Rising From The Dead

Introduction

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,[d] 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

Author: Paul

Audience: Theselonians

Setting: Some Believers in the early Church had died, and they wondered if they would be at a Disadvantage when the Lord came.

Had they forfited the wonderful things that would happen at the end?

Death even made some doubt the secound comiing alltogether

I. There is Hope (v. 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.”

The statement “But we do not want you ro be uninformed, brothers” Indicates that was wanting to draw attention to something new that was importent.

Paul refers to those who have passed away as those who have fallen asleap. He only uses this exact participle one more time in 1 cor 11:30 when dealing with a lack of respect for the Lord’s supper. “ That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died”

That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died

Paul writes “That you may not greve as others who have no hope”

Greif is certenly normal with the death of a loved one, this is not saying that christians should not greive, but rather that there is a difference between the hope of a Christian and the dispair of a Pegon.

When an unsaved individual dies there is nothing but dispair, but when a Believer dies there is an abundance of hope.

More than just hope that loved one is sitting at the feet of Jesus.

II. The reason there is Hope (v. 14-17)

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,[d] 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.

Paul brings attention to the ceteral fact, of the faith, Jesus died for our sin.

III. Rejoyce in the Hope (18)

Note: “Jesus died and Rose again” and “God will Bring with Him those who have fallen asleap”

Christ experienced the full horor of death, and thus transformed death from death to sleep. Not once in the New testement our Belivers said to have died, but rather “they sleep” in contrast Christ “died”.

15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,[d] that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

-The Statement “For this we declare to you from the Lord” indicates that it was directly given from God.

By his Paul’s statement “That we who are alive and left until the comming of the Lod” indicates that Paul thought that he would be alive when Christ returned. However, he also noted that no one knew the time, and he certenly did not claim to know

As he says in 5:1-2

English Standard Version Chapter 5

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

Paul states “we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, Will not Precede those who have fallen asleap” meaning that those who have died will be raised first.

v.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.

“The Lord Himself will decend” The Lord will litterally come and end the church age, not some messenger but indeed the Lord.

“With a cry of comand, with the voice of the arcangel”

The Voice of the Arcangel and the Lord will come down.

The Lord is not obeying the arc angel but rater the arcangel pre-ceades Him. The Lord is in control.

“With the sound of the trumpet”

The trumpet is associated with divine activity in the Old testement.

English Standard Version Chapter 19

16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

Blow a trumpet in Zion;

sound an alarm on my holy mountain!

Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,

for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near,

Also, The trumpet is associated with the return of Christ elcewhere.

English Standard Version Chapter 24

31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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.

“And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

by This statement even death does not break our bond with Christ. we are still in Him.

This is the Church age saints will be raised before the events of verse 17.

It is importent to note however that there is not a long time period between these two events, they are consecutive.

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.

Believers who are alive will be caught up with them that have died. There will be a reunion with Christ, and those who have died.

Paul ends with we will be with the Lord together. There is No need for more

AND SO WE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD!

III. Rejoyce in the Hope (v. 18)

Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Paul asks the thesolonians to not only rejoyce in this but also to encouge other believers with this truth.

THe Idea is God is supreeme and His power will never be Lost. Weather we live or we Die God has the supreme power.

Even When we Die we can rest in the fact that those who sleep do so in Jesus and that they have there place in the final things

Application

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