Understanding1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

13 Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. 15 For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. It’s about the Lord's coming to take His church out of the world, called the "rapture." The church consists of only saved people who make up the "body of Christ."

1 Corinthians 12:27 says, "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually."

Therefore, the true church is not a building.

It's made up of only born again (saved) individuals. Not everybody who is a member of a local church or who goes to church is a member of the body of Christ. Why? Because they don't believe Jesus died for their sins and rose again. They will not be in the rapture. Rather than serve the Lord because they believe in Him and love Him, they only do things in the church building, especially on Sunday mornings, to impress others and please themselves. Therefore, when Jesus comes for His church (all true believers in Him), all unbelievers will be left on earth. All believers in Jesus, whether dead or alive, will be raptured. That's what

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 teaches. Take special notice of

verse 14 - “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep (are deceased) in Jesus.” The question is, will the Lord bring you with Him when He comes for His church?

I hope so. 🙏🏾❤️

Blessings!