Questions about 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

  1. What is Paul talking about when he says that we should not grieve about those that have fallen asleep?
    1. He is talking about the fact that we, as Christians, do not really die when the body is laid to rest, but rather we will be given new bodies at his Coming.
      • Yes, but this is not he best answer.
    2. There is no need for a Christian to grieve the loss of a brother or sister in Christ, because they are not truly lost to us, we will be reunited.
      • Yes, but this is not the best answer.
    3. Those that have believed on Christ have already crossed over from death to life and they will never truly die.
      • Yes, but this is not the best answer.
    4. Right Answer!All of the above.
      • Yes, we have the hope of promises of God.
      • John 11:25-26
        Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (NIV)

     

     

  2. When Jesus comes to gather up his Church, where does he come from?
    1. From the temple in Jerusalem.
      • No, not from the temple. He comes from where he is now, and that is in heaven.
    2. Right Answer!From Heaven.
      • Yes, Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, waiting for the day that his enemies are made his footstool then he will leave heaven and descend to the earth and gather his body, the Church, and we shall be with the Lord forever.
    3. From sleeping in the ground.
      • Jesus was clearly resurrected for death and is not sleeping in the ground.
    4. None of the above.
      • No, the right answer is (b.) above.

     

     

  3. Since Jesus brings with him those that have previously fallen asleep, where have those that have previously fallen asleep been?
    1. In their graves.
      • No, they must have been where Jesus is if he will bring them with him.
    2. Walking the earth in shadowy and wispy bodies.
      • No.
    3. Right Answer!They have been in heaven with Jesus.
      • Yes, this is the right answer.
      • Philippians 1:22-24
        If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. (NIV)
      • In this passage Paul indicates that if he were to die in the body, that he would go to be with Christ. We know that Jesus Christ is in heaven, so we can conclude that as a believer Paul, (and any other believer), would go to heaven with him.
    4. They have been in suspended-animation.
      • No, the best answer is (c.) above.

     

     

  4. Which trumpet is referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:16?
    1. The seventh trumpet in the book of Revelation.
      • Yes, but this is not he best answer.
    2. The same trumpet that Paul talked about in 1 Corinthians 15:52.
      • Yes, but this is not the best answer.
    3. The same trumpet as the one recorded in Matthew 24:31.
      • No, this is a different trumpet altogether.
    4. Right Answer!Both (a.) and (b.) but not (c.)
      • Yes, this is the best answer. The trumpet that is sounded in Matthew 24:31 gathers the Israelites, not the Church.

     

     

  5. Exactly who will be caught up to be with the Lord forever at his Coming?
    1. Right Answer!Those that have truly believed on Jesus in their hearts, both those that have since gone to their graves and those that are still alive.
      • Yes, this is the best answer.
      • Matthew 24:12-13
        Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (NIV)
      • Those that stand firm to the end of their lives will be saved.
    2. All those that at one point in their lives have declared before witnesses that "Jesus is my Lord" and have been baptized in water according to the Scriptures.
      • A lot of people today teach this, but it is not true. There is no magic power in say those words. It is those that truly believe the Gospel message and all there life they live for God waiting for the fulfillment of the promised Land to come.
    3. The 144,000 as recorded in Revelation chapter seven.
      • No, the 144,000 are not Christians. They do not believe that Jesus is the Christ until AFTER the catching-up of the Church.
    4. Those that have been baptized in water and have faithfully gone to Church.
      • A lot of people think that this it true, but it is not.
      • Matthew 7:21-23
        "Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (NIV)

     

     

  6. When the Lord comes and catches us up, we will....?
    1. Live in our human bodies, reign as kings, and will never have to fear death.
      • No, we will not have animal bodies that must eat and sleep and such.
    2. We will live on the earth in the new earthly kingdom, in answer to the Lord's prayer, that is, the Lord's will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.
      • No. we will not live on the earth as we do now, that is, in bodies that have blood.
    3. Go to heaven and live in the mansions that he has built for us.
      • I know that John 14:1-3 sounds like that is what it is saying, but it is not. Eventually we will go to live in heaven, but at first the Lord will reign here on earth for a thousand years or so, and we shall be with him.
    4. Right Answer!Be in the spirit and live with the Lord forever.
      • This is the right answer. Wherever the Lord is there we shall be also.

     

     

  7. What is the best description for what happens on this day.
    1. The Lord has come from heaven to the earth to establish is kingdom.

    2. The Lord has come to gather his body the Church.
    3. The Lord will gather to himself only those that have the Holy Spirit living inside of them.
    4. Right Answer!All of the above.
      • Yes, all of these things will happen on that day. It is a mistake to think that only one thing happens and nothing more. The Bible's story is complex and it shall all come to pass.

 

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