Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Dear friends in Christ,
A few years ago, a casket lay here in the front of the church. Family and friends filled the pews. As the service concluded, we made the slow trek to the cemetery on the outside of town. Pallbearers carried the casket to its final resting place. Family and friends once again gathered round. Words of Scripture were spoken. A prayer was said. The committal was over. But no one moved. No one wanted to leave. Tears continued to flow.
Years later, family and friends continue to visit the gravesite. They stand before the grave and speak to their son, their brother, their friend. Tears are shed. They miss him. They simply miss him. Every single day.
I would like you to take just a moment and think about people you have known and loved but are no longer with us. Picture their faces. Remember their voices, the feel of their touch. Maybe the person you’re thinking of is your spouse. To this day you remember his/her smile and that still brings joy to your heart. Maybe the one you remember is your grandmother. You remember how she put you on her lap and held you; spoiled you. Maybe you remember your grandfather. You remember how he used to get down on the ground and play with you. Maybe the ones you remember are your parents. What you remember most is their unconditional love. Maybe you’ve had to bury a son or daughter – and you remember how they made you so proud. But now they’re gone. And you still miss them. Every single day.
The subject of death and dying strikes fear and despair in the hearts of many. Death is incredibly hard to deal with. Several of our families have had to wrestle with that subject this year. Death can be cruel. It brings heartache and pain. It is a subject everyone here has had to deal with, and if you haven’t yet, you will.
In our lesson for today, the Apostle Paul deals with the subject of death and dying and the Last Judgment. Paul knew enough about people and he knew enough about death to know that death always hurts. But he also knew there was a way to take the hurt away. He knew that Christians can deal with the subject of death and dying and still be content, confident, and even courageous. What he needed to do was clear up the confusion the people had. Paul was able to take the hurt and pain of death away for his readers, then and now. And in the place of hurt and pain he gives us hope. And here’s how he did it. He said:
The Dead in Christ Will Rise
1. They will rise justified
2. They will rise glorified
3. They will rise unified
In our lesson for today, we find that the church members in Thessalonica were having a lot of problems dealing with death. And we have a pretty good idea why. Apparently Paul had told these new found Christians how Jesus had suffered and died for the sins of the world, rose from the grave, ascended into heaven, and would one day come again to judge the world. All those who believed in Jesus would live forever with him in heaven. Those who did not believe would spend their eternity in hell. So the Thessalonians were looking forward to Jesus coming again. But for some reason, the Thessalonians got it into their heads that Jesus was coming soon, very soon, like in a manner of weeks. But then they began to worry. What if someone died before Jesus came again? What would happen to them? Would those who died miss out on eternal life? They had all kinds of questions but no answers. The Thessalonians were worrying themselves sick. So Paul came to the rescue and provides the answers.
This is what Paul told them. He said, “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope” (v.13). Paul wanted the Thessalonians, and he also wants you and me to know, that hey, we’re not like everybody else. When someone we know and loves dies, we're not left with only a few fond memories. We've got more, much more. Remember what we believe! Paul went on, "We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him" (v.14).
Do you understand what Paul is saying? We’re not like people who are left wondering what happens to them after they die.
I saw a video the other day where people were asked, “What will happen to you when you die?” The answers the people gave were both eye-opening and disturbing. Some thought that when they die they will be reincarnated in some way, shape or form. They believe that after death they will come back to life as another person or as an animal. Several others stated that when you die, that’s it. You’ve reached the end of your journey. You’re dead and buried. And still others answered simply, “I don’t know what’s going to happen to me when I die.”
Isn’t that sad? But as Paul points out, we’re not like those people. We don’t have to guess what’s going to happen to us when we die. We can rely on the facts. The Bible tells us that at death, soul and body separate. The body remains here on earth, while the soul goes to either heaven or hell based on what the person believed while they were alive (Ecclesiastes 12:7). So, where we spend our eternity is based on what we believe.
Well, what do you believe? Do you believe that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son? Do you believe that God sent Jesus to earth, had him become human, had him live under the same laws we have to, but never sinned? Do you believe that Jesus then freely and willingly allowed sinful human beings, people just like you and me to beat him, mistreat him and finally nail him to a tree until he was dead? And do you believe that after three days Jesus raised himself from the grave, proving his power over sin, death and the devil? And do you believe that because of what Jesus has done for you, God the Father now declares you to be justified, declares you to be “not-guilty” of your sins and an heir of eternal life? Do you believe this? If so then answer, yes!
Then by the grace of God, it is my privilege to tell you, your sins are forgiven, you are a child of God, and one day you will live forever with Jesus in heaven. That’s it. That’s what it’s all about. We believe Jesus died and rose. And that’s why we believe the dead in Christ will also rise. The dead in Christ will rise justified. Jesus himself said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25,26).
The fact that the dead will rise justified, as Paul points out, is only part of the story. It gets even better. He tells us that when the dead rise, they will be glorified.
On the stand right next to my bed at home is an alarm clock. Can’t stand the thing. The numbers on the clock are really big and illumined, so that the entire room lights us at night. I have to turn the thing toward the wall just so I can get some sleep. However, as much as I hate my alarm clock, I know I need it. I need the alarm to go off each morning to wake me up so that I can go about my day.
I was thinking about that alarm clock when I read the lesson for today. I couldn’t help but think how insignificant it is compared to the alarm Jesus will use when he comes again. Listen to how Paul describes that Last Great Day, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (v.16).
If the believers in Thessalonica were worried about their loved ones missing out on Jesus’ second coming, Paul took care of that right here. The dead are not going to miss out on anything. Actually, Jesus’ second coming is going to begin with the dead.
Imagine that, if you can. Imagine Jesus coming again on the Last Day. His second coming will be much different from his first. The first time he came humble, meek and mild. The next time Jesus comes, it will be with all his power and glory, and all his holy angels are coming with him. The Lord’s voice will thunder across every cemetery on earth, “Wake up! Come out of your graves! Come and stand before me!” The voice of the archangel will order his angel armies to gather believers and unbelievers from the four corners of the world. And then everyone will hear, not a crummy alarm clock – everyone will hear the trumpet call of God.
Paul had a thing about this trumpet. He wrote to the believers in Corinth, “Listen. I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52).
We will be changed. Whether we are alive or dead, when Jesus returns, doesn’t matter. Our bodies will need to be changed. What we have right now are bodies infected by sin. But on the Last Day, Jesus will “Transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).
The Thessalonians didn’t have to worry about their loved ones, and we don’t either. They won’t miss out on anything, nor will we. And do you know why? Because the dead in Christ will rise and they will rise glorified.
We don’t know how long it took for Paul’s words to sink in, but the new Christians in Thessalonica got the information they needed to end their confusion and dry their tears. However, Paul wanted to finish the story, and we should all be glad he did, because what comes next, Lord willing, is what helps those who still mourn the loss of those they love.
After the trumpet call, and after all the believers stand before him, after we have been glorified, Paul goes on, “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (v.17).
Did you catch what Paul was saying? The dead in Christ will rise and then the family reunion will begin.
They are all going to be there: the wife whose smile you deeply miss, the husband who died too soon, the mother who tucked us into bed at night, the grandpa who used to come to all our ballgames and band concerts, the grandma who used to set us on her lap, the son or daughter who were tragically taken from us. They’re all going to be there. We’re going to know them and they’re going to know us. And you know who else is gonna be there? The Christians in Thessalonica who were once confused will be there, along with the apostle who set them straight. And we’re also going to see Abraham and Moses, Peter and John. They’re all going to be there. And Jesus will be there too. He’s going to see us and know us, and we him. And we’re all going to live together forever.
So there it is. We all think about people we know and love; people who’ve died. And we think about ourselves too. We know death is something we going to have to face one day. But you see, here’s the thing: we don’t grieve like those who have no hope. You know why? Because we know the dead in Christ will rise – justified, glorified, and unified. That’s what Paul and the Holy Spirit have told us on this Saints Triumphant Day.
And one last thing…they also told us this, “Therefore, encourage each other with these words” (v.18).
We are often granted opportunities to encourage each other with the hope of heaven. I just hope we seize the moment. When someone dies, do you know what to say to those who mourn? Whether you're at the funeral home, here in church, or at someone's death bed, do you know what to say? Do you know what to tell your children when they go through this? Do you know what to tell your friends when the subject of death comes up? I hope that you tell them more than, “I’m sorry for your loss.” Give them more. Give them hope. Tell them what you know. Tell them that the dead in Christ will rise. And one day, their loved one will rise too.
Amen.
And now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding, keep our hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.