HOW TO LIVE TO PLEASE GOD, Ron Ward
THE COMING OF THE LORD
Passage: 1Thessalonians 4:13~18  
Key verse: 16
Believers Who Have Died
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed(A) about those who sleep in death,(B) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.(C) 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,(D) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.(E) 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,(F) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.(G) 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,(H) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel(I) and with the trumpet call of God,(J) and the dead in Christ will rise first.(K) 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left(L) will be caught up together with them in the clouds(M) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord(N) forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another(O) with these words.
Cross references
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13 : S Ro 11:25
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13 : S Mt 9:24
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13 : Eph 2:12
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 : Ro 14:9; 1Co 15:3, 4; 2Co 5:15
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 : 1Co 15:18
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15 : S 1Co 1:7
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15 : 1Co 15:52
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 : S Mt 16:27
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 : Jude 9
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 : S Mt 24:31
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 : 1Co 15:23; 2Th 2:1; Rev 14:13
- 1 Thessalonians 4:17 : 1Co 15:52
- 1 Thessalonians 4:17 : Ac 1:9; S Ac 8:39; S Rev 1:7; 11:12
- 1 Thessalonians 4:17 : S Jn 12:26
- 1 Thessalonians 4:18 : 1Th 5:11
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Our sure hope (13-15)
Our final enemy is death. Worldly people can only grieve in the face of death. But God's people have a great and glorious hope. Just as sure as Jesus died and rose again, so will he come, bringing with him those who have fallen asleep in him. Death is not the end. It is a short nap before awaking to be with Jesus forever.
2. The Lord himself will come (16-18)
Jesus will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel and with a trumpet blast. The dead in Christ will rise first; then those who are still alive at the time of his coming will be caught up in the clouds to meet him in the air; so we will all be with him forever. In the light of this glorious and sure hope, we should encourage each other.
Prayer: Lord, you came to be my Savior and died and rose to forgive my sins. I am awaiting your return, for you will surely come as you promised. Help me to hold this glorious hope in my heart.
One Word: Come quickly, Lord Jesus