Comments on 1 Thessalonians 4:13–15

V13 “them which are asleep”

1. asleep = dead
   1. Paul did not wish them to be ignorant concerning them which are “asleep.” V13.
   2. He then says, that those who “sleep” in Jesus, God will bring with Him. V14.
   3. He then says that the people who are alive at the Lord’s coming, shall not go before them which are “asleep.” V15.
   4. Then he refers to these same people as “dead in Christ,” who shall be risen first, and both those who were alive at the Lord’s coming, and the “dead in Christ” shall be “caught up together” “in the clouds.” V16, 17.
   5. Contextual interpretation: Thus we can see, that Paul uses “sleep in Christ” and “dead in Christ” to mean the same thing. Thus, death is a sleep for those who died in Christ, until Jesus comes back.
   6. Cross-reference interpretation: Jesus refers to death as a sleep too. John 11:11–44. Matthew 9:18–26, Mark 5:35–43. Luke 8:40–56.
      1. Lazarus was dead, but Jesus plainly said he was sleeping. John 11:11–44.

      John 11:11-44–[11] These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. [12] Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. [13] Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. [14] Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. [15] And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. [16] Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. [17] Then when Jesus came, he found that he had [lain] in the grave four days already. [18] Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: [19] And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. [20] Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat [still] in the house. [21] Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. [22] But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give [it] thee. [23] Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. [24] Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. [25] Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: [26] And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? [27] She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. [28] And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. [29] As soon as she heard [that], she arose quickly, and came unto him. [30] Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. [31] The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. [32] Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. [33] When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, [34] And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. [35] Jesus wept. [36] Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! [37] And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? [38] Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. [39] Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been [dead] four days. [40] Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? [41] Then they took away the stone [from the place] where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up [his] eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. [42] And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said [it], that they may believe that thou hast sent me. [43] And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. [44] And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

      Mark 5:35-43–[35] While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s [house certain] which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? [36] As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. [37] And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. [38] And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. [39] And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. [40] And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. [41] And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. [42] And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was [of the age] of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. [43] And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

      1. A ruler came whose daughter was dead, and asked Jesus to raise her from the dead. Matthew 9:18. Jesus went (Matthew 9:19), but when He came there He told the people “making noise” that the maid was not dead, but sleepping, but they laughed at Him. Matthew 9:24. Jesus then went in and took her by the hand and she rose from dead. Matthew 9:25.
         

         Matthew 9:18-26–[18] While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. [19] And Jesus arose, and followed him, and [so did] his disciples. [20] And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind [him], and touched the hem of his garment: [21] For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. [22] But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. [23] And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, [24] He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. [25] But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. [26] And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

V14 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ”

1. “will God bring with him”
   1. The dead in Christ will rise at the second coming of Jesus. V16.
   2. Then the dead in Christ, which have risen from the dead, will be caught up together with those which are alive and remain, to meet the Lord in the air, and to be forever with Him. V17.

   “Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him,” Paul wrote. Many interpret this passage to mean that the sleeping ones will be brought with Christ from heaven; but Paul meant that as Christ was raised from the dead, so God will call the sleeping saints from their graves and take them with Him to heaven. Precious consolation! glorious hope! not only to the church of Thessalonica, but to all Christians wherever they may be. {AA 259.3}

   1. Conclusion: Thus we see that the dead in Christ are not in heaven, but are sleeping in their graves until the Second Coming.
   2. Personal application: Do you believe that Jesus died and rose again? Then you should also believe that Jesus will raise the dead in Christ to be brought with Him to heaven.

V15 “shall not prevent them which are asleep. ”

1. “prevent”
   1. Language definition interpretation:
      1. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
         

         1. To go before; to precede. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried. Psa 119.
         2. To precede, as something unexpected or unsought. The days of my affliction prevented me. Job 30. 2 Sam 22.
         3. To go before; to precede; to favor by anticipation or by hindering distress or evil. The God of my mercy shall prevent me. Psa 59. Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favor.
         4. To anticipate. Their ready guilt preventing thy commands.
         5. To preoccupy; to pre-engage; to attempt first. Thou hast prevented us with overtures of love. [In all the preceding senses, the word is obsolete.]
         6. To hinder; to obstruct; to intercept the approach or access of. This is now the only sense. No foresight or care will prevent every misfortune. Religion supplies consolation under afflictions which cannot be prevented. It is easier to prevent an evil than to remedy it. Too great confidence in success, is the likeliest to prevent it.

      2. Mickelson’s Greek Dictionary
         

         G5348 φθάνω phthano (fthan’-o) v.

         • 1. to be beforehand, i.e. anticipate or precede
           2. (by extension) to have arrived at

      3. Conclusion: Considering the context, the definition “to go before” or “to precede” seems to fit in best with the overall context of the chapter, as he then starts talking about the order of things happening namely that the dead in Christ shall rise first (V16), and that they will after that be caught up together (V16, 17).