The Dead In Christ Shall Rise First: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Scriptural Passage & Interpretations Thompson Nelson- The Dead in Christ Shall Rise First-‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:13-18KJV‬‬; “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Scripture

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬;’But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”

‭Interpretation

4:13:A statement of comfort and hope for Christians facing death, assuring them that believers who have "fallen asleep" (died) in Christ will be brought with Jesus when He returns, and their grief should not be like that of those without this hope. The verse contrasts the sorrow of those who have no hope of a resurrection with the Christian's hope of a glorious reunion with departed loved ones and the Lord. I would not have you to be ignorant, is simply Paul’s way of saying “I have something I want to tell you:

• Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬;”Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.”
• Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬;”For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”
• 1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬;”Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;”
• 2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬;”For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:”

Asleep is a euphemism for dead. It is used often of believers in the New Testament:

• Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭52‬ ‭KJV‬‬;”and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,”
• Acts‬ ‭7‬:‭60‬ ‭KJV‬‬;”And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
• 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬;”But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”

That ye sorrow not is in the present tense so you will not continue to grieve. Apparently, these believers were concerned about their loved ones who had died in the Lord, especially in view of Christ’ promised second coming:

• 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬;”For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.”

Hope means certain expectation

Scripture

‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬;”For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

Interpretation

4:14:Teaches that Jesus' death and resurrection are a guarantee for the future resurrection of believers who have died, assuring them that God will bring them with Jesus at His second coming, just as He raised Jesus from the dead. This passage addresses the grief of Christians over lost loved ones by providing a solid hope that they will be reunited with them in the air, with the living believers being caught up to meet them. Jesus died and rose again. The certainty of the believer’s hope is based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

• 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬;”But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.”

Bring this presupposes that those who sleep in Jesus are with Him,and when He comes, they will come with Him. Them also which sleep, in Jesus can be translated those who were put to sleep by Jesus. As a parent, lovingly puts a child to bed when tired, so Jesus just as lovingly takes His saints from this life. (We were put to sleep at the right time).

Scripture

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬;”For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.”

Interpretation

4‬:‭15‬:Means that during the Second Coming of Christ, living believers will not be taken to meet the Lord before those who have already died in Christ; instead, the dead in Christ will be raised first and brought with Him, ensuring that both groups participate in the same glorious event together. The passage offers comfort to those grieving deceased loved ones by assuring them that their departed friends will not miss out on Christ's return, and everyone will be reunited with the Lord forever.

Prevent proceed, the Greek emphasis emphasize that the living will have no advantage over the dead when Christ returns.

Scripture

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬; “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”

Interpretation

4:16:The verse also introduces a sequence of events: the dead in Christ will rise first, followed by living believers who will be "caught up" to meet the Lord in the air.  In the Bible, "descended" can mean to move from a higher to a lower place

• John‬ ‭11:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬; “These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.”

Until this happens for the deceased believers, to be out of the body is to be home with The Lord:

• 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬; “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

Apparently the cause of the Thessalonians, grief was related to the misunderstandings that the dead Christians would miss the events and subsequent blessings associated with the Lord's coming. Paul corrected the misunderstanding by teaching that the dead on Christ will rise first:

• 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬; “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”

In contrast to unbelievers who grieve over the loss of loved ones, Christians who grieve over fellow believers can do so with hope, because of the future glorious resurrection.

The term " rapture" is derived from rapturo.

The Latin translation of the Greek term ( Vulgate reads rapiemur, another form of the same verb). The Greek term means " to snatch away suddenly".  Paul refers to a mystery (some truth previously hidden but now known:

• 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:51-53‬ ‭KJV‬‬; “Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

And said it will happen in a twinkling of an eye. We which are alive implies that Paul thought that the rapture could occur at any moment, even during his lifetime. Prevent in this context means " precede"

The archangel or chief angel is probably in reference to Michael:

• Daniel‬ ‭10:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬; “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”
• Jude‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬; “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”

Scripture

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬;”then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

‭‭Interpretation

4‬:‭17: The order of events at the time of Christ’ coming is clearly given:

(1) The Lord will discern with a shout, accompanied by the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God:

• 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭52‬ ‭KJV‬‬;”“in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

(2) The dead in Christ will be resurrected.

(3) Then those remaining will be caught up with them in the clouds.

Dead in Christ is a technical expression for believers of the church age. Caught up to (seize or to snatch). The Latin word for carry off is raptus from which we get rapture. The doctrine of the Rapture of the church is given, it’s clears expression in this verse, although it can also be seen in:

• John‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬;”Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
• 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭51‬-‭52‬ ‭KJV‬‬;”Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

RAPTURE

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬;”then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Although the word does not occur in the English Bible. The Latin Bible uses the verb here from which rapture derives. The idea is expressed in the words “caught up.” The rapture is the first phase of Christ’ return involving every Christian alive at that time. These Christians will be caught up to meet Him in the clouds instantaneously receiving glorified bodies. All those who have died “in Christ” will be resurrected, those who are alive and saved at the time of the Rapture will be caught up with Christ before the start of the “Seventeenth week of Daniel” that is the great table tribulation. There are many reasons to believe that the Rapture proceeds the Tribulation, but fundamentally this view is consistent with historical grammatical interpretation of the Scriptures. Illustration: Close examination of the prophetic prophetic Scripture reveals a distinction between the Rapture which relates to the (church). And the revelations of Christ and power, and glory, (which relates more to Israel. Application: Christian should find comfort in the truth of the Rapture and should comfort one another with the truth:

• 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬;‭‭”Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

First Reference:

• ‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬;”And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Primary Reference:

• Thessalonians‬ ‭4:13-18 KJV‬‬; “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Compare:

• Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭KJV‬;”for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.”

‭‭‬Scripture

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬;‭‭”Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Interpretation

4‬:‭18: Comfort: The Christian’s hope of the resurrection bring solace in the face of death, in contrast to the hopelessness of the heathen.