Good evening to you, welcome to tonight's study with Word of God fellowship.  Tonight we will be reading from 1sth thes. 4 beginning is v. 13.  This chapter holds special meaning for me because not only has my family used these scriptures on a few occasions in the past, a very old and dear friend passed again to the Father this morning.  Mr. Ronald Brown, mostly referred to as Ronny B. by friends passed on to the Father on this 26th day of sep. in the year of our Lord 2002.  Those of us who knew him will hold the memories in our hearts and minds until again we see our brother in the kingdom of our Father.  We Love you brother Ronny, and we will never forget you.  We ask that the Lord God watch and keep our brother and return him to us once again with the coming of your son Jesus Christ, and in His name we pray, Amen. 

And with that, we begin tonight's study, Where are the dead.

1Th 4:13  But¹¹⁶¹ I would²³⁰⁹ not³⁷⁵⁶ have you⁵²⁰⁹ to be ignorant,⁵⁰ brethren,⁸⁰ concerning⁴⁰¹² them which are asleep,²⁸³⁷ that²⁴⁴³ ye sorrow³⁰⁷⁶ not,³³⁶¹ even²⁵³² as²⁵³¹ others³⁰⁶² which have²¹⁹² no³³⁶¹ hope.¹⁶⁸⁰

Here is our subject.  Paul is beginning to instruct them on the subject of those who have departed this world.  We are not to be as those with "no hope".  What is this "hope"??  the Greek word used here is:

G1680

ἐλπίς

elpis

el-pece'

Fromἔλπω elpo¯ which is a primary word (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstract or concrete) or confidence: - faith, hope.

  We are to anticipate the return of our departed loved ones with pleasure, certain that they will return with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1Th 4:14  For¹⁰⁶³ if¹⁴⁸⁷ we believe⁴¹⁰⁰ that³⁷⁵⁴ Jesus²⁴²⁴ died⁵⁹⁹ and²⁵³² rose again,⁴⁵⁰ even so³⁷⁷⁹ them also which sleep^{2837, 2532} in¹²²³ Jesus²⁴²⁴ will God²³¹⁶ bring⁷¹ with⁴⁸⁶² him.⁸⁴⁶

Here is a basic statement or our "hope" of the resurrection.

1Th 4:15  For¹⁰⁶³ this⁵¹²⁴ we say³⁰⁰⁴ unto you⁵²¹³ by¹⁷²² the word³⁰⁵⁶ of the Lord,²⁹⁶² that³⁷⁵⁴ we²²⁴⁹ which are alive²¹⁹⁸ and remain⁴⁰³⁵ unto¹⁵¹⁹ the³⁵⁸⁸ coming³⁹⁵² of the³⁵⁸⁸ Lord²⁹⁶² shall not³³⁶⁴ prevent⁵³⁴⁸ them which are asleep.²⁸³⁷

The word used here for "prevent" is:

G5348

φθάνω

phthano¯

fthan'-o

Apparently a primary verb; to be beforehand, that is, anticipate or precede; by extension to have arrived at: - (already) attain, come, prevent.

This word would be better translated in this context as "precede".  Why can we who remain until the second coming precede those who have passed on??

Ecc 12:5  Also¹⁵⁷¹ when they shall be afraid³³⁷² of that which is high,^{4480, 1364} and fears²⁸⁴⁹ shall be in the way,¹⁸⁷⁰ and the almond tree⁸²⁴⁷ shall flourish,⁵⁰⁰⁶ and the grasshopper²²⁸⁴ shall be a burden,⁵⁴⁴⁵ and desire³⁵ shall fail:⁶⁵⁶⁵ because³⁵⁸⁸ man¹²⁰ goeth¹⁹⁸⁰ to⁴¹³ his long⁵⁷⁶⁹ home,¹⁰⁰⁴ and the mourners⁵⁵⁹⁴ go about⁵⁴³⁷ the streets:⁷⁷⁸⁴

It is plain to see that we are speaking of the moment of death for the physical body.

Ecc 12:6  Or⁵⁷⁰⁴ ever^{834, 3808} the silver³⁷⁰¹ cord²²⁵⁶ be loosed,⁷³⁶⁸ or the golden²⁰⁹¹ bowl¹⁵⁴³ be broken,⁷⁵³³ or the pitcher³⁵³⁷ be broken⁷⁶⁶⁵ at⁵⁹²¹ the fountain,⁴⁰⁰² or the wheel¹⁵³⁴ broken⁷⁵³³ at⁴¹³ the cistern.⁹⁵³

This is figurative speech of the moment of death.  the word used for "loosed" is:

H7368

ّç÷

ra^chaq

raw-khak'

A primitive root; to widen (in any direction), that is, (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation): - (a, be, cast, drive, get, go, keep [self], put, remove, be too, [wander], withdraw) far (away, off), loose, X refrain, very, (be) a good way (off).

By the time this cord (line, as in live line, remember this is figurative.) is removed what is taking place??

Ecc 12:7  Then shall the dust⁶⁰⁸³ return⁷⁷²⁵ to⁵⁹²¹ the earth⁷⁷⁶ as it was:^{7945, 1961} and the spirit⁷³⁰⁷ shall return⁷⁷²⁵ unto⁴¹³ God⁴³⁰ who⁸³⁴ gave⁵⁴¹⁴ it.

The spirit returns where??  To God who gave it.  And I will point out one more time that the spirit "RETURNS" to God who gave it.

1Th 4:16  For³⁷⁵⁴ the³⁵⁸⁸ Lord²⁹⁶² himself⁸⁴⁶ shall descend²⁵⁹⁷ from⁵⁷⁵ heaven³⁷⁷² with¹⁷²² a shout,²⁷⁵² with¹⁷²² the voice⁵⁴⁵⁶ of the archangel,⁷⁴³ and²⁵³² with¹⁷²² the trump⁴⁵³⁶ of God:²³¹⁶ and²⁵³² the³⁵⁸⁸ dead³⁴⁹⁸ in¹⁷²² Christ⁵⁵⁴⁷ shall rise⁴⁵⁰ first:⁴⁴¹²

Again, why will the dead in Christ rise first??  Because they are ALREADY WITH HIM.

1Th 4:17  Then¹⁸⁹⁹ we²²⁴⁹ which are alive²¹⁹⁸ and remain⁴⁰³⁵ shall be caught up⁷²⁶ together²⁶⁰ with⁴⁸⁶² them⁸⁴⁶ in¹⁷²² the clouds³⁵⁰⁷ to meet^{1519, 529} the³⁵⁸⁸ Lord²⁹⁶² in¹⁵¹⁹ the air:¹⁰⁹ and²⁵³² so³⁷⁷⁹ shall we ever³⁸⁴² be²⁰⁷¹ with⁴⁸⁶² the Lord.²⁹⁶²

Before you start thinking "rapture", read v. 16 again and ask yourself a question.  Which "trump" are we referring to here??

1Co 15:51  Behold,²⁴⁰⁰ I show³⁰⁰⁴ you⁵²¹³ a mystery;³⁴⁶⁶ We shall not³⁷⁵⁶ all³⁹⁵⁶ sleep,⁽²⁸³⁷⁾ but¹¹⁶¹ we shall all³⁹⁵⁶ be changed,²³⁶

1Co 15:52  In¹⁷²² a moment,⁸²³ in¹⁷²² the twinkling⁴⁴⁹³ of an eye,³⁷⁸⁸ at¹⁷²² the³⁵⁸⁸ last²⁰⁷⁸ trump:⁴⁵³⁶ for¹⁰⁶³ the trumpet shall sound,⁴⁵³⁷ and²⁵³² the³⁵⁸⁸ dead³⁴⁹⁸ shall be raised¹⁴⁵³ incorruptible,⁸⁶² and²⁵³² we²²⁴⁹ shall be changed.²³⁶

This makes it very clear that this happens at the LAST trump.  Satan shows up on the fifth and sixth trumps.  We will look at the beginning of him entrance now.

Rev 9:1  And²⁵³² the³⁵⁸⁸ fifth³⁹⁹¹ angel³² sounded,⁴⁵³⁷ and²⁵³² I saw¹⁴⁹² a star⁷⁹² fall⁴⁰⁹⁸ from¹⁵³⁷ heaven³⁷⁷² unto¹⁵¹⁹ the³⁵⁸⁸ earth:¹⁰⁹³ and²⁵³² to him⁸⁴⁶ was given¹³²⁵ the³⁵⁸⁸ key²⁸⁰⁷ of the³⁵⁸⁸ bottomless¹² pit.⁵⁴²¹

No, this is not to loose him for a short time, that is explained in Rev.20:3

Rev 9:2  And²⁵³² he opened⁴⁵⁵ the³⁵⁸⁸ bottomless¹² pit;⁵⁴²¹ and²⁵³² there arose³⁰⁵ a smoke²⁵⁸⁶ out of¹⁵³⁷ the³⁵⁸⁸ pit,⁵⁴²¹ as⁵⁶¹³ the smoke²⁵⁸⁶ of a great³¹⁷³ furnace;²⁵⁷⁵ and²⁵³² the³⁵⁸⁸ sun²²⁴⁶ and²⁵³² the³⁵⁸⁸ air¹⁰⁹ were darkened⁴⁶⁵⁴ by reason of¹⁵³⁷ the³⁵⁸⁸ smoke²⁵⁸⁶ of the³⁵⁸⁸ pit.⁵⁴²¹

Rev 9:3  And²⁵³² there came¹⁸³¹ out of¹⁵³⁷ the³⁵⁸⁸ smoke²⁵⁸⁶ locusts²⁰⁰ upon¹⁵¹⁹ the³⁵⁸⁸ earth:¹⁰⁹³ and²⁵³² unto them⁸⁴⁶ was given¹³²⁵ power,¹⁸⁴⁹ as⁵⁶¹³ the³⁵⁸⁸ scorpions⁴⁶⁵¹ of the³⁵⁸⁸ earth¹⁰⁹³ have²¹⁹² power.¹⁸⁴⁹

Rev 9:4  And²⁵³² it was commanded⁴⁴⁸³ them⁸⁴⁶ that²⁴⁴³ they should not³³⁶¹ hurt⁹¹ the³⁵⁸⁸ grass⁵⁵²⁸ of the³⁵⁸⁸ earth,¹⁰⁹³ neither³⁷⁶¹ any³⁹⁵⁶ green thing,⁵⁵¹⁵ neither³⁷⁶¹ any³⁹⁵⁶ tree;¹¹⁸⁶ but¹⁵⁰⁸ only³⁴⁴¹ those men⁴⁴⁴ which³⁷⁴⁸ have²¹⁹² not³⁷⁵⁶ the³⁵⁸⁸ seal⁴⁹⁷³ of God²³¹⁶ in¹⁹⁰⁹ their⁸⁴⁸ foreheads.³³⁵⁹

This is to say, the Truth of the word in their minds.

Rev 9:5  And²⁵³² to them⁸⁴⁶ it was given¹³²⁵ that²⁴⁴³ they should not³³⁶¹ kill⁶¹⁵ them,⁸⁴⁶ but²³⁵ that²⁴⁴³ they should be tormented⁹²⁸ five⁴⁰⁰² months:³³⁷⁶ and²⁵³² their⁸⁴⁸ torment⁹²⁹ was the torment⁹²⁹ of a scorpion,⁴⁶⁵¹ when³⁷⁵² he striketh³⁸¹⁷ a man.⁴⁴⁴

Rev 9:6  And²⁵³² in¹⁷²² those¹⁵⁶⁵ days²²⁵⁰ shall men⁴⁴⁴ seek²²¹² death,²²⁸⁸ and²⁵³² shall not³⁷⁵⁶ find²¹⁴⁷ it;⁸⁴⁶ and²⁵³² shall desire¹⁹³⁷ to die,⁵⁹⁹ and²⁵³² death²²⁸⁸ shall flee⁵³⁴³ from⁵⁷⁵ them.⁸⁴⁶

Rev 9:7  And²⁵³² the³⁵⁸⁸ shapes³⁶⁶⁷ of the³⁵⁸⁸ locusts²⁰⁰ were like unto³⁶⁶⁴ horses²⁴⁶² prepared²⁰⁹⁰ unto¹⁵¹⁹ battle;⁴¹⁷¹ and²⁵³² on¹⁹⁰⁹ their⁸⁴⁸ heads²⁷⁷⁶ were as it were⁵⁶¹³ crowns⁴⁷³⁵ like³⁶⁶⁴ gold,⁵⁵⁵⁷ and²⁵³² their⁸⁴⁸ faces⁴³⁸³ were as⁵⁶¹³ the faces⁴³⁸³ of men.⁴⁴⁴

Why do they have the faces of men??  Satan uses men the same as the father does.  Remember that.

Rev 9:8  And²⁵³² they had²¹⁹² hair²³⁵⁹ as⁵⁶¹³ the hair²³⁵⁹ of women,¹¹³⁵ and²⁵³² their⁸⁴⁸ teeth³⁵⁹⁹ were²²⁵⁸ as⁵⁶¹³ the teeth of lions.³⁰²³

Rev 9:9  And²⁵³² they had²¹⁹² breastplates,²³⁸² as it were⁵⁶¹³ breastplates²³⁸² of iron;⁴⁶⁰³ and²⁵³² the³⁵⁸⁸ sound⁵⁴⁵⁶ of their⁸⁴⁸ wings⁴⁴²⁰ was as⁵⁶¹³ the sound⁵⁴⁵⁶ of chariots⁷¹⁶ of many⁴¹⁸³ horses²⁴⁶² running⁵¹⁴³ to¹⁵¹⁹ battle.⁴¹⁷¹

Rev 9:10  And²⁵³² they had²¹⁹² tails³⁷⁶⁹ like unto³⁶⁶⁴ scorpions,⁴⁶⁵¹ and²⁵³² there were²²⁵⁸ stings²⁷⁵⁹ in¹⁷²² their⁸⁴⁸ tails:³⁷⁶⁹ and²⁵³² their⁸⁴⁸ power¹⁸⁴⁹ was to hurt⁹¹ men⁴⁴⁴ five⁴⁰⁰² months.³³⁷⁶

Rev 9:11  And²⁵³² they had²¹⁹² a king⁹³⁵ over¹⁹⁰⁹ them,⁸⁴⁶ which is the³⁵⁸⁸ angel³² of the³⁵⁸⁸ bottomless pit,¹² whose⁸⁴⁶ name³⁶⁸⁶ in the Hebrew tongue¹⁴⁴⁷ is Abaddon,³ but²⁵³² in¹⁷²² the³⁵⁸⁸ Greek tongue¹⁶⁷³ hath²¹⁹² his name³⁶⁸⁶ Apollyon.⁶²³

Now if there is any doubt left as to who this is:

G3

Ἀβαδδών

Abaddo¯n

ab-ad-dohn'

Of Hebrew origin [H11]; a destroying angel: - Abaddon.

and the hebrew word this came from:

H11

àلمجهï

'ăbaddo^n

ab-ad-done'

Intensively from H6; abstractly a perishing; concretely Hades: - destruction.

and finally, the word "Apollyon":

G623

Ἀπολλύων

Apolluo¯n

ap-ol-loo'-ohn

Active participle of G622; a destroyer (that is, Satan): - Apollyon.

And the word from which this came:

G622

ἀπόλλυμι

apollumi

ap-ol'-loo-mee

From G575 and the base of G3639; to destroy fully (reflexively to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively: - destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.

This is the son of perdition.

Just a little extra tidbit of information there.  To finish up the subject at hand, Jesus Christ will bring our loved ones with him when he returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and we will be with the savior as well as our departed loved ones once again.

1Th 4:18  Wherefore⁵⁶²⁰ comfort³⁸⁷⁰ one another²⁴⁰ with¹⁷²² these⁵¹²⁵ words.³⁰⁵⁶

And as I said at the beginning of this study, my family and I have used these words  to comfort each other more than once.  So, be it a departed brother, sister, mother, father or our own dearly loved Ronny B., they are at this moment in the presents of the Father and quite happy and in no pain.  wherefore we comfort one another with these words.  And as we learned in last nights study, we even have the power through the Lord Jesus Christ to pray and even be baptized on behalf of these departed loved ones.  So, comfort one another my friends, and may God bless you and yours always in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.