural death along with Him when He comes.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 ESV

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.

Just in case the church missed his words in verse 14, Paul reiterates that they need not fear that their dead had missed out on their chance to be in heaven with Christ. He has let them know that they are already with Christ in verse 14 and now lets them know that they even get to have their glorified bodies before those who are alive and left on earth at the coming of the Lord! Those who are alive will not precede those who have fallen asleep. Theologian Gene Green highlights that those who had passed first will take the place of honor in this heavenly procession.

Now we come to verse 16 which is when the fireworks come, Biblically speaking:

1 Thessalonians 4:16 ESV

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.

This verse gives us some of the most vivid details of the Rapture. Paul refers to the Rapture as the coming of Christ as we saw in the last verse. This word coming in Greek is, parousia (par-oo-see-a). Scholars oftentimes refer to the Rapture as the parousia because of this reference.

So let’s break down what Paul says in this verse:

1. The Lord descends from heaven with a cry of command

The Lord Jesus is going to descend from heaven because the last time He was on earth He ascended into heaven. See this in Luke 24:50-53.

Luke 24:50–53 ESV

And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

In a similar way, Christ will descend back to rapture his church. And this descent will come with a cry of command which refers to the power of His coming. It is with all power and authority.

2. With the voice of an archangel

The only place that we see an archangel by name in the Scriptures is when we see Michael in Jude 9. However, this does not mean there are not other archangels. This archangel will serve as a herald of sorts - announcing the coming of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who comes to gather His people.

3. With the sound of the trumpet of God.

Next we see that this will not be a secret coming. It will be obvious to all that something big just happened. The trumpet was blown in many instances for Israel. Whether it be for feasts, to signal war, to gather for celebrations, or even to make announcements. Theologian and Pastor John MacArthur infers that this time the trumpet will blow to signal deliverance and to assemble God’s people.

4. The dead in Christ will rise first.

We finally come to the last phrase of this verse. The deceased believers that came with Christ will be given their glorified bodies at this moment. And to the comfort of the church in Thessalonica that had worried about their dead in Christ - these deceased believers are not forgotten by any means. In fact, they are instead given the place of honor and are given their glorified bodies first! These glorified spirits are united with their glorified bodies. We see this mentioned in 1 John 3:2

1 John 3:2 ESV

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

When Christ appears at the Rapture - or the coming - or the parousia (par-oo-see-a) - we will all be given glorified bodies like He was. Our new bodies will not be marred by the effects of sin. We will not have pain any longer. No more cancer. No more wearing out. No more fatigue. How amazing is this promise!

Moving to verse 17:

1 Thessalonians 4:17 ESV

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.

5. Those who are alive will be caught up together with Him

Finally, we see that those who still are on earth at the time of the Rapture will not experience death. They will be like Enoch who walked with God and then was taken to heaven.

Genesis 5:24 ESV

Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

Or like Elijah who was taken up into heaven as well. 2 Kings 2:11

2 Kings 2:11 ESV

And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

How amazing will that be to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air! Note an important distinction here. Some people misunderstand the Rapture as the second coming or return of Christ. Note that Christ doesn’t come all the way back to earth in the Rapture. He meets those who are alive in the air and takes them to heaven.

As you can see on this timeline again - we are talking about the Rapture which is just before the Tribulation. The Tribulation is a 7 year period of time that precedes the actual return of Christ and formation of His Millennial Kingdom on earth. It is during this 7 year Tribulation that the the Antichrist will come to power and the judgments mentioned in Revelation will come upon the earth.

I understand that the timeline of the end times is difficult to understand. There are some areas that are more clear than others. However, we hold to a pre-tribulation, pre-millennial view of the return of Christ as seen in this timeline. Which means that we believe the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation and before the Millennial reign of Christ. This timeline provides for the most literal interpretation and understanding of all end times passages found throughout the Bible. Do we know everything about the end times? Absolutely not. But God has gifted us with a good overview of what is to come.

And finally, Paul says:

6. So we will always be with the Lord.

My friends, listen to this wonderful promise of God. Don’t get so lost in the details of the timeline that you miss the main point here! We have no power of when Christ raptures His church. But we can rejoice in the very fact that He is certainly coming for His people and caring for those who are His always! Those who are true believers will always be with the Lord! There is no further work that you need to do to prove that you are worthy to get in. Christ paid it all for you. He did all of the work for you. He took your penalty for your sin on the cross. He rose three days later and defeated death and the grave - thereby securing victory for all of those who would confess that He is Lord and follow Him! Praise God for His loving mercy and grace!

Do you have that promise today? Can you say that you will always be with the Lord? Is He your personal Savior and have you acknowledge Him as the Lord of your life? He is the Lord over all. If you haven’t acknowledged that, friend, He still is Lord! He doesn’t need you to acknowledge it.

But He offers eternal life to those who do acknowledge and submit to His Lordship. Who do accept the free gift of eternal life that He offered us through His sacrificial death on the cross. Who repent of their sins and put their faith in Him alone. Friend, if you haven’t done that today - don’t waste another moment. Jesus is coming back. Be ready. Accept His love and mercy that He offers freely.

Finally, we come to our last point...

Scripture References: Hebrews 6:18, Luke 24:50-53, Jude 9, 1 John 3:2, Genesis 5:24, 2 Kings 2:11

III. We Who Have Hope in Christ Should… Be Meeting Differently (18)

1 Thessalonians 4:18 ESV

Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Paul ends with such a simple and yet profound sentence. Because of all that he has just said, we should encourage one another with these words.

In other words, our meetings together as believers should look different than the world. Yes, we should acknowledge the sin of our world. Yes, we should acknowledge the persecution that many of us and our brothers and sisters face throughout our world. Yes, we should continue to preach the Gospel and reach out to the lost. And yes, we aren’t just to smile and act like everything is always ok when it isn’t.

But we should, because of our hope found in Christ, have a different level of encouragement and joy than the world around us. Our times together as believers should be marked by joy because even though there may be persecution - as the Thessalonian believers knew only too well - we also have the hope that Jesus Christ is coming back!

Friends, is there anything more encouraging than knowing that Christ will never forget about His church? Is there anything more encouraging than knowing that you have salvation that has been secured by Christ and guaranteed by Christ?

This is why we are commanded to think on things above. Colossians 3:2:

Colossians 3:2 ESV

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

As we do life with one another in the church, we should be meeting differently.

What are some ways we should be meeting differently?

1. Our Conversation Should Be Different

That means that our conversations should be Biblical. If you have ever read the writings of the Puritans, you cannot help but be convicted by their knowledge and memorization of Scripture. Every sentence seems to drip with Bible verses! Sadly, many believers today are borderline illiterate when it comes to the Scriptures. Our conversations should be full of grace and love. They should be full of the truth of God’s Word. Spend time meditating on and reading the Word of God.

Align your words with the Word.

2. Our Preaching Should Be Different

The preaching of the church should be different as well. Unbelievers shouldn’t feel comfortable hearing a sermon in church. They should either disagree strongly because it is so Gospel-centered, or they should be convicted to the point of repentance through the drawing of the Holy Spirit! I pray that the Lord convicts all of those preachers who give motivational talks instead of preaching Biblical sermons. May our churches preach truth in love - not settling for the approval of man - but seeking the approval of God.

3. Our Music Should Be Different

Our music should be different. It shouldn’t sound like a sappy love song on secular radio. It shouldn’t drip with the words of secular humanism - I am awesome, I matter more than anyone else, the world is all about me. It shouldn’t be all about experience and the worship of our feelings. Instead it should magnify and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ! Do you want to experience God? Then worship Him in spirit and in truth! Make your worship about Him and not yourself - and then you will truly experience God.

4. Our Attitude Should Be Different

We should have joy and hope. We should not be doomsday people. Yes, we see the signs of the times. We should not deny the evil in our world and the persecution going on all around us. But we should be encouraged because we know that Jesus is coming back! There is victory in Jesus! As the old hymn states:

I heard about a mansion He has built for me in glory. And I heard about the streets of gold Beyond the crystal sea; About the angels singing, And the old redemption story, And some sweet day I'll sing up there The song of victory.

Scripture References: Colossians 3:2

Conclusion:

As we come to a close, I think it would be fitting for us to sing the chorus of this beloved hymn. Can you all stand with me as we sing?

O victory in Jesus, My Savior, forever. He sought me and bought me With His redeeming blood,

He loved me ere I knew Him And all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory, Beneath the cleansing flood.

Written by E M Bartlett

Let us pray.

Prayer

If you would like to learn more about salvation through Jesus Christ or want to obey Jesus by obeying the first commandment of a believer in going through the waters of baptism - please let me know.

Have a blessed week.