1 Thessalonians 4:[13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, (dead) that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Sleep G2837 from 2749; to put to sleep, i.e. (passively or reflexively) to slumber; figuratively, to decease:–(be a-, fall a-, fall on) sleep, be dead.

If we believe that Jesus died and has risen, then those who have fell asleep (died) have also risen and is with our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Our loved ones who have died are not in the grave they are in fact with the Father. When we die our spirit goes immediately back to God. Only your flesh body is in the ground.

Ecclesiastes 12:[6] Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. [7] Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

1 Thessalonians 4:[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep (the ones who are dead already) in Jesus will God bring with him.

If you don’t believe that Christ rose from the tomb then you can’t call yourself a Christian. Those who sleep in Jesus are the ones who have passed away already and have risen and are with our Heavenly Father in heaven . All souls are there some on the right side of the gulf and others are on the left side of the gulf. You can read of both gulfs in the book of Luke chapter 16 with the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

[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. (again those that have passed on).

Verse 15 is saying that we who are still alive at the coming of Christ will not be with Christ before those who have already died because they’re already with Him and we cannot precede the dead because they’re already dead and are now with the Father. This chapter is not about any kind of rapture. The rapture is false doctrine.

2 Corinthians 5:[6] Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: [7] (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) [8] We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:[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:

This is speaking of when the LORD returns at the seventh trumpet, the trump of GOD which is the woe of the seventh trumpet which is also the last trump. Our Lord returns immediately after the five month long hour of temptation. (Matthew 24:29-30)

Remember the subject being discussed is where are the dead?

[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds (crowd of witnesses), to meet the Lord in the air (our spiritual body) and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

A cloud of witnesses = crowd of people, large multitude, great company.

Hebrews 12:[1] Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a (cloud of witnesses), let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Air means the breath of life.

Genesis 2: [7] And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the (breath of life); and man became a living soul.

Air is Greek word #109 Pronunciation: ah-ayr’ Description: from (to breathe unconsciously, i.e. respire; by analogy, to blow); “air” (as naturally circumambient):—air. compare (G5594).

Those who are still alive at the returning of Christ at the woe of the seventh trumpet which is the last trump (777) will be changed into their spiritual bodies in a twinkle of an eye and will meet the Lord in their spiritual bodies.

Matthew 16:[28] Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Some people will not die a flesh before the coming of our True Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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.

The seventh trumpet which is the last trumpet and those that remain will all be changed into their spiritual bodies.

Revelation 11:[15] And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

The trump of GOD in 1 Thessalonians 4:[16] and at the last trump in 1 Corinthians 15:[52] and the seventh angel sounded in Revelation 11:[15] are all talking about the same exact trumpet, the woe of the seventh trumpet.

Matthew 24:[29] Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: [30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. [31] And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, (the seventh and last trumpet) and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

1 Thessalonians 4:[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

God’s people will be gathered back to Him at the woe of the seventh trumpet, which is the last trumpet and the trump of God. (777)

Let the Holy Spirit lead you and guide you, repent and be blessed.

The End