1 Thessalonians 4
1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
You want to grow, it can only happen in The Word of God. Why ignore His Word? It's The manual for this life. It shows us The Way in which we should go.
2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
Those that love God enough to study His Word, understand His Spirit has opened The Truth to you. You know The Way and direction to go.
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
God has given us rules to live by and without rules there is chaos. Let's look at this word "fornication" = πορνεία porneía, por-ni'-ah; from G4203; harlotry (including adultery and incest), illicit sexual intercourse, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
Your mirror should give you a picture of your vessel. It carries your soul. There is only One Way to sanctify it and that's in Christ Jesus, The Word. Repentance cleans you, study and following shows you honour God.
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
"Concupiscence" = ἐπιθυμία epithymía, ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah; from G1937; a longing (especially for what is forbidden): (lust after), desire, craving, desire for what is forbidden, lust. The flesh, your vessel, should be holy. You honour no one when you ignore God and go for whatever comes. There is no such thing as a homosexual "christian" and for that matter, anyone that calls themselves a "christian" that ignores God's Truths has no respect or honour for anything. Romans 1:25-28 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;"
6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
God has given us The Way and if we ignore Christ, we refuse His Holiness. Ephesians 1:7 In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace,
8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
Feed everyone The Truth. It doesn't matter if they hate you or you can't stand the type of person they are. To reject giving them The Truth is to reject The Holy Spirit. What good are you if you keep silent when given an opportunity to plant a seed. This doesn't mean when you're at work, making an income for your family. There is a time and place, though you should be an example of Christ everyday, everywhere!
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
God's love is for everyone. The most evil human has an opportunity to choose Christ Jesus [if they want] Him. Our Father has given everyone The Way. If you love, you let everyone know of Him.
10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
As you study, you grow in knowledge, wisdom, strength and power. The more you have in Christ, the more you can do the work of Christ.
11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
Study grows wisdom and in wisdom you better your reputation. A knowledgeable Christian knows to mind their own business. Stay strong in The Word, able to do the work required of you. Don't go looking for trouble because as a Christian, evil will find you. With the knowledge of The Word, you'll handle them with wisdom.
12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
Walk as a Christian and they'll see Christ in you.
13 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.
Paul has told us in this book to live by God's directions, study and follow Him. Repent and move from the ways of the world. He doesn't want us to be like those that refuse The Truth. He wishes us to understand what happens when we die of this flesh. He wants us to understand where they are right now.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
As a Christian, you believe that Christ Jesus died, was buried, and arose on the third day. Now with that, you must also believe everyone that has died, Christ brings back with Him to the earth upon His coming. 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. If you don't believe that, then you don't believe Christ died and arose on the third day, you're ignorance has turn to stupidity because you were given The Truth, but refuse it. To not know is to be ignorant of something.
15 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.
"Shall not prevent them" simply means we are not going to precede or go before them. We can't! Because they're already there. Those that haven't died are right here on earth when The Lord arrives. What is Paul saying about this "word of the Lord"? He's talking about Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. I Corinthians 15:50-52 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. These flesh body's won't be any part of the kingdom of God. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, This will stay a mystery to those who don't give God's Word time. This is going to show us what's about to happen upon our Lords return. We all don't just die, but are changed into those new body's. When? 52 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. Everyone dies of this flesh and are placed into those incorruptible, celestial, new body's. This happens when? THE LAST TRUMP! False doctrines will have you believe there's a ride coming before and with some "teachings", during the tribulation period. We clearly see, that's false! Why would Paul be showing us this mystery if you're gone? There would be no reason for the answer to the mystery. We can't prevent them because their already there with The Lord. You can't go before someone that's already there. This is why it's very important to study 2 Thess. Ch. 2, as it lays everything out very clear. 2 Thess. 2:7-9 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked [satan] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [7th trump, "the last trump"] 9 Even him, whose coming is --->after the working of Satan<--- with all power and signs and lying wonders, Hope you see this, "AFTER THE WORKING OF satan" then The Lord comes. 1 Cor. 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. These souls are mortal and need a body of immortality, but this can only be accomplished through Christ. If you're found unworthy, you're not fire proof. Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him Which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 1 Cor. 15:54 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. True immortality is ONLY through Christ while in this flesh. If you haven't chose Him yet, what are you waiting for? This may be your last second in this flesh body.
16 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:
There are two separate things here. Christ Jesus return at "the trump of God" = 7th trump and the fact those that He brings with Him must have died first in order for them to come with Him at the 7th trump = the trump of God. This is the same time 1 Cor. 15:52 happens. It's a simultaneous event. He comes with those that have died and we that are here on earth change into our new body's. 1 Corinthians 15:52 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.
17 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.
"Clouds" = G3506 νέφος néphos, nef'-os; apparently a primary word; a cloud:—cloud. [A large dense multitude] There are so many that come with Christ, it's as a cloud, "a large dense multitude" of souls in their new body's. Haven't you ever seen a cloud of birds or locust? So many that it look as a "cloud". With them, we are "caught up" = G726ἁρπάζω harpázō, har-pad'-zo; = [to seize], You have no choice in the matter. "Air" = G109 ἀήρ aḗr, ah-ayr'; from ἄημι áēmi (to breathe unconsciously, i.e. respire; by analogy, to blow); "air" (as naturally circumambient):—air. Compare G5594. The Etymology is [to breathe] and in this case it's the breath of God, the breath of life. We meet Christ Jesus in our "breath of life bodies, or our new spiritual bodies". Ref. 1 Cor. 15. This has been only talking about "where are the dead". People have created a religion out of this and many have been "TAKEN". Please absorb this study into your daily thoughts, because satans lies grow in the churches and many are fooled by them. I pray you have Armour on when satan shows his face. You will be here unless you die.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The Holy Spirit opens our eyes and ears to The Truth and by that Truth we can be comforted in knowing the events to come. We know where are loved ones are right now and we know our Lord is returning with them.