Where are the dead??

Home Up donate contact/guest book Downloads page enter About Word of God fellowship

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 sleep2837, 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 ever834, 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 meet1519, 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.

 

 Home Up donate contact/guest book Downloads page enter About Word of God fellowship