Where Are The Dead

                                                                                         

Where Are The Dead


This is a question most people want to know. What happens to their loved ones and friends when they pass on? These verses below from 1Thessalonians 4:13-18 will answer this question for us.

1Thessalonians 4:13-18


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

[Asleep here in the Greek means those who are dead. God does not want us to be ignorant concerning where the dead are. God does not want us to sorrow and grieve about this. He wants us to know where our loved ones are that have passed on. ]

[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

[Notice this says that if we believe Christ died and rose again, that likewise those who have passed on will Christ bring with Him when He returns at the seventh / last trump. So if Christ brings them with Him then they (their spiritual body) is with Christ. Thus why Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 and 2 Corinthians 5:1-9 let us know, “that to be absent from this flesh body is to be present with the Lord.” They are not in a grave somewhere, but when the flesh body dies the spiritual man which is our self returns to God who gave it.]

[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.

[Prevent here in the Greek means to precede. Those of us who remain alive till Christ returns cannot precede them which have died because when our flesh body dies our spiritual man instantly returns to God who gave it. This can be noted in Ecclesiastes 12:6-7.]

[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:

[The dead in Christ shall rise first because they are already with God. When the flesh dies the spiritual man returns instantly to God who gave it.]

[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

[This word air here in the Greek means breath of life or spiritual body. When Christ returns all will instantly be changed from flesh bodies to spiritual bodies, as noted in 1Corinthians chapter 15. Clouds here is referring to a group. When Christ returns we that remain alive until that time will gather together with those who have passed on in our spiritual bodies. There will be no more flesh bodies after Christ return. Christ returns at the “last” trump. The farthest one out after the antichrist reign. This can be noted in 1Corinthians 15:49-52.]


[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

[God wants us to comfort those who have lost loved ones by letting them know that their loved ones are with God. For to be absent from this flesh body is to be present with the Lord.]


By Donna Shepard
Copyrighted 2006

You may reprint this article as long as it is left in tact with authors name and links attached

About the author: