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"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"
The Comfort Of Christ's Coming (4:13-18)
INTRODUCTION
1. In previous studies we've noted that Paul makes frequent mention of
the second coming of Christ in this epistle to the Thessalonians...
a. In every chapter there is some reference to this great event
b. So far we have seen the following references: 1Th 1:10; 2:19;
3:13
2. In our text for this lesson, Paul discusses "The Comfort Of Christ's
Coming"...
a. How we ought to be comforted by the "fact" of His coming
b. How we should be comforted by the "events" of His coming
[Our text is 1Th 4:13-18, a well-known passage often read at funerals.
And rightly so, for it deals with...]
I. THE PROBLEM OF SORROW (13)
A. THE LOSS OF LOVED ONES IS GREAT...
1. The sorrow is great, the grief is so hard to bear
2. It is the most stressful event that one can endure
B. THE CHRISTIAN IS NOT IMMUNE TO SORROW...
1. We experience the sorrow of separation - e.g., Ac 20:37-38
2. But we need not experience the sorrow of desperation
a. The despair of having no hope
b. The despair of not ever seeing a loved one again
[What can alleviate the problem of sorrow? It is knowledge concerning
the events of Christ's coming; and so Paul does not want them to be
ignorant concerning...]
II. THE PROMISE FOR THOSE ASLEEP (14-15)
A. GOD WILL BRING THEM WITH JESUS...
1. Just as He raised Jesus from the dead, so He will bring those
who "sleep in Jesus"!
a. In this text, he limits his discussion to the righteous dead
b. Elsewhere, we read of the of resurrection of the wicked
- e.g., Jn 5:28-29
2. What do the terms "fallen asleep" and "sleep in Jesus" mean?
a. The scriptures often speak of death as a "sleep"
1) Mt 27:52 - ...bodies of the saints who had "fallen
asleep"
2) Jn 11:11-14 - Jesus says of dead Lazarus, "our friend
sleeps"
3) Ac 7:60 - As Stephen is stoned to death, it is said "he
fell asleep"
b. Some believe these passages support the doctrine of "soul
sleeping"
1) That souls are unconscious between death and the
resurrection
2) Not to be confused with the doctrine held by JW's, who
teach there is no consciousness until the resurrection
because the dead cease to exist
c. Yet the following points should be carefully noted:
1) Nowhere do the Scriptures say that the soul of the
departed one fell asleep
a) It was the person who "fell asleep"
b) Thus it can have reference to the body, not the soul
2) The term "sleep" is a figurative reference, and a very
appropriate one:
a) For sleep implies REST...
1) When one sleeps literally, there is rest from
one's labor
2) So it is that the dead also "rest from their
labors" - cf. Re 14:13
b) For sleep implies a CEASING OF PARTICIPATION...
1) In literal sleep, one ceases in the activities
pertaining to the sphere in which one has been busy
during the hours of wakefulness
2) So it is with the dead, they are no longer active
in the world which they left
c) For sleep is generally a PRELUDE TO AN AWAKENING...
1) In literal sleep, it is followed by an "awakening"
2) So it is with death:
a/ Though the souls may be conscious during the
intermediate state...
b/ ...at the resurrection there will be the
"awakening" of the glorified and transformed
bodies in which to house our souls
3) The term "sleep" became a euphemism for death because of
the sleep-like appearance of the body
3. That God will bring "them with Jesus" implies they are with
Jesus now!
a. As stated later in this epistle - 1Th 5:10
b. As stated elsewhere in the Scriptures - 2Co 5:8; Lk 23:43;
Php 1:21-23
B. THEY WILL PRECEDE THOSE WHO ARE ALIVE...
1. It seems some in Thessalonica feared those who had died would
miss out on the blessings of Christ's coming
2. Paul reassures them (and us) that such is not the case...
a. God will bring them with Jesus! - 1Th 4:14; cf. also 3:13
b. Therefore, "by no means" will those alive precede those who
are dead! - 1Th 4:15
c. This assurance we have "by the word of the Lord" - 1Th 4:15
1) The same "word" which foretold and brought about the
flood - 2Pe 3:3-6
2) The same "word" now tells of Christ's coming - 2Pe 3:
7-13
3) This "word" lives and abides forever! - 1Pe 1:23-25
[To reinforce the promise for those asleep in Christ, Paul next
describes...]
III. THE PROCEDURE FOR CHRIST'S COMING (16-17)
A. THE LORD WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN...
1. Note what is said about His coming - 1Th 4:16
a. It will be with a "shout"
b. It will be with the "voice of an archangel"
c. It will be with the "trumpet of God"
2. This is not describing some silent rapture!
a. This very passage is used to teach the premillenial concept
of the rapture
b. Yet Paul ties the coming of the Lord and our gathering
together into one event - cf. 2Th 2:1-2
1) In which Jesus comes for His saints - 1Th 4:13-18
2) In which Jesus brings judgment upon the wicked - 1Th 5:
1-3; cf. 2Th 1:7-8
B. THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST...
1. Their souls will be coming with Jesus - 1Th 4:14
2. But their bodies will be raised from the grave - 1Th 4:16; cf.
Jn 5:28-29
-- This will happen first, so we who are alive will not precede
those who are dead
C. THOSE LIVING WILL BE CAUGHT UP WITH THEM...
1. Those alive will be transformed - cf. 1Co 15:51-53
a. Their mortal bodies will put on immortality
b. Their corruptible bodies will put on incorruption
2. The righteous living will then join the righteous dead - cf.
1Th 4:17
3. Together in the clouds we will meet the Lord in the air - cf.
Ac 1:9-11
[In this wonderful way we shall come to be with the Lord forever (1 Th
4:17)! As Jesus said, "that where I am, there you may be also" (Jn
14:3). What a blessed hope! As we consider our final point, it should
be obvious what is...]
IV. THE PURPOSE FOR THESE WORDS (18)
A. TO BE COMFORTED...
1. The wonderful promise in our text certainly provides comfort
2. Comfort that can sustain us in times of great loss
-- While we may sorrow when a fellow-Christian dies, it is not the
sorrow of those who have no hope!
B. TO COMFORT ONE ANOTHER...
1. Comforting others in their loss of a loved one is a common
human trait - cf. Jn 11:19
2. Certainly Christians are to "weep with those who weep" - Ro
12:15
3. But for those who are fellow Christians, we can do more - we
can provide comfort!
a. Comfort them with the comfort we have in Christ - 2Co 1:3-4
b. Especially the comfort provided by the hope we have in
Christ - 1Th 4:18; 5:10-11
CONCLUSION
1. Paul will have more to say about the coming of Christ in the next
chapter...
a. In which he writes about the timing of Christ's coming
b. In which he writes about the preparation for Christ's coming
2. But in a passage that addresses...
a. The problem of sorrow
b. The promise for those asleep
c. The procedure for Christ's coming
d. The purpose for these words
-- We are reminded that death need not be "good bye", but only "good
night" (relate the story of the father who on his death bed told
all his children "good night" except the one unfaithful son to
whom he said "good bye")
When the time comes for our loved ones pass on, will we be able to find
comfort in this passage? Will those who survive us be comforted by its
promise when they grieve over our death?
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Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2009
