Describe the meaning of this scripture .......?

Question

1 Thessalonians 4
13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According 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. 16For 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. 17After 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. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Sick puppy ..... scripture is interpreted differently by different people. My intent is to see how people interpret this passage. Nothing more, nothing less.

Answer 1

Easy! God is telling us that, when He is ready, He will tell Jesus "Go and get my church". It's what is called the rapture. Following the rapture, will begin the seven year period known as the tribulation.

Only those who have been "Born Again"; that is, those who have made Jesus Christ the Lord of their lives and Savior, will be "caught up" in the Rapture. Those who put off this vital step; will have to go through the tribulation.

Don't risk waiting, call on Him today.

Answer 2

This Is one of the few passages that tells what will happen. The doctrine of the rapture has no basis in scripture. Debating the word rapture is senseless because the word rapture merely means a catching up or being caught up in the air, which does not violate this scripture, but if one believes in the doctrine of the rapture where the saints will be caught up and then a thousand year reign, goes against teaching.


If you look at all scripture that tells of the second coming you find Jesus Will come with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, a trumpet will sound. Jesus will come in the clouds in flaming fire, the dead in Christ will rise first then those alive will be caught up in the air then the earth will be destroyed.


Read this along with other verses on the second coming and it puts things in perspective.

Answer 3

John 3:13-17;
No one went to heaven but jesus who came down.
John 6:30,40,44; 14:3; Mark.13:27;
Jesus went to prepare a place for them, that where he was, there they could be.
Rev.3:12; Heb.12:22-24; Rev.14:1-6,7; The heavenly is the heavenly. To be raised up at the last day.
Rev.12:3,4,6-11,12 [ Satan and unholy angels cast out ];
Michael of Jude 9; and Dan.12:1-13 end time days with holy angels cast Satan and unholy angels down. SATAN HAS A SHORT TIME IN THE IN THE END TIME DAYS.
1Thes.4:15-17;
Michael is there to the last, at the caught up to be with Jesus.
Rev.20:1-6,12,13;
No Satan for 1000 years, the first resurrected are with Jesus Rev.3:12; 21:1-5 TO MAKE ALL THINGS NEW. 2Pet.3:13; The heavenly are for new heavens and the earthy for the new earth.

Answer 4

Being asleep can mean being unaware. When unaware we either don't know information... or asleep we don't use the info we have.

Those who are to be saved will not be "asleep," unaware, or unattentive to the knowledge they have.

Asleep can also be a euphanism for being "dead." In religion, people are said to just be sleeping, because their Spirit is still alive.

Paul is saying the dead will be called first, followed by those who are still living.

Since many people become hopeless in life, or after experiencing others die, Paul encourages to continue to spread hope and encouagement through his message.




Lifes

Answer 5

This scripture is saying that those who have "fallen asleep" are the dead in Christ. Their bodies are literally buried in the ground. He says don't greive like we have no hope. Don't continuously be grieved or forever sadened by the death of his chosen people, because they are at peace, they are no longer in the sin of the world, so there is no need for us to worry or to mourn, because they are "still alive." Still alive meaning that though their flesh is dead and buried in the ground, their spirit is still alive and with the Lord. God is spirit and those that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth. We all have spirits. When we die, our flesh, the dirt goes to the ground, but our spirits, which is his spirit in us goes to Jesus, God the Father, who created us. Jesus is coming back for his believers. There will be a rapture. Jesus first came to earth and pronounced who He was and that this was his kingdom. In his time, when the gospel has been preached throughout the earth, Jesus will return and get his people. Those who are left behind will be in tribulation. Read the book of Revelation. Jesus will first release the bodies of the believers in the grave. Then, he will get his believers who are still alive, like us, if He came back right now. We are to encourage others and tell them that Jesus is coming back for us. He loves us so much that He is willing to save us from our sins and reward us for believing in Him and following Him. Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God is who Jesus will come back to get. I hope that I have answered your question. Keep digging in the word!!

Answer 6

" ...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." is the correct way to say that we'll be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. It's so much easier to say the word " rapture" isn't it? Good for you, Sister, for taking the time out to verify the event referred to as the rapture. God bless you for your dedicated effort.

Answer 7

........Okay........here's what I think this means......

13-14
Brothers, let me teach you about what happens when a believer dies. You don't need to be sad like everyone else.... those who don't have hope.
Jesus died and rose again.....and one day......he will come back for those who died - believing in Him.

15
I promise (it says so in the Word!), those of us still standing (alive) when Christ returns, will not go before those who have died (they get to go first).

16-18
One day, Christ will return and, with the most incredible, amazing, booming voice (heard for miles - by all), He will call His Bride (the Church) home.
Those who have gone before us (died).... will go first. Then the rest of us.

We will all meet the Lord........ finally.........face to face......and get to live with Him forever.............wow...........amazing...... share these words with each other. They will encourage you in the dark times.

Answer 8

It is talking about the deaths of people and it explains some will be asleep in Christ until the second coming.

Answer 9

I'm a Youth Sunday School Teacher and a nurse. God is saying to focus our mind on the things that is to come. This life is temporary and not to worry about our love ones who are asleep (expired). We will soon see them again and be with them forever. Though they sleep will rise again. I hope this is useful information.

Answer 10

The nice thing about Paul's epistles is that he is very literal in his meanings and intents. Whatever is written there, that's what it means, and that's what Paul intended for it to mean. When he says "fallen asleep", that really means those who have died.