I Thessalonians 4:13-18 (a look into what happens after death)

With the recent tragedy of the loss of Regan Wheeler, I felt it necessary to dig into scripture to find out exactly what is next for a person who leaves this earth.  As Protestant Christian, I have always believed that upon death there is some immediacy to the trip to heaven after death.  However, some other branches of Christianity such as Catholicism believe that there might be a waiting stage known as Purgatory.  I decided to look hard into I Thessalonians 4:13-18 where Paul is addressing the Thessalonians about this topic in the form of a letter.  

I do want to add a side-note about the death of Regan. There is no steadfast answer as to why Regan Wheeler was killed in that horrific accident.  I am not a believer in the idea that God wanted her on that day and he chose that day.  God gave us as humans what is known as “Free Will”.  Our life is based upon decisions we make and consequences are based upon those decisions we make. 

God might of known that Regan was going to make the choice ahead of time to take the wrong path on the golf cart, but that does not mean she was not free to make that choice.  So, do I believe God knew Regan was going to come on that day?  Yes, but ultimately, he let her make that choice herself through free-will.  

  

The Hope of going to heaven and being with Christ (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)

4:13 – And now dear brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. 

• Here, Paul is revealing God’s message that death is not the end, but instead the beginning. 
• People who believe in Christ will be re-united (dead or alive) and all suffering will stop.

4:14 – For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died. 

• Hear the words “God will bring back with Jesus”.  Here Paul is telling us that all Christians who have died, are with Jesus and will be coming back upon his return to the earth! 
• Hope:  If you are a believer, you have hope! While we will miss Regan dearly and any others who have passed away, those people are exactly where we want to be… With God.

4:15 – I can tell you this directly from the Lord:  We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in the grave.

•  I want to revert back to 4:14 “God will bring back with Jesus all Christians who have died”. 
•  Now, when Paul says, “Those who are in the grave” he is not meaning that the person is actually in the grave.  He has already stated that believers are with God and Jesus.  He is merely stating that those who were believers, that have already died, are the first to be with God followed by those believers who are still on earth.  Therefore, believers who have died are better off than those who have not died yet. 

4:16 – For the Lord himself will come down with a commanding shout , with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God.  First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.

•  Here, Paul is reinforcing the return of Christ and how it is laid out.
•  He is then emphasizing how Christians who have already died are already with God.  Here, I believe you can’t take the scripture in a literal term but instead what is intended.
• It is not important when the resurrection takes place as the actually challenge Paul is putting out to people to use God words to comfort and encourage those who have lost loved ones.

 4:17 – Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on earth will remain on earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. 

• Here, Paul is also enforcing the fact that believers will all join God in a place that he has prepared for them. 
• He is using this line to comfort anybody who has lost somebody.  Giving them hope that if they are believers, that one day all believers will be reunited together again. 

4:18 – So comfort and encourage each other with these words.

·         If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, that  he was the son of God, died for our sins on that cross and was resurrected, then you should be comforted to know that as believers you have reserved yourself the right to be with all other believers for eternity in heaven.