Dear Friend,
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord (GOD) will by no means precede those who are asleep. (end of the age, end of the Millennium, end of the world)
16 For the Lord (GOD, not Jesus) 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. (again, the dead in Christ arise but He isn't bringing them, God is)
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord (GOD) in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord (GOD).
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Blessings to you dear friend in Christ. If we do go through the tribulation and are beheaded for our faith, we will receive more blessings than those that don't. I'm pretty sure we get other special treatment besides reigning with Christ over our enemies for 1,000 years - but still studying that aspect of this.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (KJV)
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13 [/SUP]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.
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14 [/SUP]For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
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15 [/SUP]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.
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[/SUP]I take verses 15 and 16 as one thought, as the dead in Christ will rise first, just like the resurrection at the crucifixion of Christ, but not the same event.
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16 [/SUP]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:
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17 [/SUP]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.
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18 [/SUP]Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
This passage is connected with
1 Corinthians 15:51-58 (KJV)
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51 [/SUP]Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
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52 [/SUP]In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
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53 [/SUP]For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal
must put on immortality.
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54 [/SUP]So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
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55 [/SUP]O death, where
is thy sting? O grave, where
is thy victory?
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56 [/SUP]The sting of death
is sin; and the strength of sin
is the law.
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57 [/SUP]But thanks
be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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58 [/SUP]Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.