Paul Tells What Happens to Believers Who Have Died |
1st Thessalonians 4:1-18 Paul's Epistle to Thessalonians [in Smaller Chunks] |
Then, brethren, [a.k.a. fellow-believers,] we [also urge & advise] you [through] the Lord Jesus, [so] that you ought to walk, [a.k.a. follow,] & to please God, [like what] you have received [from] us, so you would abound [in your faith in Jesus Christ,] more & more. For you know what commandments we gave [to] you [from] the Lord Jesus. |
For this is [God's] will, even [for] your sanctification, [so] that you [would] abstain, [a.k.a. refrain,] from fornication, [a.k.a. infidelity.] [So] that, everyone of you, should know how to possess his vessel, [a.k.a. body, sanctified, & honorable.] Not [through] the [lusts] of concupiscence, [a.k.a. sexual passions,] even [like] the Gentiles, [who don't] know God. |
[So] that, no man [goes] beyond [this,] & [defrauds, a.k.a. deceives,] his brother in any matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, [who do this,] [like,] we also have forewarned, [a.k.a. warned ahead of time,] & testified [to] you. |
For God [hasn't] called us to [do what is:] [unclean,] but to [do what is:] [holy.] Therefore, he, [who despises, doesn't despise] man, but God, Who [has] also given His Holy Spirit to us. |
But you [don't] need that I write to you [about] brotherly love, for you, yourselves, are taught [by] God to love one another. [1 Peter 1:14-16 [Be] [like] obedient children, not in your ignorance, [a.k.a. being unaware,] fashioning yourselves according to the [the previous] lusts: but [like the Lord God, Who has] called you Is Holy. So you be holy in all manner, [a.k.a. types,] of conversation; because it is written [in the Scriptures,] You, be holy; for I Am Holy.] |
And indeed you do it, toward all the brethren, [who] are in all [of] Macedonia. But we [urge] you, brethren, that you increase [in your faith in Jesus Christ,] more & more. |
And that you study, [a.k.a. learn,] to be: quiet, [a.k.a. peaceful,] & to [mind] your own business, & to work with your own hands, [like] we commanded you. [2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this, that if [anyone] wouldn't work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some, [who follow] among you disorderly, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now, [those, who] are such [as this,] we command, & [advise] [you through] our Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with quietness, & eat their own bread.] |
[So] that, you may [follow] honestly toward [those, who] are without [faith,] [so] that you [won't] have [a] lack of [anything.] But I wouldn't have you to be ignorant, [a.k.a. unaware,] brethren, [about those, who] are asleep, [a.k.a. are dead, so] that you [don't] sorrow, even [like] others [who] have no hope [of Eternal Life through their faith in Jesus Christ.] |
For if we believe that Jesus died & rose again, even so, [those, who] sleep, [but had faith] in Jesus, God will also bring with Him. For we say this to you [through] the Word of the Lord, [so] that we, [who] are alive, & remain [until] the Lord [comes,] shall not prevent [those, who] are asleep [from joining God in heaven.] |
For the Lord, Himself, shall descend from heaven with a shout, & with the voice of the Archangel, & with the [trumpet,] [blare] of God. And the dead, [who believed] in Christ, shall rise first. |
Then, we, [who] are alive & remain, shall be caught up in the clouds together with them, to meet the Lord in the air. So we shall [always] be with the Lord. [For this reason,] we comfort one another with these Words. [Revelation 21:2-4 And I, John, saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared [like] a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, [See,] the tabernacle of God is with men, & He will dwell with them, & they shall be His people, & God, Himself, shall be with them, & be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there shall no [longer] be: death; sorrow; crying, & neither any more pain. For the [previous] things [have] passed away.] |