1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Summary: In this passage, the apostle Paul is addressing a deeply pastoral concern related to the timing of events at the second coming of Christ. As members of this brand-new church in Thessalonica began to die, those remaining became worried that their deceased loved ones would miss out on some of the celebration when Christ returns. In response, Paul clarifies the sequence of events…namely that the resurrection will occur before the celebration begins so that the dead in Christ won’t miss out on any of it. Paul here teaches the Thessalonians and he teaches us to apply to our souls every ounce of resurrection hope in times of grief and loss. The life of the Christian is no less filled with heart-ache and tears than anyone else; however, our grief is marked by a distinctive element of hope.