1 Thessalonians 4:13

“But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope”

“We would not have you ignorant”:. common expression that Paul uses (Romans 1:13; Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 10:1; 1 Corinthians 12:1; 2 Corinthians 1:8). Paul wrote so Christians would not remain in ignorance, therefore the letters that compose the Bible must be understandable and within the comprehension of the average person. In addition, God never fears the possibility that His word might fall into too many hands. God wants Christians and all people to have access to His revelation (1 Timothy 4:13; Colossians 4:16; 1 Timothy 2:4). “Concerning them that fall asleep”: That is, Christians who have died. Death is spoken as. "sleep". Unfortunately some have taken this is mean that the dead are unconscious, yet such is not the case (Luke 16:19 ff; Luke 23:43). Stott notes concerning Paul's statement in 1 Peter 1:21. “And Paul, in contrasting this world and the next, wrote that for him life meant ‘Christ' and death meant ‘gain'. He could hardly regard death as ‘gain', however, still less as ‘better by far', unless he believed that it would bring him. closer, richer, fuller experience of Christ than he was already enjoying on earth” (p. 96). Death is spoken as. sleep because the stillness of the body resembles sleep, death is. rest from frustrating labor (Revelation 14:13), and death like sleep is only temporary, both are followed by an awakening.

I have always been somewhat intrigued by the various groups who believe that death means. cessation of existence. In fact the same groups believe that hell is the same thing, only an eternal cessation. Yet this is the same theology that is basically held by atheists and humanists, they also believe that one ceases to exist at death. Something has to be wrong, when. professed "believers" hell is equivalent to the atheists "heaven"!

“That ye sorrow not”: Paul is not forbidding sorrow rather he is teaching that. certain kind of sorrow is not appropriate in reference to the death of. Christian. “Even as the rest, who have no hope”: “That you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (RSV). Death is the point of no return. At death ones fate is sealed (Luke 16:19 ff). People who die outside of Jesus Christ have no hope. This definitely drives. stake through the heart of the Mormon teaching that one can be baptized for dead relatives (yours or otherwise), and the Jehovah Witness teaching that all unbelievers will get. second chance to obey the gospel at the Judgment. Or, the doctrine that God will just end up saving everybody, and the teaching that God is so loving that He will not allow any to end up lost. Stott notes, “Mourning is natural, even for. while emotionally necessary. If Jesus wept at the graveside of his beloved friend Lazarus, His disciples are surely at liberty to do the same. What Paul prohibits is not grief but hopeless grief” (p. 94). This should inform us that even in our sorrow, we can cross the line. Our sorrow should not lead us to despair or. state of feeling hopeless, and especially in our sorrow we are never allowed to question or criticize God.

Various writers point out that the tombs from the time tell us the hopelessness that the ancient world felt in face of death: “Some of the pagan epitaphs say things like these: ‘Live for the present hour, since we are sure of nothing else'. ‘I lift my hands against the gods who took me away at the age of twenty though. had done no harm'. ‘Traveler, curse me not as you pass, for. am in darkness and cannot answer'” (Fields p. 112). Years ago. encountered an article which listed the various dying words of renown atheists: Hobbs: "I say again, if. had the whole world at my disposal,. would give it to live one day.. am about to take. leap into the dark". Ingersoll: "O God, if there be. God, save my soul, if. have. soul, from hell, if there be. hell." Caesar Borgia: "While. lived,. provided for everything but death; now. must die and am unprovided to die”. Fields notes, “It has been well suggested that Christians should mourn for those who are living in sin, and not for the dead who are in the Lord” (p. 113). Carefully note that true hopes and false hopes exist. Various people in the ancient world, believed in an afterlife, but "hope" is not merely. desire, hope is. confident and expectant desire. Unbelievers may have "wished" for. better life but God said, they died in. hopeless condition. Vincent noted, “The speculations and surmisings of pagan philosophy do not amount to. hope” (p. 40).

Morris notes, “When Paul counsels the Thessalonians not to sorrow as the pagans do he is not urging them to endure with. deep Stoic calm the buffetings of fortune which they cannot avoid. Nor is he counseling. callous indifference. Rather, he is rejoicing in the complete victory which Christ has won. Those who have died have simply fallen asleep in Christ. Clearly in the face of this prospect there is no reason for despair” (p. 138).