Death of believers (2)

Giving honor to God the Father, and God the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and to my preach brothers. May god bless you all in the name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ is my prayer. Amen

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

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Condolence to the family: My prayer is that God will strength you and comfort you with His Holy Word Amen.

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

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 by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 KJV 1900

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

All that I have read hinges on one word belief ;

Death is a normal experience for believers:

Romans 14:8 KJV 1900

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

Hebrews 9:27 KJV 1900

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Death can be a blessing, Paul said, “because to live is Christ and to die is gain”

Philippians 1:21–23 KJV 1900

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Because of the prospect of heaven

Philippians 1:21–23 KJV 1900

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

1 Kings 19:4 KJV 1900

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

Job 3:20 KJV 1900

20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul;

Job 7:15 KJV 1900

15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, And death rather than my life.

2 Thessalonians 1:7 KJV 1900

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

At death believers are with Christ

They are in his presence

Luke 23:43 KJV 1900

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV 1900

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:10 KJV 1900

Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

They are safe and secure

The second death is the final banishment of unbelievers from God’s presence.

Revelation 2:11 KJV 1900

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

They have the prospect of a new order of things

Revelation 21:4 KJV 1900

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

2 Timothy 4:6–8 KJV 1900

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Revelation 22:3–5 KJV 1900

3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

The defeat of death

Death is vanquished for believers

1 Corinthians 15:55 KJV 1900

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Romans 8:36 KJV 1900

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

2 Timothy 1:10 KJV 1900

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Hebrews 2:14 KJV 1900

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Revelation 20:14 KJV 1900

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Death is to be reversed in resurrection

The death of believers is likened to sleep

Implying rest, renewing and awaking

Sleep does not imply lack of consciousness but rather rest, renewing and awaking. In the NT it is only used of believers.

Acts 7:59–60 KJV 1900

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

See also ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Implying peace and comfort

Abraham’s side suggests a welcome to a place of peace and protection.

Luke 16:22 KJV 1900

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Luke 16:25 KJV 1900

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Death and the recognition of others

“caught up together” implies recognition.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV 1900

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

See also “gathered to his people” (literally “to his father’s kin”) is a common OT expression and implies continued existence together; ; ; ; ;

Believers can face death without fear

They die in relationship with God

Hebrews 2:14–15 KJV 1900

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Psalm 23:4 KJV 1900

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Proverbs 14:32 KJV 1900

32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: But the righteous hath hope in his death.

They die trusting the Lord

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Hebrews 11:13 KJV 1900

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Hebrews 11:21–22 KJV 1900

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

They receive comfort in facing death

John 11:25–26 KJV 1900

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

See also ; ;

Isaiah 25:8 KJV 1900

8 He will swallow up death in victory; And the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; And the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: For the Lord hath spoken it.

1 Corinthians 15:26 KJV 1900

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Revelation 1:18 KJV 1900

18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

In death they can glorify God

Philippians 1:20 KJV 1900

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Believers that confess their sins shall be saved:

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the

Numbers 23:10 KJV 1900

Who can count the dust of Jacob, And the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, And let my last end be like his!

King James Version Chapter 4

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him

Romans 10:8–11 KJV 1900

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

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Revelation 12:11 KJV 1900

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Revelation 2:13 KJV 1900

13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.