1Thessalonians 4:13-18

Where Are The Dead?

Alot of people often mistake these few verses below for support of the rapture theory, but when one really analyzes them closely and checks the words out in the Greek and Hebrews languages in which God's word was originally written we see that it does not support the rapture theory or fly away doctrine which aligns with the fact that God said in Ezekiel 13:20, "that he is against those that teach people to fly to save their souls." So lets look at these few verses below a little closer and get the subject which starts here in verse 13, which is where the dead are.

1Th 4:13 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.

What this says is that God does not want us ignorant about those who have died and where they are as others do who no not what God's word says about this, so the subject for the remainder of this chapter is set here, which is where are the dead or those who have already passed on.

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

This lets us know that just as Jesus died and rose from the dead then likewise those who die today, that their soul/spiritual man rises to be with God also, as also noted in Ecclesiastes 12:6-7, where it states, "that upon death of the flesh the flesh returns to the dust from whence it was formed and the soul/spiritual man returns to God who gave it." This is also documented in 2Corinthians 5:1-9. Also this states that those who overcome upon the death of their flesh and are in good standing shall return with Christ at the 7th trump when he returns as King of kings and Lord of lords to destroy the reign of the antichrist, as noted in 2Thessalonians 2, especially verses 8-12.

1Th 4:15 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.

This word prevent here in the Greek means to precede. This verse is telling us that we that remain alive and do not die a flesh death before Christ returns cannot precede those who have already died and returned to Christ, for upon the death of the flesh as noted in the verses above our soul returns to God and those who remain alive until Christ return, their soul cannot go to be with God until the death of the flesh or the change from flesh to spirit that takes place at the last trump when Christ returns, as noted in 1Corinthians 15 and Revelation chapters 8-11.

1Th 4:16 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:

This trump is the 7th/last trump for that is when it is stated in God's word that Christ shall return, as noted in 1Corinthians 15:49-52 and Revelation chapters 8-11. The dead in Christ shall rise first for they have already risen for as noted in Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 their soul/spiritual body rises upon the death of their flesh to be with God.

1Th 4:17 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.

This word clouds is Paul's way of saying gather together in a group, as also noted in Hebrews 12:1. Air in the Greek here means breath of life or spiritual body, not sky. See 1Corinthians 15:49-52 lets us know that at the 7th/last trump that Christ shall return and we shall at that time be changed into our spiritual bodies and so shall we ever be for the flesh life is over at that point. I take this verse as meaning that at Christ return we shall be changed into our spiritual bodies and gathered together with those whom he brings with him and from that point on will be done with the need for these flesh bodies.

1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

This last verse is telling us that we should comfort those who have lost loved ones with these verses above, as well as Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 and 2Corinthians 5:1-9, whereby they will know that their loved ones are not in a hole in the ground, but are with God upon the death of the flesh.