Sunday School - 1 Thess. 4:13-18

The promised return of Christ gives believers hope when grieving.

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

Greek word used for sleep was a common term related to physical sleep. Christian writers often used it as a metaphor for death. Jesus used the same image when describing Lazarus in John 11:11-15.

This is not referring to soul-sleep (a transitional period between life and death)

14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

Linchpins of our faith is the conviction that Jesus died and rose again

15According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

It was not the result of human speculation but divine revelation

Paul’s explanation of Christ’s return included outlining a sequence of events. The first thing he addressed was the destiny of those who are still alive when Christ comes back. They will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Paul explained that the Lord himself will come down from heaven. At His first advent in Bethlehem, Jesus came as an infant in humble, ordinary circumstances. Aside from shepherds (and later a visit from wise men), His birth went mostly unnoticed. But when He comes again, He will come with the power and glory He deserves. When He descends, people will know He has arrived.

First, He will come with a loud command. The Greek word here is a military term relating to a loud command.This would be similar to the command of Jesus when raising Lazarus from the grave (John 11:43).

this will not be a secret event.

17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

caught up together with the resurrected believers mentioned in verse 16.

The second reunion will be with Jesus Himself. They will meet the Lord in the air.

This event represents the first-ever gathering of the entire body of Christ. With Jesus as Head, every believer from every nation and every generation will come together as the universal church.

18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.