But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
1) THE NEED FOR HOPE
1 Thessalonians 4:13: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
Psalm 78:39: He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.
Hebrews 9:27: And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…
“Why fear death when we can never perceive it?” —Epicurus
2) THE BASIS OF HOPE
1 Thessalonians 4:14: For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3) THE UNIQUENESS OF CHRISTIAN HOPE
WE WILL BE UNITED WITH CHRIST.
1 Thessalonians 4:15: For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
WE WILL BE REUNITED WITH THOSE WHO HAVE DIED (IN CHRIST).
1 Thessalonians 4:14: For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
WE WILL GET THE LIFE WE HAVE ALWAYS WANTED!
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
4) GROWING IN HOPE
1 Thessalonians 4:18: Therefore encourage one another with these words.