1Thessalonians 4:13-18

The Comfort of Our Eternal Resurrection

God knows that people view death as final and awful.

Death is an enemy, it is punishment, and it stalks together with evil.

1Cor 15:26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Deut 30:15 " See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,...

Ps 55:4 My heart is severely pained within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

Job 3:20; Rev 9:6

It is a perverse culture that glorifies death.

Ps 73: 3-4

Rom 1:32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Job 10:22 A land as dark as darkness itself, As the shadow of death, without any order, Where even the light is like darkness.' "

Rev 20:13-15; Rev 21:8;

Ezek 33:11

Only Christ is able to save you from death.

Rev 1:18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

1Thess 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

Rev 21:4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Ps 23:4; Ps 116:8-9; Ps 48:14

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

God does does not want His people to sorrow as those who have no hope.

He sets out from the beginning to teach us with this purpose.

God speaks comfort to His people.

1Thessalonians 4:18

God speaks words of wonder to comfort His people.

Prov 8: 27-31

Genesis 8:20

1Thess 4:13-17

Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Heb 2:14-16

We have an eternal hope of resurrection with Jesus!

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

WSC 37 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? A The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness,(1) and do immediately pass into glory;(2) and their bodies, being still united in Christ,(3) do rest in their graves,(4) till the resurrection.(5)

(1) Heb. 12:23; (2) 2 Cor. 5:1,6,8; Phil. 1:23-24; Luke 23:43; (3) 1 Thess. 4:14 ; (4) Isa. 57:2; (5)Job. 19:26,27

There is no "secret rapture" of the Church but a very public fulfillment of God's promises.

1Thess 4:16 is loud

Revelation 12:10 is loud

Rev 14:15; Rev 19:17

Matt 24:31 "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Exodus 19: 18-20

1Cor 15:51-53

Then are God's promises fulfilled.

Acts 1:11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

2Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Even now are they fulfilled.

WLC 66 What is that union which the elect have with Christ? A. The union which the elect have with Christ is the work of God's grace,(1) whereby they are spiritually and mystically, yet really and inseparably, joined to Christ as their head and husband;(2) which is done in their effectual calling. 1)Eph. 1:22; Eph. 2:6-8 (2)1 Cor. 6:17; John 10:28; Eph. 5:23,30 (3)1 Pet. 5:10; 1 Cor. 1:9

2Cor 6:17-18 "And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."

2Pet 1:3-4