Can you explain 1st, Thess. 4:14-17 ?

Hello there William:)

These are verses that are filled with hope not just for us as believers that are alive but it is hope also for those that have died in Christ Jesus.

Here are the verses you spoke of.

1 Thess 4:14-17

Verses 13 is also quite good so I'll add it in.

"But we do not want you to be ignorant brothers concerning those who are sleeping that you would not grieve even as also the rest who have no Hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and ROSE so also those who have fallen asleep through Jesus, God will bring with Him.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who are left remaining unto the coming of the Lord shall by no means precede those who have fallen asleep

Because the Lord Himself, with the shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

Then we who are living and are left remaining will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and thus we will be always with the Lord."

These verses are concerning those that are dead in Christ Jesus and those that are alive in Christ Jesus. They also point out that because our Lord Jesus died and was not conquered by death, but rose again, that because we are in Him we too have this hope.

These verses also speak strongly about the Lord's second coming. Of the rapture of the dead in Christ and those that are alive and left remaining, who are also in Christ. It is interesting that the verses do not speak of being raptured to heaven but in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

This rapture actually is the one that takes place after the great tribulation. It is here that the majority of the believers, including those who are resurrected from the dead and those who are living at the time are raptured to the air.

The reason I say this is that we see in Revelation 12 the matter of the man-child, i.e the overcoming believers who are caught up, raptured to the THRONE of God in the third heaven before the great tribulation and that last three and a half years of the present age.

I'll show these verses to you.

Speaking of the rapture of the man-child to the Throne

Rev 12:5

And she brought forth a son, a man-child who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod and her child was caught up to God to His throne.

So we see two kind of being " caught up"

One is to the throne and one is to the air.

Vs 17 speaks of being caught up. This is to be snatched up speedily and in a way that cannot be resisted. Its actually the same greek word used in Acts 8:39

"And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away; and the eunuch did not see him anymore; for he went on his way rejoicing"

Its also used and seen in 2 Cor 12:2

" I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago ( whether in the body I do not know, our outside the body I do not know; God knows) such a one was caught away to the third heaven

vs 4 also says that not only was Paul caught away to the third heaven but also to Paradise.. this pleasant part of Hades.

" That he was caught away into Paradise and heard unspeakable words which is not allowed for a man to speak"

So in like manner we who are alive and remaining will be " caught up" to be with the Lord in the air.

The mentioning of the rapture in this portion of Thess is the rapture of the believers at the Lord's coming in a general way, as words of comfort. The Details concerning this matter are revealed in other books of the NT such as Matthew and Revelation.

Ty for posting.

Good way to get into the word.

In Christ

sandy

1 Thessalonians 4:14 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.

4:15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

4:16 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.

4:17 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

Many people wrongly assume that when the Word is saying that we "fall asleep in Jesus" that we actually "sleep".

But the truth is that when a Christian dies..he is PRESENT with the Lord, though his actual physical body is NOT.

We humans are more than the "tent" in which we dwell.

Therefore when the Lord returns to Earth in Glory, the dead..those whose bodies are in the Earth, will be re-united with a physical body though NOT the one that was buried, but a glorified body, one that is GREATER than anything they have ever known. But yet it will be a physical body.

Much as a grain of wheat which is buried in the ground, does not spout up as a grain, but as a whole wheat plant. Yet still has the grain of wheat within itself.

Our bodies are buried, but when the Lord returns & we are "re-united" with that which was buried, then we are MUCH more than just corruptable flesh!

Those that are alive at the time of Christ's coming will be changed, they will not have to go through the separation of their bodies & souls..but rather they will be "changed" and forever also have incorruptable flesh, and be with Jesus always.

So hopefully you will understand & SEE...many of those that read the Scriptures do not see what Jesus said to the Pharisees: (Matt.22:31 But about the resurrection of the dead--have you not read what God said to you, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

They assume that when we die, we "sleep" (know nothing) until Christ's return. But there are FAR too many other verses that say otherwise!

The "dead that know nothing" are those that even when they are alive..they CHOOSE to remain in sin, and walk in their worldly ways, the do NOT accept Jesus Christ (who IS LIFE) as their Lord & Savior, and therefore they know NOTHING of LIFE! They too become "spirits" but they currently (after they die) dwell in a place of "Waiting" called Sheol, the Grave, Hell. Much like the rich man in Luke 16:19-31!

I pray this "explaination" will help you. If you have more questions feel free to contact me.

Continue seeking the Truth...as ALL Wisemen do!

Hi William.

It means that those of us that die will not remain dead when Christ returns at Armageddon. At Armageddon there will be a great resurrection of those from the dead. So say if tomorrow you were hit by a Mack truck, if your life was in harmony with Godly standards, what fear do you have at Armageddon? You will be amongst the living just as Christ is.

He will not forget about you at that appointed time. It is those who continue to live in debauched lifestyles that worry about their fate with God and his Son, Jesus. They don't like to admit it and most try to front that they don't care. They make up most of the earth's population that will not fair well at Armageddon.

That is such a wonderful scripture that you quoted by the way and it should be of much comfort to you, to anyone intelligent, including those who want to learn to bring their lives in harmony with Godly standards.

1Thessalonians chapter 4, NASB

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

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 not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16:For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

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

I wasn't sure of what version you are reading.Here is the NASB version and to me it is self explanatory.Do you have a certain question?

14: "God will resurrect deceased believers as He has already brought Jesus from the dead"

16: "Heavenly equivalents proclaim the return of Jesus"

17: "The chief biblical source of the doctrine of the Rapture-the catching of those, dead and living, who have trusted in Christ and await His return"

-the exact "word" Rapture does not occur in Scripture, it was formed from a word in the Latin translation of the Bible which for this phrase reads "simul rapiemur *** illis".-

this is describing the rapture. when Jesus comes, He will bring all of His believers to Him in > blink of an eye. All worldly things will be left behind, that includes clothing, braces, sunglasses, etc. We will basically disappear. If you wish to learn more plz send me a message and ill be happy to talk.

Paul wrote: “We the living who survive to the presence of the Lord [not, to the end of his presence] shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) Therefore, anointed Christians who died before Christ’s presence were raised to heavenly life ahead of those who were still alive during Christ’s presence. This means that the first resurrection must have begun early in Christ’s presence, and it continues “during his presence.”

It is talking about the second coming of Christ.

The righteous will be resurrected and together with those that are living at that time, will greet the Lord at his second coming.

21 And there cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ—for so shall he be called.

22 And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection.

23 They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death.

24 And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord.

25 And little children also have eternal life.

(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 15:21 - 25)

96 And the saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened and be caught up to meet him.

97 And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their graves shall be opened; and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven—

98 They are Christ's, the first fruits, they who shall descend with him first, and they who are on the earth and in their graves, who are first caught up to meet him; and all this by the voice of the sounding of the trump of the angel of God.

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:96 - 98)

Wow, uh... I don't think I can come up with a better answer than the people above me.

But anyway, God Bless you WMB!

This is my own personal interpretation. To me this is saying Jesus has already returned, it seems as though it is speaking of the people of those days.