Comforting Words | 1 Thess 4:13-18

Hear the Word of our Lord

1 Thess 4:13-18 “13 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. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

Introduction. Have you ever been excited about a big announcement? Last week on Wednesday March 6 Apple revealed what many of us what been waiting for. For over a year, I’ve been wanting to buy a tablet called an ipad2, but I had to wait till I had saved enough money to buy one.

As I looked into buying one, I noticed the internet of was filled of rumors regarding an ipad3. Last Wednesday the big announcement was given: Expect an ipad3.

As believers we look forward to something more glorious than an iPad3. We look forward to the second coming of our Lord Jesus.

Background of the letter:In Acts 17 we find Paul, Timothy, and Silas preaching in the Thessalonian synagogue over three Sabbaths, and a number of Jews and God-fearing Gentiles believed (Acts 17:4). First Thessalonians 1:9–10 suggests that Paul subsequently spent some weeks ministering fruitfully to pagan Gentiles. However, due to persecution they were forced to leave Thessalonica prematurely (Acts 17:9–10).

Paul was concerned for the new Christians, and therefore a few months later he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica (1 Thess. 3:1–2).

When Timothy meets back with Paul he reported that generally the church community was doing well. However, not everything at Thessalonica was rosy. Some members of the church had died (4:13), and because they were not fully informed about what would happen to deceased Christians at Christ’s return (3:10; 4:13), some apparently thought that those who had died would miss out on the second coming. And so Paul in chapter 4 and verse 13 starts with

“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.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13, ESV)

Paul wants to be certain that the Thessalonians are aware and fully understand what happens to those who have died prior to second coming of our Lord so that they don’t grieve as others do who have no hope. Paul is not saying that Christians are not to grieve the death of a loved one. It is natural for us to grieve when a loved one dies. Even Jesus grieved when his friend Lazarus dies. The key word is HOPE.

When I was 10 years old, I remember waving my mother goodbye as her bus took off to the United States. I still remember her words, “We will see each other again” and we did four years later. By the grace of God we became Christians.

About 5 years ago my mom died from an aggressive form of cancer. At her burial, when they were done lowering the casket I went back in time when I was 10 years old and I could hear her say, “we will see each other again”

I know that we will each other again because of the hope of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.

In verse 14 he continues saying that “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Thessalonians 4:14, ESV)

Our foundation in the belief that those who have died in Christ will rise from the dead is based on the historical event when Jesus after he died and was buried, rose from victorious from the dead. This is why Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life

Since Christ is the “first born from among the dead” (Col. 1:8) believers are guaranteed to rise from the dead at the second coming.

That is not to say that believers are in some sort of unconscious state. I believe Scripture teaches that believers who have died are in Christ’s present.

Jesus said to the thief on the cross next to him, “ “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”” (Luke 23:43, ESV)

Paul himself said, “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” (Philippians 1:23, ESV)

Believers are with him, yet there will come a time when those their souls and their bodies will reunite.

Paul continues writing that “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.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15–17, ESV)

Listen, Jesus is coming back for a second time. This is the point of my sermon: TO REMIND YOU THAT JESUS IS COMING BACK AGAIN!

Jesus said “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:2–3, ESV)

And as Jesus was ascending up to heaven, the disciples were again told “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”” (Acts 1:11, ESV)

Brothers and sisters, there is an appointed day when Jesus will come back to earth for a second time. Nobody knows the day or the hour when it will happen. I believe we can agree on those two things: He is coming back again and nobody knows the day or the hour of his coming.

We can agree to disagree on the interpretation on the timing of events prior to his coming, but we rejoice and encourage one another as verse 18 says.

Let me read them to you again, “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.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–18, ESV)

The reality of Jesus’ second return encourages us in the following ways:

1. Encourage us to persevere under trials. No problem will last forever. I had a rough week as a Pastor.

2. Encourage us to share the goods news of salvation to the people around us. We have work to do in the mean time.

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:18–20, ESV)

It also comforts us.

3. It comforts us when we are facing the unknown.

a. Sickness. “We need to do more testing”

b. Job security. “The company is looking at cutting back”

c. Country’s economy. “Gas can reach $5 a gallon this summer”

d. Rumors of war. “In the latest news North Korea tested more missiles”

4. It comfort us when a loved one dies.

“I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:50–57, ESV)

Jesus does indeed gives us the victory over death! And we have a glorious hope of being with him whether we died and go be with him or whether we are alive when he comes back for a second time.

Closing story: The best is yet to come.