1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Paul gives us an incredible shot in the arm in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. I particularly love verses 13 and 14 where Paul sets out so clearly that as believers we have hope in all circumstances, even death, because of our relationship with Jesus Christ as our Savior.
In the last year, both my mom and my mother-in-law have passed away, my mom last summer and my mother-in-law just ten days ago. My husband and I miss them both. Yet, while we mourn the fact that they are no longer here and part of our lives, we at the same time, rejoice because they both knew the Lord and we know they are with Him. I can't even imagine the awesomeness of what they are experiencing right now. (Thank you, Lord!!)
The last verse of our passage instructs us to "encourage one another with these words." I say "Amen to that!!" So how can we use this passage for encouragement this weekend--first for ourselves and then for others? Tami W.
This is where I get confused. When you die, do you go to heaven or hell, but when Jesus comes back he will take you again and be judged then, and then put back in heaven or hell?
My sincere sympathy to you and your family, Tami. As of a year ago February my family lost the last of our parents (my Mom). I understand what you are going through. This passage is reassuring for me. It tells me that I will see my family again. This separation is only temporary. As I see grieving people, I can use this passage to encourage them to hang on to this hope/promise.
We have hope. The world is struggling so much, wanting to find a leader who will give us hope and relief from our daily struggles. If we have Jesus in our heart, we are on the winning team, and we have hope. If you don't have hope, it's hard to live life with a positive attitude. Thank God we're on the winning team, and we have hope in Jesus. I want to be a little more appropriately open about my faith. The people in our world need to hear from us.
So many amazing things about our ongoing study! There are too many occurences in Scripture passages we've been reading, carefully planned and placed by the Lord Jesus, for them to have been thought up by man! And it occurs to me that, if ANY of the Bible is true, then, surely, ALL of the Bible is true. The Bible IS the Word of God. Even the historical references in it (particularly, as we have read about the 7 churches) seem to fall into chronological order!
Reading the passage in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, I AM comforted. Paul was no stranger to suffering; it is understandable that he wanted Christians to know there IS comfort and there IS hope, through Jesus Christ! If Jesus arose (and He DID), then we, too, shall arise. Our flesh houses still want to grieve when a loved one is called home....but, our "spirit man" rejoices when only imagining what that loved has received and is experiencing.
Tami, just think...to see Jesus, and to hear His voice...AND TO REJOIN OUR LOVED ONES, TOO? This IS the icing on the cake; or, I would say that our Lord has done TOO MUCH..but I'm so very glad He did!
I love this passage of scripture. To think that when we die we will be with the LORD forever. I do not have many in my family that have passed away. But I do have many that are unsaved so I feel that this passage encourages me to be a better witness. That way when the day comes for them to go, they will meet with Jesus and we will see each other again. "Even so come, LORD Jesus."
Dear Tami sorry to hear about your loss. Thankfully they are with The LORD. It says we become as angels in death. How meraculous that is. To be with the LORD as this says. I love these verses and hope to hide them in my heart.
Tami we wre so sorry to hear of the passing of your mother-in -law less than two weeks ago. And as you have said, it is great that you can rejoice knowing they (your mom and mother-in-law) are with the Lord. That is the same comfort we can feel as we live in hope to see Him when He comes in glory.
This passage has taught me that with God- there's no mystery about where we'll live. When we have faith in Him, the thought of going to our eternal home is comforting. Tami, I rejoice with you that your Mom(s) are in heaven dancing with Jesus!
I also noted that God leaves no stone uncovered- those that died before Him and those thereafter have a place in His Court!
Just this afternoon we had a memorial service at our church for one of our faithful members who went to be with Jesus July 10. How appropriate to come home and ready today's 'Back to the Bible' message! We definitely should continue to encourage one another in the name of Jesus, because all believers will be with Him, whether we enter into eternal rest soon, or are still alive when He comes to gather up His own into the clouds!
God is not a god of confusion. He is all knowing and He is with us. He never changes. We will all have to face our Almighty Judge. But for the followers of Jesus the first shall be last and the last shall be first. Praise God. We can be sure of our salvation if we are in Jesus Christ. He knows our hearts and we know if we are faithful in Him. Let Him handle eternity. He will anyway.
rachel - the bible says to be away from the body is to be present with the Lord 2Corinthians 5:8. people who die without Jesus are sent to hades to await the final judgement then hell . some consider them to be one in the same , hades and hell . Matthew 27:52 "The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people." Jesus went to paridise and took the saints there out and to heaven . now after His ressurection each who dies in Him go straight to heaven. i am very encouraged to know that when a believer dies they are with God .