1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Paul’s Purpose in Writing About the Coming of The Lord

After Timothy returned from his visit to the church in Thessalonica, he would have told Paul how things would have gone.

One of the things he would have done is bring up some of the questions the Thessalonians had.

Timothy would have told Paul these questions, which he seeks to address through his letter.

In this section of the letter, we find out there were questions about those who had died.

The Thessalonians knew that Jesus was going to return, but meanwhile, were facing persecution and suffering. In the midst of this suffering some of their brothers and sisters in the Lord had died, and their fear was that somehow those who died before the coming of Jesus would miss out on that glorious day.

It may also have been that they thought they missed out on the day of the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,”

Bad information, or bad teaching, leads to confusion, worry, and frustration.

Knowing that the Thessalonians have these questions and concerns, Paul desires to write to them to correct their misunderstanding, and instruct them according to God’s Word.

He begins in 1Thessalonians 4:13 and says…

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.

As Paul begins his exhortation, we see his purpose in writing about the coming of the Lord.

First…

Paul wants to teach them

“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers,”

There’s a saying that goes, “you don’t know what you don’t know.”

This is the meaning of the word, ignorance: The condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed.

The truest desire of a teacher is to inform students. To pass on valuable information, with the hope that their lives will be better for it.

This is what Paul is seeking to do. He realizes the Thessalonians are lacking knowledge, so he wants to inform them.

Paul wants to teach them.

What does he want to teach them about?…

Paul wants to teach them about those who have died

“we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep,”

Paul wants to teach the Thessalonians specifically about those who have died.

The Thessalonians had friends/family/brothers/sisters in Christ who had died, and they were concerned that they were going to miss out on the second coming of Christ.

Paul does not want them to be uninformed, so he seeks here to teach them about it.

Paul uses the word “sleep”. This is a word commonly in the NT, and it is a euphemism for death.

A euphemism is a word or phrase that is less harsh, and is used in place of another word that is also true, but more blunt.

Examples

Rather than saying… You’re fired — you’re being let go.

Rather than saying… Someone died — someone passed away

Rather than saying… You’re an idiot — you have an interesting point of view

This particular use of the word sleep rather than death has a much greater purpose than simply softening the blow. As Paul is going to describe, believers in Christ have a hope that goes beyond the grave. Death is not the end.

So sleep then refers to the temporary nature of death. Though we die, and our bodies are buried in the grave, that is not where they remain.

This is not to say that believers are asleep until the Lord returns. This belief is known as “soul sleep”, and is believed by Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and others. They believe that after someone dies, their soul is asleep until the coming of the Lord or the Day of Judgement.

This is not a biblical concept.

The Bible teaches us the moment we die we face judgement.

Hebrews 9:27 ESV

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord for the believer.

2 Corinthians 5:6–8 ESV

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

For the unbeliever to be absent from the body is to be in hell.

Luke 16:22–23 ESV

The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

Until the final resurrection, though, there is a temporary heaven—paradise

Luke 23:43 ESV

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

We know that there will be a new heavens and a new earth. So this paradise that believers go to is temporary.

There is also a temporary hell—Hades

Revelation 1:18 ESV

and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Revelation 20:13–14 ESV

And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

As can be clearly seen in Luke 16:19-31 (the account of the rich man and Lazarus) neither in paradise nor in Hades are people sleeping.

It could be said, though, that a person’s body is “sleeping” while his soul is in paradise or Hades. At the resurrection, this body is “awakened” and transformed into the everlasting body a person will possess for eternity, whether in heaven or hell.

Those who were in paradise will be sent to the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1). Those who were in Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). These are the final, eternal destinations of all people—based entirely on whether or not a person trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Paul wants to teach/inform the Thessalonians about those who have died.

The reason Paul wants to teach them this is because…

Paul wants them to grieve with hope

1 Thessalonians 4:13 “that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.”

In those days it was commonly understood that after death there was nothing. This is similar to our day.

Ancient grave markers often bore the words, “I was not, I was, I am not, I care not.”

What amazing hope right?!? Not really!

Notice that Paul doesn’t say so that you may not grieve. Death brings grief, but for the Christian there is hope.

Paul is going to explain why in the next few verses.

Does anybody have any questions or comments about anything in we’ve talked about so far?

As we talked about the Thessalonians and their lack of knowledge which resulted in unneccessary fear, and worry, did it bring to mind a time in your life where you had fear, worry because of a lack of knowledge?

Maybe you received the wrong information, or didn’t have all the facts and acted on it and made a fool of yourself.

Can you remember a time when you lacked knowledge, or were given false information? What happened as a result?

Maybe you acted on this false information and ran into trouble, or maybe it caused you unneccessary worry or fear.

Think of an example to give

Paul is going to correct the Thessalonians misunderstanding and ignorance regarding those who have died…

Is it important for us to correct misunderstanding or ignorance in others? Why or why not?

We need to correct wrong beliefs if we know about them. We can save them from unneccessary fear, worry, or even more importantly from hell.

We’ve seen that Paul purpose was to teach the Thessalonians about those who have died so that they have hope.

Now he is going to point them to…

Our Hope is in Jesus

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

Paul points them back to the foundation of their faith. Jesus’ death and resurrection.

This is the basis of their hope for the future.

Notice first…

This hope is available through faith

“For since we believe”

Paul is assuring the Thessalonians that they can have hope because they believe. Because they have faith in this truth.

We have to admit that this sounds crazy, but that’s what faith is.

This hope is founded on Jesus

“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again”

Paul affirms the truth of the Bible’s claims about Jesus. He doesn’t mention all of the Bible’s claims about Jesus in this short sentance, but is assuming their truthfulness by pointing to Jesus’ death and resurrection.

First, Paul points out that our faith is in…

Jesus’ Death — “Jesus died”

Why does Jesus’s death give us hope?

He fulfilled God’s Word.

He was the sacrifice for sin.

Through His death, our sins are covered/paid for.

He defeated sin.

Second, Paul points out that our faith is in…

Jesus’ Resurrection — “Jesus rose again”

Why does Jesus’s resurrection give us hope?

Since God raised Him from the dead, we can have hope that God can and will raise us from the dead.

The hope that we have is available through faith, is founded on Jesus, and…

This hope comes from God’s power

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

Since God was able to raise Jesus from the dead, we can have the assurance that God has the power to raise us from the dead.

Paul gives the Thessalonians hope amidst their grief through reminding them of the glorious hope that we have in Jesus.

One day God will bring us into His presence in heaven forever.

Does anybody have any questions or comments about this last section?

Maybe you struggle to have hope when you think about death, or maybe you know someone who does…

Why do we struggle at times with doubt?

We feel the weight of our sin.

Faith is something you can’t see, so it’s hard to believe.

Our problems feel to big.

As we think about Paul’s teaching here in this passage as he directs the Thessalonians to Jesus as the source of their hope…

What can we practically do (or not do) that will give us assurance of our hope?

Meet with the church regularly to be reminded of God’s Word.

Read and memorize God’s Word.

Pray and ask for confidence and hope in Christ.

Don’t listen to the news or others who cause us to doubt/fear/worry.

Paul first teaches the Thessalonians that their hope is in Jesus.

Next he teaches them that…

Our Hope Comes From God’s Word

1 Thessalonians 4:15 “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.”

There is some disagreement on what Paul means here by “a word from the Lord”.

There is no reference in the Bible that talks about the rapture of the church in this way…

So some believe it could be that Paul is referring to some of Jesus’ teaching that hadn’t been written down.

Others believe that Paul is speaking of a direct word of revelation from God to him.

In any case, we have this written down in our Bibles, which we believe to be the inerrant Word of God, so we can be sure that what Paul teaches here is true, because it comes from God.

Paul goes on to say that there is going to be order when the Lord comes.

There are going to be those who are alive when the Lord returns, but they do not get snatched up first.

Those who have died get snatched up first.

Paul is going to expand on this in the next few verses.

As believers, we can have hope that comes from God’s Word, and God’s Word tells us that…

The Lord is coming

1 Thessalonians 4:16 “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.”

The Lord Himself is going to descend. He’s not going to send someone else.

Speaking on this verse, Patrick Schreiner says…

“He comes down with a shout of command, the voice of an archangel, a trumpet of God. The shout of command is the cry of a victorious warrior. The voice of an archangel recalls Old Testament images from Zechariah 14:1-5, where God is accompaied by his angels fighting on behalf of his people. The sound of a trumpet calls people into battle or declares victory.”

When the Lord comes…

The dead in Christ will rise first, then those who are alive.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “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,”

Paul again speaks on the order of the rapture.

The coming of the Lord that is described in the Bible would have brought to mind the imagery of a King returning from battle victorious.

The people would then go out to meet the king, welcoming him home and celebrating the victory with him.

Paul here affirms that Jesus is going to return in victory, and then gives the Thessalonians the assurance that those who have died will return with Jesus, be reunited with their resurrected, glorified bodies, and be the first to meet King Jesus at His triumphant return.

Then those who are alive will be caught up with them, as we join the victory celebration of Jesus!

Paul speaks at length about this in 1 Corinthians 15:35-58.

It is a lengthy passage, but is worth reading to better understand how the resurrection will work.

vv. 35—44

Paul is using the examples God has given us in nature to help us see that God has also given us a natural body in this life, and will give us a spiritual body in the next life. It will still be a physical body, but spiritually enhanced to inherit the heavenly kingdom.

vv. 45—49

Paul here points to the Adam and Christ to prove the point of two different bodies as well. We were born into the image of Adam, and because of our faith in Christ we will be raised in His image in heavenly bodies.

vv. 50—58

In a moment, everyone dead or alive will be transformed into heavenly, imperishable bodies. This is our glorification, where we will be saved from the presence of sin!

After this transfomation…

We will be together forever

1 Thessalonians 4:17 “and so we will always be with the Lord.”

The Thessalonians were afraid that those who had died would not join them at the return of the Lord.

Paul assures them that one day they will be reunited at the return of the Lord, and together, they will be with the Lord always. Forever. For all eternity.

Does anybody have any questions or comments about this last section?

How does it make you feel as we study and learn about the coming of the Lord and the resurrection?

It is exciting!

It gives me hope.

It makes me want to be sure that I’m living a life that’s pleasing to God.

It makes me want to tell others.

Paul wrote these words to give the Thessalonians hope. This hope was never meant to stay with them.

Our Hope is a Message of Encouragement

1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

It is a source of encouragement to us, but it is not meant to stay with us.

We are commanded to encourage one another with these words.

How could we use these verses to encourage one another?

We could encourage believers who have recently lost a loved one.

We can encourage one another to live lives with that end/promise in mind.

Could this message be used to speak to non-believers? How?

We could show them the hope of Christians, which God could use to draw them in.

It could be used for a non-believer who has lost a loved one.

We would have to be careful here. If they were not Christians, then their loved one would be in hell.

This is not a reason to not say anything. We must speak the truth to them as well so they have a chance to turn from their sin to Christ.

SIDE—NOTE: 4 VIEWS ON THE RAPTURE

This passage is often used to talk about the rapture. This is the most explicit text we have on the rapture.

First we must understand the basics about the tribulation.

Rev. Joe Kramer gives a helpful overview of the tribulation

The Tribulation (A Really Quick Overview) — Most Christians (evangelicals) believe in something called the Tribulation period. This period spans seven years and during this time the entire world becomes united under one leader; this leader is in actuality the anti-Christ. He will consolidate all power and all religion under one banner (Of course some will not agree). During this time to be a Christian means capital punishment.

No one will be able to buy or sell with the mark of the beast. Approximately 3 ½ years into this (a little further) this will be the time of the Great Tribulation when God will pour out His wrath on the earth (before that is known as the time of Satan). At the end of the Tribulation period Jesus will return to rule and reign for a thousand years before the earth is destroyed and remade.

There are 4 basic views on when the rapture will take place.

Pre-tribulation view

This view believes that Jesus will come to rapture the church before the 7-year tribulation begins.

The church will not suffer under the anti-Christ.

Mid-tribulation view

Half way through the 7-year tribulation, the anti-Christ is revealed, and God begins to pour out His wrath on the earth.

Mid-tribulation beleives that at this time Christ will return and rapture the church.

Pre-wrath view

Believers will be on the earth during the time God begins to judge the earth, but will be raptured by Christ before God’s judgement turns to wrath.

This is typically seen to be somewhere during the last half of the tribulation.

Believers will not have to suffer God’s wrath.

Post-tribulation view

Believers will be on the earth the entire 7-year tribulation, but will be raptured by Jesus the moment Christ returns to usher in God’s judgement.

The Bible doesn’t give us all the answers. We must have charity toward others who may believe something differently than we do.

This is not a salvation issue.

Paul’s point in this passage is not to be theological, but pastoral. He is intending to give the Thessalonians hope, not start a debate.

QUOTES

“Paul’s aim is not to speculate but to comfort the Thessalonians who were undergoing persecution and wondering about some of their loved ones who had died. We have misused these verses if all we do is argue about what sort of blueprint is given for the last days. For believers, the final day is to be one not of apprehension but of anticipation, not of panic but of peace.” — Patrick Schreiner

NEXT WEEK WE WILL BE STUDYING 1 THESSALONIANS 5:1—11

PRAYER GROUP PROMPT

How does the coming of the Lord encourage you today? How does it challenge you?