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 sllep
in Jesus will God will 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: sthen 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.
1Thessalonians 4:13-18
Well, I have done it: I have taken you from wading through the truths of Scripture to deep waters where you may be treading. If not treading you may be sinking due to so many doctrines, teachings, and beliefs about the resurrection. There are those who are pre-millennial, those who are post-millennial, and those who are a-millennial. Confusion is the rule of the day. I do not want to add to the confusion, therefore I will attempt to teach about what Scripture actually says or does not say.
It is said the the Jews cried when a baby was born and rejoiced when a person died. Just the opposite of today. Think upon this: a baby has this cruel and unjust world to deal with, problems, trials, etc., and a person who died no longer faces this world. It should be a comfort to Authentic Christians for those who die in the Lord. It is not wrong to grieve for the death of person for this is lawful, but weep also for your own death, or your loss, even though for the death of a Christian there is gain. Don't allow this grief to overcome you so that you succumb to this grief and your life reduced to sadness without hope. Christianity is not some sort of religion that forbids grief, and the grace of God does not extinguish or natural affections. We are human! Do not allow yourself to get excessive in sorrow for this means you do not have hope. This hope signifies a sure and well-founded expectation. Authentic Christians do not have hope as the heathen do for they too have a hope and even a sort of expectation in regards to a future state of mankind. All one has to do is to read the philosophers of old and you will see that they philosophies are clouded and they even grovel with one another so that they have uncertainty. This occurs also with Christianity when it comes to death, the future live, resurrection of Christians so that there is uncertainty among some Christians. Maybe you are one that is uncertain. As to Paul saying "we" there must be an understanding of what Paul meant for Paul did not believe that he would be alive necessarily when Jesus came the second time. Paul having the Holy Spirit's revelation for him to express the truth simple used "we" as an indefinite, albeit with certainty that this coming of the Lord was certain.
God cannot lie, this is impossible for if God could lie then all about God cannot be trusted and why would God who created all lie when the truth would suffice? Therefore, when God through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit promised that God's children would rise again, both the dead and those alive at His coming, we can believe it to be the truth. Our joys, and our sorrows should then be moderated and not succumb to this world and its untruthful teaching.
If you are ignorant of this truth about those who are dead or are going to die may cause immoderate grief. This is to be expected for what foundation does a person have that does not have a foundation based on the truth of God's word. Death: a powerful unknowable, unthinkable, a thing that is mysterious. Death is dark about what occurs after a person dies. The Bible is not dark about this subject, for a person dies and their soul goes to be with the Lord. There is no need for an Authentic Christian to be ignorant in regards to this subject. Our hope is in God, in His Son Jesus Christ and the work upon the cross that paid the debt of sin so that God now has His justice satisfied and can apply that justice. Our sorrow should be allayed and our joy rise to the highest for those who are asleep in Jesus Christ will rise again, and until that day they rest, rest from all their labors and sorrows and sleep in Jesus: (Read 1Corinthians 15: 14-18). Here is a great thing: they are resting with the assurance that they are now fully in union with Him and are under His special care and protection. Death is not our friend: Jesus is our friend. Death cannot do anything for a person: Jesus can do all that is required for a person. Death is the result of sin: Life is the result of the death of Jesus upon the cross. Death is defeated: life exults for its victory over death. Why then do we grieve so that our hope is lost? We do we allow ourselves to grieve as those we do not believe? Authentic Christians grieve, and Authentic Christians have loss, but Authentic Christians have a hope, and assured hope that this loss is only temporary. We will meet them in the air upon the Second coming of Jesus Christ. Not before, not as some teach, but when Jesus Christ comes to take home with Him His bride. There is no plan "B", only plan "A", and we can have assurance that when He comes it is not in stealth, but with loud sounds, all will know: Jesus Christ has come.
This subject being so much bantered about I will take whatever time is needed to give as much information so that you can determine the truth about our resurrection and the coming of Jesus Christ.
Our soul waiteth for the LORD:
He is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
because we have trusted His
holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD,
be upon us, according as we hope
in Thee.
Psalm 33:20-22
Rejoice, raise up your heart
Richard L. Crumb
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