Concerning Them Which Are Asleep

Concerning Them Which Are "Asleep"

Archived on December 26th, 2004

The word "sleep" brings on peaceful thoughts of rest without fear.
It is the Greek word: G2837 koimao, koy-mah'-o From G2749; to put to sleep, that is, (passively or reflexively) to slumber; figuratively to decease
It is the same word that Jesus used to describe the state which Lazarus was in before he resurrected him.(John Chapter 11). A lover of God, falls asleep, because they are at rest.
A non-believer simply dies, because they are not resting, they are in "torments", looking on what could have been. There is a certain scripture that seems to get mixed up with folks quite a bit, some even use it to "prove" the rapture theory. It's subject is about those who are asleep, who have died in Christ.
Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians wanted to talk to them a little bit about where the dead are, it is this letter and the Thessalonians' confusion that caused him to write the Second letter to them, specifically the 2nd Chapter of that letter.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
(13) 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.
He tells them that he doesn't want them to be in the dark about those who have died in Christ. Don't be sorrowful for them, like those who do not have the hope of Christ.

(14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
If we have the faith that Christ died and rose again, then we should also know and believe that those who sleep have risen again and will come back with Jesus.

(15) 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.
Most of the words here in the English have been translated well, but the word "prevent" in the English is a little confusing and does not really translate the Greek word well.
It is the Greek Word: G5348, phthano , fthan'-o Apparently a primary verb; to be beforehand, that is, anticipate or precede; by extension to have arrived at
We who survive until the blessed return of the Savior will not precede, or go before those who have died in the Lord.
Why? Because, they are already there with him. If we believe in Christ that he rose again, they have risen and are with him, and they will come back with him. For to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord.(2 Corinthians Chapter 5)

(16) 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:
Now here is where the confusion begins. Yes, the Lord will come from Heaven with a shout(not silent, everyone will know) and the trumpet of God(the last trump, the seventh). STOP!
There is a colon( : ) there. It's going back to the very first thought, remember the subject is not the return of Christ but we are talking about where the believers are when they fall asleep.
Now continue. The dead in Christ shall rise first! that's right, because as it said in the previous verse, we cannot go before those who are asleep. They are already there!
At that last trump, the return of Christ, they will come back with him. At the very end of that is another colon, to revert back to the thought on Christ's return.

(17) Then 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.
Once again, we who are alive and remain here, will be gathered together with them, in the sky? No it doesn't say sky. The Word is very specific, and if folks would simply study for themselves to show themselves approved unto God, they would learn much about the Word. This English "air", is translated from the Greek word: G109 aer ah-ayr' From ae¯mi (to breathe unconsciously, that is, respire; by analogy to blow); "air" (as naturally circumambient)
You see it is the breath, the respiration within. This is that breath that was breathe into man by the Father at his creation.

(Genesis 2:7) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
That breath of life, made man a living soul. The Spirit. We will meet the Lord in the Spiritual body. This is written in scriptures several times.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52
(51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
(52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
There is that "sleep" again and the trump of God. We who are alive and remain will not sleep. Our gathering back to him is in the twinkling of an eye and we are changed. How?
(2 Peter 3:10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Burned up by that Holy Ruach, the Holy Spirit being present. Nothing flesh can stand in the presence of Him. The English word "elements" here is the Greek: G4747, stoicheion, stoy-khi-on these are the fundamentals that make up the organisms in the flesh world. The molecules, the DNA, will be burned by that great heat and dissolved away, the only thing standing will be the spiritual body. To face eternal life or eternal death.
Now in the last part of verse 17 of 1st Thessalonians we have "and so shall we ever be with the Lord." There is another colon, back to the original thought again. We who sleep in Christ are present with him and will forever be with him, so don't grieve for those who have passed on.

(18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
As Paul encouraged the Thessalonians, I now encourage you to be comforted in knowing that those who have "gone on" before us, are with the Living God and will come back with Him. That said, realize he is the God of the Living not the God of the dead.

(Matthew 22:32) I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
That was the whole reason that Jesus wanted people to see the resurrection of Lazarus, so they would know where the dead are.(See the message: The "Death" of Lazarus)

If we have faith in Christ, that he died and rose again for our sins, to become the ultimate sacrifice, once and for all. Then when our flesh is done, we pass from death to life. "I am the Resurrection", is what Yahshua told Mary as he was going to Lazarus.
We who love God and have accepted his son, do not "die", but are present with the Lord and will return with him as He comes to establish his throne for eterntity.

Father Bless,
Pastor Towns

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