Worthy to be Called Christian

In Second Thessalonians 1:11, Paul begins, "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would." Constant, endless prayer for the growing maturity of these believers. That is what Paul always prayed for. You will note as we continue through verse 11 that this opening phrase carries throughout.

Paul continues, "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling" (v. 11a). This request covers everything that is included in Christian character. Paul's prayer here is that you might honor the name of Christ.

"Our God" (v. 11a) refers to a loving, caring Father who is intimately involved with us. "Count you worthy" (v. 11a) can also be translated "make you worthy." Either translation is appropriate because God will make worthy all whom He counts as worthy.

Here, as throughout the New Testament epistles, "calling" (v. 11a) refers to the irresistible call to salvation. It does not refer to the general call to salvation that goes out from the evangelist asking all to believe, but to the specific act of God in which He redeems all who believe. Paul has just spoken of that Day, the Day of the Rapture, when all who believe in Jesus would be made completely like Him as He gathers them to be with Him forever. He is now asking God to make you worthy of that calling. He is asking God to make you worthy to be called Christian.

In First Thessalonians 1:12, Paul prayed that the believers in Thessalonica would "walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls [them] into His own kingdom and glory" (NASB). As Christians we bear the name of Christ. As you become more like Christ you become more deserving, more worthy, to bear His name.

Apparently this was an item of major importance for the Thessalonian believers to understand. While in Second Thessalonians 1:5 Paul spoke of how the suffering they were enduring proved that they "may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God," chapter three points out that some of them were not living up to their calling in Christ. In Second Thessalonians 3:6, Paul wrote, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us" (NASB, 1995). And in verse 11 he adds, "For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies" (NASB, 1995). Some it seems were leading lives that were disobedient to the Word and to Christ. They are unworthy to be called Christian.

Don't let that be said of you! Follow Christ with all your heart and live by His Word. Let Christ richly indwell you and guide you, and God will make you worthy to be called Christian. "The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked" (1 John 2:6, NASB). Amen.

Relief

Jesus reveals Himself to unbelievers in judgment at the Day of the Lord. But He makes His presence known to believers at the time of the Rapture when He takes us to heaven to spend eternity with Him. For the lost, the apokalupsis in the Greek, or apocalypse. For the saved, the parousia in the Greek. For unbelievers, the judgment of God. For believers, relief from our afflictions.

Second Thessalonians 1:7a says, "to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us" (NASB). "Relief" (v. 7a) means "a loosening" or "freedom." It refers to relaxation, refreshment, restoration, and rest. In Scripture there is the rest salvation brings, or the Sabbath rest for God's people. The Bible also promises what can be called millennial rest, when Christ establishes His reign on earth and His subjects enjoy rest and peace. The Scriptures also promise an eternal rest that all believers enter into at death—rest from sin, temptation, trials, sorrows, and any other form of suffering. As Rev. 21:4 says, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain" (NASB). Such rest awaits the saints of the Rapture.

Why will God do this? Because it is just or right. As it was "only right for God to repay" unbelievers with "affliction" (v. 6a, NASB), so "it is only right for God… to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us" (v. 7a, NASB). How can it be just or right to punish the one and give relief to the other? A.W. Tozer wrote:  "[The] solution for the problem of how God can be just and still justify the unjust is found in the Christian doctrine of redemption. It is that, through the work of Christ in atonement, justice is not violated but satisfied when God spares a sinner. Redemptive theology teaches that mercy does not become effective toward a man until justice has done its work. The just penalty for sin was exacted when Christ our Substitute died for us on the cross. However unpleasant this may sound to the ear of the natural man, it has ever been sweet to the ear of faith" (The Knowledge of the Holy, [New York: Harper & Row, 1975], 94).

Who will find rest? Believers—the redeemed of God—will find rest in Christ. Paul wrote, "to give you who are troubled rest with us" (v. 7a). God promises rest to all believers because we all suffer through hard times. Paul told Timothy, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim. 3:12). Suffering for Christ is a mark of a true Christian. Eternal rest comes to all who follow Jesus.

How will this relief come to believers? "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Cor. 15:52). Note Second Thessalonians 1:10—"When He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed." Our glorification is in view here. It is at the time of the Rapture that Christ will glorify us and receive us unto Himself forever. Christ is glorified in us as He changes us "in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Cor. 15:52a). All will marvel as they see Christ in all His glory. The reward is participation in the Rapture—being changed "in the twinkling of an eye" into full conformity with Christ—and going to heaven to spend eternity with Him.

That final phrase, "because our testimony among you was believed" (v. 10b), makes it all very personal to the Thessalonians. They have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, each one of them will be there on that day when Christ Raptures them to take them home.

Once you have received Jesus by faith, you can know for certain that you will also be included in that glorious day. The fact that you will be glorified with Christ should be more than enough encouragement to endure the afflictions unbelievers may bring your way.

As a believer in Christ you will be glorified with Him at His return. In the meantime, God has your best interest in mind. He will see you through any and all persecution or suffering. He will one day return and bring retribution to those who persecute you. He will also bring relief or rest to your soul, in that Day. Knowing this, you can stand firm for Christ by faith. He will enable you to stand firm. Amen.

Retribution

The thought of retribution is found in Second Thessalonians 1:8. It literally means "to give full punishment." It is sometimes translated "justice," "punishment," "retribution," "vengeance," or "avenging of wrong." You may recall Romans 12:19 which says: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord'" (a quote from Deuteronomy 32:35). Such "vengeance" or "retribution" God will bring "on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:8b).

Why will God do this? Because it is just. Note verse 6: "Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you." "No problem," says God. "I am just, and I will take care of any injustice done to you." Every nation, regardless of its ethical or moral standards, punishes criminals. All people have a sense of justice because they are made in God's image. Although the justice carried out by people is imperfect, God's justice is perfect.

The NASB translates verse 6 like this: "For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you." It is fitting and proper for God to repay with retribution those who disobey His law. Remember verse 8 where we are told that Jesus will return "dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus"? The word retribution or vengeance not only speaks of "giving full punishment," but is closely related to another word meaning "just" or "right." The retribution God deals out is the just punishment given by the perfect and righteous Judge to all unbelievers who have willfully disobeyed the gospel of Christ.

Who will receive this retribution from God? All who disobey the gospel and do not know God. The word "repay" (v. 6) means "to give back," or "recompense." It is a strong, compound word that conveys the idea of a full and complete repayment. God will gain complete vengeance on your behalf against "those who trouble you" (v. 6b, NKJV) or "those who afflict you" (ESV). To understand this truth means you can stand firm even in the face of persecution and affliction.

How will God repay the unbelievers who afflict you? With "tribulation" or "affliction" (v. 6b). Tribulation can mean "trouble," "distress," "difficult circumstances," or "suffering." Note verse 9: "These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power." To repay "with tribulation" (v. 6b) is to repay with "eternal destruction" (v. 9a), which is defined as complete and eternal separation from God and His glory.

Destruction does not mean annihilation. It refers instead to ruination. It does not refer to the end of one's existence, but rather the loss of everything that makes life worthwhile. Eternal destruction does not mean that unbelievers will cease to exist, but rather that they will be forever ruined. They will continue into eternity with a life that is hopeless, meaningless, and completely worthless. They will be ruined forever. To which Matthew adds: "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 13:41-42). To spend eternity "away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might" (ESV) is indeed a life of utter darkness and a life of total misery.

With all of this in mind, do not miss the truth of verses 7b-8a: "When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire." This is when the repayment will be carried out. At the Day of the Lord, when Christ returns, then it will be too late. All who have afflicted you and who have not believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins will receive their just punishment from God.

The day is coming when Christ Jesus will reveal Himself to both believers and unbelievers. When Paul spoke of the Second Coming in relation to believers, he spoke of the Rapture and used the Greek word parousia, meaning "presence" or "coming." For believers, the return of Christ is the presence with them of the One they know. But in verse 7, when Paul wrote "when the Lord Jesus is revealed," he used the Greek word apokalupsis, meaning "revelation," "unveiling," or "uncovering." It refers to the idea of manifesting or making known that which was previously hidden or secret. Here the Second Coming is spoken of in relation to unbelievers. Jesus, who was previously hidden, will reveal Himself in all His glory to those who do not know or worship Him. This is the Day of the Lord when Jesus comes to judge the unbelievers.

Note the three phrases used in verse 7 describing this revealing of Christ to unbelievers: (1) He will be revealed "from heaven." Just as Jesus visibly ascended into heaven, so His return will be just as visible. As the angels told His disciples, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11); (2) He will be revealed "with His mighty angels," literally, "the angels of His power." They are His instruments. They "gather" the unbelievers together and "cast them into the furnace" (Matt. 13:41-42); and, (3) He will be revealed "in flaming fire." This fire is the fire of judgment. The fire of God's judgment is so much a part of His divine nature that the Bible declares, "For our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29; cf. Deut. 4:24).

The Lord Jesus will return "from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire" (vs. 7b-8a) and He will bring retribution to those who persecute you. Therefore, stand firm, even in the midst of suffering. Never turn away from the Lord your God. Amen.

Rewarded by Salvation

First Thessalonians 5:4 begins with "but": "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief." Paul moves from the fact that unbelievers will be surprised by judgment to the fact that believers will not be surprised when they are rewarded by salvation. Unlike our unbelieving friends who are not prepared, we are prepared—we are ready through our faith and trust in Jesus. As verse 5 points out, "You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness." Turn to the Lord and rely upon His death and resurrection, and you will not be in darkness, as those who are without faith.

How should we then live? "Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation" (vs. 6-8). Because of who you are in Christ, you must "watch and be sober." Be ever watchful, alert, waiting for the Lord's return. Live by that expectant hope. But also be "sober" (v. 6). Live as people "who are of the day" (v. 8) because that is exactly who you are! Unbelievers "sleep at night" and "are drunk at night" (v. 7). They hide under cover of darkness to try and hide their evil deeds. As believers we should have nothing to hide under darkness. Rather, we should live as Christ lived. We are to follow Jesus in our living and be doing what He wants us to be doing when He returns.

"Sleep" (vs. 6-7) is a different word than the one used to refer to death in First Thessalonians 4:13-15. Here in First Thessalonians 5:6-7, sleep means to be asleep spiritually, indifferent toward God, living as if there will be no judgment. Paul is warning us. Do not get caught living the same lifestyle as those who are unprepared for the Lord's return. Be awake, be alert, be watchful, be sober!

That is what verse 8 is all about. "Putting on the breastplate of faith and love" (v. 8b) means to live daily by faith in Christ and show your faith by loving God and allowing God to love others through you. "Putting on… as a helmet the hope of salvation" (v. 8c) refers to our unwavering "hope" (v. 8c) or trust in Christ alone for our salvation. Faith, love, and hope together provide an excellent defense against temptation. Live by faith, love, and hope in Christ and you will find yourself prepared and ready when Christ gathers us together in the air to take us to heaven.

Note the truth Paul adds in verses 9-10: "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him." Perhaps the most sobering truth of Scripture is that God will judge the wicked and send them to eternal hell. I would be remiss if I avoided this truth from the pulpit. In Matthew 13:41-42, Jesus said, "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." But, the truth of First Thessalonians 5:9-10 is that "God did not appoint us to wrath" (v. 9a). Rather, He has destined those of us who have received the Lord by faith "to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us" (vs. 9b-10a).

"Who died for us" (v. 10a) gives us the sole basis for our salvation. Christ "died for us" (v. 10a). Christ died on our behalf. Christ died in our place as our substitute. Because of our sin, Christ had to die in our place as our substitute to gain for us forgiveness and eternal life. Amen!

The great truth for all who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus by faith is that whether we are "awake" (meaning alive), or "asleep" (meaning dead) "we will live together with Him" (v. 10b, NASB). As Paul says in verse 11: "Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." Encourage each other and build each other up with these words—words that speak volumes as to how we ought to live in Christ.

Remember, it is unbelievers who will be taken by surprise by the Day of the Lord and sudden judgment. We who believe, on the other hand, will be rewarded by salvation in that Day. Amen.

Surprised by Judgment

First Thessalonians 5:1-3 states clearly, "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape."

First let's come to grips with a couple of terms. The Rapture refers to the time when believers will be "caught up" (1 Thess. 4:17) in the air to meet the Lord Jesus. It is at this time that all believers will be taken to heaven to spend eternity with Jesus. The word rapture does not appear in Scripture. The Greek word translated "caught up" in verse 17 is harpazo, which literally means "to snatch away." When it was translated into Latin, harpazo was rendered rapturo. And so the Latin word rapturo easily turns into the English word rapture. Although our English translations use a more literal rendering of this word, such as "caught up" or "snatched away," the sense of the word rapture is certainly present.

Second is the term "the Day of the Lord" (1 Thess. 5:2). This term has been understood as narrow as the day that Christ returns to set foot on the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem to judge the unbelievers. It has been defined as broad as everything from the Rapture through the day Christ returns in judgment of unbelievers, including the seven years of the Great Tribulation, and sometimes even as continuing through the millennial kingdom, or the thousand year reign of Christ on earth. For Paul it seems that "the Day of the Lord" (v. 2) as he refers to it here, is that day when Christ returns to earth in judgment upon unbelievers. It is the day Christ comes in the clouds and everyone sees Him—the day He sets foot on earth again.

And so, as Paul turns his attention from "the Rapture" (1 Thess. 4:17) to "the Day of the Lord" (1 Thess. 5:2). Note how he describes this event and how it affects especially unbelievers. He begins by telling them that "concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you" (v. 1). Why?  "For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night" (v. 2).  He adds in verse 3a: "For when they say, 'Peace and Safety!'" which could be translated, "While they are saying, 'Peace and safety!'" (NASB), indicating the suddenness with which "the Day of the Lord" (v. 2) will strike.

"As a thief in the night" (v. 2b) indicates that it will come stealthily. A thief comes in very quietly in the middle of the night so that the owner of the house is taken completely by surprise when he awakes to find his valuables missing. A stealth bomber is a plane "designed in such a way that it cannot be detected by radar. It can come upon an enemy unexpectedly, without warning" (Ray C. Stedman, Waiting For the Second Coming, [Discovery House Publishers: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1990], 85).

In other words, what Paul is saying is that "the Day of the Lord" (v. 2) will come upon unbelievers stealthily, without warning, at a time when "peace and safety" (v. 3a) seem to prevail. Despite all that has happened with the sudden rapture of the saints to heaven and all the destruction that has come upon the earth during the Great Tribulation, unbelievers will be so blinded by the false promises of the antichrist that they will be hollering "peace and safety" (v. 3a) and will be taken completely by surprise when Christ returns.

"So comes" (v. 2b) or "will come" (NASB) is a vivid futuristic present verb that portrays "the day as already on its way with an arrival anticipated any time" (The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 11, [Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1978], 281). "The Day of the Lord" (v. 2) will come soon and it will come as a complete surprise to unbelievers. When they believe they are beyond reach by God, He will reach down in judgment. There will be no warning.

Paul goes on in verse 3b: "then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman." Destruction means "utter and hopeless ruin, a loss of everything worthwhile, causing the victims to despair of life itself" (Ibid, 282). It refers to total separation from God. Unbelievers are not totally annihilated, but are given over to wrath and denied the privileges of salvation, which are reserved for those who trust in Christ. The pronoun "them" (v. 3a) tells us that this destruction is reserved only for unbelievers. Believers will not experience "the Day of the Lord" (v. 2) as they will have already been raptured away. Again Paul states that this judgment will come suddenly "as labor pains upon a pregnant woman" (v. 3b). There will be no warning.

Paul concludes verse 3: "And they shall not escape." The tragedy of it all is that unbelievers all around us who are not prepared for "the Day of the Lord" (v. 2) will not escape divine judgment. Hebrews 2:3 says, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" This should motivate us to evangelize the lost who live around us. And for anyone who is not prepared, this should lead you to take the only way God has given you to escape—place your faith in the Lord Jesus right now by accepting the forgiveness He has offered you through the cross. Trust the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, and you will escape the judgment that is reserved for unbelievers in that Day. Amen.

Hope Is Strengthened by Revelation

What Paul is teaching in First Thessalonians 4:15-18 about the Rapture is direct revelation from God. Verse 15a says: "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord." What he has to say about our hope has all the authority of an inspired writer revealing to us what God had given him. In no earlier passage of Scripture is anything like this taught.

Jesus only refers to the Rapture in a general sense in John 14:2-3 where He told His disciples, "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

Later in First Corinthians 15:51 Paul referred to the Rapture as "a mystery." A mystery is a truth formerly hidden but now revealed. Through a new revelation, God is revealing this mystery to us to strengthen our hope. Note the description given there: "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (vs. 51-52).

The Rapture of the saints, as described in detail in First Thessalonians 4:15-17, is based on the foundation of the death, resurrection, and revelation of Jesus Christ. Paul begins, "We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep" (v. 15b). There is that word "asleep" again. Those believers who died before the trumpet sounds will not be left out. Two groups of believers are included in the Rapture of the saints: "we who are alive and remain" at "the coming of the Lord" (v. 15b) and "those who are asleep" (v. 15b). Paul's use of the pronoun "we" shows that this event could take place at any time. "Will by no means precede" (v. 15b) tells us not only that no one will be left out, but if anything our departed loved ones in the Lord may even be raised before we are caught up in the air with them.

The key word in verses 15-17 is "coming." This is the translation of a Greek word you may have heard before: parousia. It was used by the Greeks in that day to refer to the arrival of a king, an emperor, or a prince. It specifically refers to both an arrival and a continuing presence with. When used of Christ's "coming" (v. 15b) at the Rapture of the saints, it signifies, not only His coming to gather His people unto Himself, but His continuing presence with them from that moment until His Second Coming when He is revealed to the whole world and sets His feet upon the earth again.

Note Paul's description of Jesus' "coming" in verse 16a: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God." The "Lord Himself" will come "from heaven" (v. 16a) to gather us unto Himself. He will come "with a shout" (v. 16a) like the command of a military leader calling for his troops to fall in. He will come "with the voice of an archangel" (v. 16a) who adds his voice to the Lord's command. He will come "with the trumpet of God" (v. 16a). In Scripture, whenever a crowd needed to be gathered a trumpet was sounded. And so, "the trumpet of God" (v. 16a) will sound to call us all together with Christ in the air.

Going on, Paul reveals the order of the Rapture in verse 16b: "And the dead in Christ will rise first." As I already pointed out, those saints who have died in Christ will not be inferior to those alive at the Rapture in any way. In fact, we are told that they "will rise first" (v. 16b). Their bodies "will be raised incorruptible" (1 Cor. 15:52) and be joined with their glorified spirits making them into the image of Christ, as the apostle John wrote: "We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is" (1 John 3:2, NASB).

Then those believers who are still living at the time of the Rapture will join them in the air with Jesus. Note verse 17a: "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." "Caught up" (v. 17a) refers to a strong, irresistible, even violent act. In Acts 8:39 it speaks of Philip being "snatched away" (NASB) from the Ethiopian Eunuch. It is when the living saints are "caught up… in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (v. 17a) that they will be transformed "in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Cor. 15:52) and receive their glorified bodies being conformed completely into the image of Christ.

Thus this passage links the resurrection of the saints with the "coming" of the Lord and the rapture of the living saints. These three events will take place in conjunction, with the "coming" of Christ (v. 15b) being the event that triggers the resurrection and the rapture.

Paul concludes verse 17: "And thus we shall always be with the Lord." These concluding remarks are the real words of comfort. After Christ returns to gather us (all His believers) to Himself, "we shall always be with the Lord" (v. 17b). What greater thought can bring such comfort into our lives—spending eternity together with Christ and our dearly departed brethren.

In verse 18 Paul even instructs us to use this passage of Scripture to "comfort one another." He says, "Therefore comfort one another with these words." The word "comfort" (v. 18) is the Greek word parakaleo (paraclete) meaning "to call one alongside." It is the same word used of the Holy Spirit, as I have mentioned before on several occasions. In times of grief we need to come alongside one another and comfort each other with this Scripture. That is Paul’s intent.

That is exactly what Paul intends as part of our ministry to one another. To come alongside each other to counsel and comfort each other with the words of Scripture, so that "rough things become smooth, heavy burdens are lightened, and difficulties vanquished most wonderfully" (Augustine of Hippo, To Proba (Letter CXXX), ccel.org). In this way, sorrow is softened by hope and hope is strengthened by revelation (or Scripture). Amen.

Sorrow Is Softened By Hope

Took a trip to Oklahoma to visit my son Tim. He's doing well. I'm back home now, so here is a new Bible Insight:

First Thessalonians 4:9-12 dealt with the problem of how to live in light of the expectation that Christ could return at any moment. Do we keep on working or should our life change in some way? But soon, life in the church was further complicated by another question. As Christ tarried, some believers began to die. What happens to them in the rapture? Paul wrote to comfort these believers.

In First Thessalonians 4:13, Paul begins with a favorite phrase: "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren." "Ignorant" (v. 13a) means "not to know, not to be informed." Paul tells the Thessalonian believers that he does not want them to be uninformed or unaware of the truth concerning those who have died in Christ. The double negative that is implicit here "is used by Paul to stress that he wishes to end his readers' lack of knowledge by making them share in his knowledge" (Colin Brown, The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Vol. 2, [Zondervan: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1967], 406).

He goes on: "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep" (v. 13b). The key word in verses 13-14 is "fallen asleep." While asleep can refer to normal sleep, in the New Testament it is most often used to refer to believers who have died. This verb is used in the figurative sense, "emphasizing as it does the close relationship which exists for the observer between a person asleep and one dead" (Ibid, 442). In this sense, "asleep" refers only to the body. When a believer dies the body returns to where it came—"For dust you are, and to dust you shall return" (Gen. 3:19b). The spirit, on the other hand, returns to God—"And the spirit will return to God who gave it" (Eccles. 12:7b). This is important, because those who die in Christ are not in any state of unconsciousness. Rather, their spirit is conscious and with Christ in heaven, as Jesus told the thief on the cross who believed, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise (or heaven)" (Luke 23:43).

Note the entire statement here: "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" (1 Thess. 4:13). There is the statement of purpose—"lest you sorrow as others who have no hope" (v. 13b). The spiritual truth that Paul is about to explain gives us hope that does not disappoint. In fact, the truth that Paul is about to relate in verse 14 is intended to soften our sorrow by giving us hope. It is intended to stop us from grieving and give us joy.

When a loved one dies we experience a normal sorrow caused by the pain of separation and loneliness. But that is not the kind of grief that Paul is dealing with in this passage. He does not say that we are not to miss the fellowship we once had with a believer who has died. He says we are not to grieve "as others who have no hope" (v. 13b). In Ephesians 2:12, Paul described unbelievers as "having no hope and without God in the world." For the unbeliever, there is an awful, terrifying, hopeless finality when a loved one dies. They have no hope of reunion and so their sorrow has no relief. Not so for believers. Count it all joy to know that one day you will again fellowship with your departed brethren. As believers in Christ, we never say a final farewell to one another. We part only temporarily. We know there will be "a gathering together (of believers) to Him" (2 Thess. 2:1). That day is what Paul is talking about.

Paul continues by pointing out to us what we already believe. "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus" (1 Thess. 4:14). Note the two pillars of faith in this verse: (1) "Jesus died" (v. 14a), and (2) "(Jesus) rose again" (v. 14a). Everything is based on the basic gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross conquering our sin. Jesus rose again conquering death. As a result, Christ became the source of resurrection life for every believer.

"Even so" (v. 14b) links the resurrection of believers to the resurrection of Christ. Second Corinthians 4:14 says, "He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus." Not only will God raise up these believers who have died, but He will "bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus" (1 Thess. 4:14b). They will not miss anything. They will be raised up in that day and return with Jesus. At the Rapture, God will bring all believers, living and dead, back to heaven with Christ.

And so our sorrow is softened by hope. We know that all believers, those who have died in Christ and those who remain alive in Christ until His coming, will be gathered up in that day to spend eternity with our gracious Lord. Amen.