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FIRST THESSALONIANS 4

 

Don't be ignorant

 

1 Thes. 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,

            [1] concerning them which are asleep [1 Cor. 15:51],

                        [a.] that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

 4:14  For

            [1] if we believe that Jesus

                        [a.] died and

                        [b.] rose again,

            [2] even so them also which sleep in Jesus

                        will God bring with him [1 Thes. 3:13].

 

We which are alive…remain

 

 4:15  For this we say unto you

            [1] by the word of the Lord, that we

                        [a.] which are alive [and]

                        [b.] remain unto the coming [1 Thes. 2:19] of the Lord

[11.] shall not prevent [proceed in the Rapture (vs. 16)] them which are asleep. 

[We, in the Church, which are alivewho survive the afflictions, persecutions, and tribulation...to which we are appointed (1 Thes. 3:3)and remain alive [escaping death and martyrdom] unto the coming of the Lord, shall not proceed [go up in the Rapture before] those who have previously fallen asleep [died] in Jesus.]

 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven

            [1] with a shout,

            [2] with the voice of the archangel, and

            [3] with the trump of God [1 Cor. 15:52]:

                        [a.] and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

**The survivors go up last in the Rapture.  This is the glorious church for which Jesus is coming--without spot or wrinkle--untouchable by Satan and all that he has.

 4:17  Then we

          [1] which are alive [and]

            [2] remain  [we who are remaining alive]

                        [a.] shall be caught up [#726]

                                    [11.] together with them in the clouds,

                                    [12.] to meet the Lord in the air: and

                        [b.] so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

[#726, harpazo, to seize, carry off, grasp hastily, snatch up; catch (away, up), pluck, pull take (by force); to seize and overpower; to be seized from danger. It is from this word that we get the English word rapture. See Strong's Exhaustive Concordance #726 (Baker), as harpazo is used in Matt. 11:12; 13:19; John 6:15; Acts 8:39; 23:10; 2 Cor. 12:2, 4; 1 Thes. 4:17; Jude 23, Rev. 12:5. Paul was raptured (2 Cor. 12:2-4): very likely when he was stoned to death at Acts 14:19. The Church will be raptured (1 Thes 4:16); and the manchild of Rev. 12:5 [which cannot possibly be Jesus] will be raptured. Jesus. Enoch and Elijah were not raptured: because neither of these was "seized from any danger", but ascended into heaven...Jesus: to sit on His throne of Glory; Enoch and Elijah: to await their return as the two witnesses of Rev. 11:3.]

 

The Church is raptured between the 5th and 6th seals of the Book of Revelation (see Rev. 6:12-17, Rev. 7:14, The Book of Revelation In Verse-By-Verse Outline; see also The Midst of the Feast, and The Body of Christ from Seven Prophetic Pictures of the Rapture)] 

 © 1997-2009 Walter J. Taylor; Walter James Taylor

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