And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
The passage of scripture that you just read should encourage those that believe in Christ Jesus. Paul The Apostle, brings a word of encouragement to the church in Thessalonica, who believed that those who had died had missed the return of Christ. The writer refers to those who sleep are identified, as “the dead in Christ.” The people, in ignorance, had concluded that those who die miss the Lord’s return and they were grieved over their absence at such a glorious event. Thus, the departure of a loved ones brought great anguish to the soul. But there is no reason for Christians to sorrow when a brother dies as if some great loss to that person has come. Just as Jesus died and rose, so also will those who die believing in Him will rise again and be taken to heaven with the Lord (1 Cor. 15:51-58). These texts describe the rapture of the church, which takes place when Jesus comes to collect His redeemed and take them back to heaven. Those who have died before that time (called “those who have fallen asleep”), will be gathered and taken back to heaven with the Lord.
The bible tells us, "The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command or shout, with voice of the Archangel!" This fulfils the pledge of (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11). Until then, He remains in heaven (1:10; Heb. 1:1-3). This “Archangel”: Very little is known about the organization or rank of angels (Col. 1:17). While only Michael is named as an archangel (Jude 9), there seems to be more than one in the archangelic ranks (Dan 10:13). Perhaps it is Michael, the archangel, whose voice is heard as he is identified with Israel’s resurrection (in Dan. 12:1-3). At that moment (1 Cor. 15:52, “twinkling of an eye”), the dead rise first. They will not miss the Rapture, but be the first participants. THEN, we who are left! will be taken up or RAPTURED with the Lord. This is where our study on the RAPTURE starts. So please join us as we study this glorious event.
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