What Happens When We Die?

What Happens When We Die? 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 October 18, 2020 The Big Idea: Scripture teaches that we are all made for eternity. When a Christian dies physically, they are immediately in the presence of God. One day, Christ will return. The only hope anyone has for an eternity with God is through a relationship with Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (ESV) 4 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. Paul’s Objectives: 1. Remove their ignorance by giving them truth about death through knowing the Word of God 2. To give them hope for the future – through the resurrection of Jesus. Titus 2:13 3. That hope would give comfort for the present and help them know how to grieve as Christians The “INFORMATION” Every Christian Should Know: § About Jesus § Jesus died on the cross § Jesus rose again § Jesus will return § About the “Sleeping” § They will be resurrected and join Jesus first § About the “Alive” § The believers alive when Jesus returns – will be “caught up together with them in the clouds” § 3 Sounds will announce the Return of Our King 1. His “cry of command” 2. The voice of the archangel 3. The sound of the trumpet Questions Raised: 1. Where are the dead in Christ until He returns? 2. When do we get our ‘resurrection bodies’? 3. When we die, do we immediately go to heaven for the rest of eternity? Implications of this Scripture for Us: § Christians should grieve for those who die, but with hope. § Our hope in based upon the life, death, resurrection, and promised return of Jesus. § All that God tells us about the Christian’s death and future secured by Christ is a reason to be encouraged. THE ULTIMATE QUESTION REMAINS FOR EACH OF US: Have I turned away from my Sin and submitted my life to Jesus?