In this article, I will first interpret 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, including discerning the main point and providing an outline of the passage. Then I will show how the passage can be applied to modern Christians, while concluding with a prayer that is based on the passage.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
“13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Interpretation of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
The relationship between 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and the preceding passage is quite loose. In 4:13–18, the apostles have changed topics. The commonality between the two passages (indeed between 4:13–18 and 4:1–12) is that of teaching and giving instruction. The apostles are still giving instructions to the Thessalonians.
One would be forgiven for thinking there is a closer link between 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 4:1–12 because many translations begin 4:13 with a contrastive “but” that seems to contrast what the apostles are saying in 4:13–18 to what they said in 4:9–12. Note the following:
- “But we do not . . .” (ESV, NASB, NRSV)
- “But I would not . . .” (KJV)
However, the CSB, NET, and NIV are more accurate at this point in that they either do not translate the connective particle δέ found in the Greek text (CSB, NIV) or opt for the more appropriate “now” (NET). The translation choices found in the CSB, NET, and NIV better show that a change in topic has occurred.
Topic and Main Point
The topic of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is Christians who have died. The apostles inform the readers of the new topic at the beginning of the passage: “we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep” (v 13). The preposition “about” (or “concerning”) is the key indicator regarding the topic. Further, the content of the entire passage is about Christians who have died, confirming that this is the topic.
Two important things should be noted about the topic of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18:
- The apostles are not writing about Christians who are sleeping. The term “asleep” is a euphemism for being dead. It is common for the New Testament to refer to Christians who have died as being asleep because of the resurrection (we’ll see this in our passage). Non-believers are never said to be asleep.
- The topic is not the end times or eschatology. The first step to properly interpreting and understanding this passage is determining the topic that is being addressed. The topic is not deep eschatological truths, but Christians who have died. 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 certainly contains eschatology within it, but the eschatology must be understood within the context of Christians who have died.
The main point of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is that the Thessalonians should not grieve over Christians who have died as if there is no hope: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (v 13). The main point can be discerned in the following ways:
- First, the main clause of the entire passage is “we do not want you to be uninformed . . . about those who are asleep” (v 13a). Everything else in 4:13–18 modifies this main clause.
- Second, there is a clear purpose clause that gives the purpose for not wanting the Thessalonians to be uninformed/ignorant about their fellow Christians who have died: “that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (v 13b). The presence of “that” (ESV, KJV) or the better “so that” (CSB, NASB, NET, NIV, NRSV) indicates a purpose clause. Thus, the explanation as to what happens to Christians who have died is subordinate to the purpose of the passage by explaining why the Thessalonians do not need to grieve as one who has no hope.
- Third, verse 18 confirms that the main point of 4:13–18 is about not grieving over Christians who have died as if there is no hope. Verse 18 is a result clause that contains the only imperative (command) in the passage. Verse 18 states what the Thessalonians should do in light of their new knowledge about the destiny of Christians who die. They should “encourage one another with these words” (v 18). The command to encourage one another with the message just given aligns perfectly with the purpose clause of the passage, which is to not grieve as those who have no hope. The purpose of the apostles’ explanation about the destiny of Christians who die is to encourage the Thessalonians so that they do not grieve as those who have no hope.
It is important to note that the apostles are not telling the Thessalonians not to grieve over Christians who have died. Rather, they are telling the Thessalonians not to grieve “as others do who have no hope” (v 13b). There is a way to grieve for a fellow Christian who has died, and that is the apostles’ point. Christians should grieve as those who have hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
1 Thessalonians 4:13–14
The Thessalonians should not grieve as those who have no hope (v 13) because God will bring/lead with Jesus those who are asleep “in Jesus” (v 14). Christians who die are not abandoned by Jesus at death. Verse 14 begins with “For” in all major English translations, which frequently indicates reason, as it does here. Verse 14 gives the reason why the Thessalonians should not grieve over Christians who have died (who are “in Christ”) as those who have no hope.
Further, verse 14 begins the removal of the ignorance that the apostles spoke of at the beginning of verse 13. The apostles do not want the Thessalonians to be uninformed or ignorant regarding Christians who have died. The apostles use a conditional formula (if-then/if-so) to state the truth they wish to convey. If (or “since”) the Thessalonians believe that Jesus died and rose, then it is certain that God will bring/lead those Christians who have died with him (Jesus). In short, Christians remain with Christ and that truth enables the Thessalonians to grieve over deceased Christian with a real hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:15–17
1 Thessalonians 4:15–17 explains and expands upon verse 14. Specifically, it explains and expands upon God bringing with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. As you have hopefully gathered by now, the particle “for” (and the Greek word behind it, γάρ) is a workhorse in both English and Greek. In this context, the “for” in verse 15 functions as a marker of clarification. Further, the content of verses 15–17 expands on the topic of God bringing/leading with Jesus those Christians who have died.
Although the demonstrative pronoun “this” in the clause “For this we declare to you . . .” could refer to the contents of verse 14, it most likely looks forward to what the apostles are about to say, which is the content of verses 15–17. The CSB and NIV are quite helpful in this regard. The CSB inserts a colon after “Lord,” indicating that what follows is the content of “this”: “For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive . . . .” The NIV has removed the ambiguity altogether by removing the demonstrative pronoun, which is somewhat redundant in English: “According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive . . . .”
The apostles obtained the information in verses 15–17 from “the Lord,” who is Jesus: “For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord” (v 15a). The apostles are discussing the time when Jesus returns as evidenced by the comment about those who remain (or “are left”) “until the coming of the Lord.”
The Christians who are alive at the coming of the Lord Jesus will not precede the Christians who have died because those who have died will rise from the dead first, before those who are alive are caught up together with them. The “For” that begins verse 16 is causal, stating why the living will not precede the dead at the coming of the Lord. It is easier to distinguish between the “for” that begins verse 15 and the “for” that begins verse 16 in the Greek because the words are different. The “for” that begins verse 15 is γάρ and has a wide range of meanings. The “for” that begins verse 16 is ὅτι and frequently begins a causal clause like what we have in verse 16.
The presence of terms like “precede” (v 15), “first” (v 16), and “then” (v 17) indicate a sequence of events, which is what we have in verses 16–17. There are four parts or stages to the sequence of events in verses 16–17. They are:
- The Lord will descend from heaven (v 16a)
- The dead in Christ will rise (v 16b)
- Those who are alive in Christ will be caught up together with the risen dead to meet the Lord (v 17a)
- All God’s people will always be with the Lord (v 17b).
The punctuation of the KJV is most helpful here. Note the KJV separates each stage with a colon:
“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: 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.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (KJV)
Each stage in the sequence of events is clarified and expanded with prepositional phrases. There are four prepositional phrases that modify stage one. They can be outlined as followed:
“For the Lord himself will descend . . .”
- “from heaven.” This prepositional phrase indicates the location from where the Lord Jesus will descend. He will come out of heaven. The fact that the Lord will “descend from heaven” indicates that he is coming to earth. Thus, this is an indicator that the apostles are referring to Jesus’ second coming, his return to earth.
- “with a cry of command” (or a “shout”).
- “with the voice of the archangel.”
- “with the sound of the trumpet of God.” These last three prepositional phrases are related to sound. Together they indicate one of two possibilities. First, they could indicate that the coming of the Lord will be heard by all people. When the Lord descends, all will hear and know of it. Second, they could indicate a call to the dead in Christ to rise. This also makes sense within context because the second stage of the sequence is the dead rising. Thus, whether the first or second interpretive possibility is chosen (or both), we must admit that the Lord has not descended as of yet because the world has not heard the shout, the archangel, or the trumpet of God, and because the dead have not yet risen.
There is only one preposition phrase that modifies stage two: “in Christ.” The prepositional phrase “in Christ” modifies “the dead”: “Then the dead in Christ will rise first.” This is an important modifier because it clarifies that only those who have died “in Christ” (i.e., those who believe in Jesus) will rise at this time, not all the dead.
There are four prepositional phrases that modify stage three. They can be outlined as followed:
“Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up . . .”
- “together with them.” The prepositional phrase is “with them.” The antecedent to “them” is the dead in Christ. Along with the adverb “together,” the phrase “together with them” indicates that all the living Christians will be caught up along with the dead in Christ. It should also be noted that the adverb “together” can indicate simultaneous occurrence and not just association. If the adverb indicates simultaneous occurrence, then the apostles are saying that the living Christians will be caught up at the exact same time as the dead Christians who are being raised: “at the same time with them.”
- “in the clouds.” This prepositional phrase indicates location. The living Christians will be caught up in the clouds, which is the location that they will meet Jesus.
- “to meet the Lord” (lit. “to the meeting of the Lord”). This prepositional phrase indicates either purpose or result. Either the purpose of being caught up is the meeting with the Lord Jesus or the result of being caught up is the meeting with the Lord Jesus. There is not much of a difference between the two options, but seeing as the being caught up is intentional (“will be caught up is considered a divine passive, where God is the actor), purpose seems more likely.
- “in the air.” This prepositional phrase is another one indicating location. It modifies the previous phrase “to meet the Lord,” indicating that the meeting with the Lord will be located in the air.
There is only one prepositional phrase that modifies stage four: “with the Lord.” This prepositional phrase indicates accompaniment and clarifies with who “we” (i.e., all believers, both alive and dead) will always be. The final stage in the sequence is that all who are “in Christ” whether alive or dead will eternally be with the Lord Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:18
Verse 18 is a result clause as evidenced by the term “Therefore” that begins the verse and by the content of the verse which issues a command based on the content of verses 14–17 (the antecedent of “these words” refers back to verses 14–17). The result of the apostles’ explanation about those who have died in Christ is that the Thessalonian believers should encourage one another with the apostles’ message.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, The Rapture, and The End Times
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is a key text in the doctrine of the rapture. The doctrine of the rapture comes from verse 17, which states that God will rapture (or “snatch up”) all of God’s people from the earth when Jesus returns. Frequently, the doctrine of the rapture is paired with a seven-year tribulation period where God pours out his wrath on wicked humanity for seven years. There are three major variations of this doctrine:
- Pretribulation Rapture. Jesus raptures all believers into heaven prior to the seven-year tribulation period. Jesus then returns to earth with all believers after the seven-year tribulation period to set up his kingdom. In this system, there is a seven-year period between verse 17 and Jesus’ return to earth.
- Mid-Tribulation Rapture. Jesus raptures all believers into heaven halfway through the seven-year tribulation period, just before God’s wrath escalates (called the great tribulation). Jesus then returns to earth 3.5 years later to set up his kingdom. In this system, there is a 3.5-year period between verse 17 and Jesus’ return to earth.
- Post-Tribulation Rapture. Jesus raptures all believers into the air after the seven-year tribulation upon his return to earth in order to set up his kingdom. In this system, there is no delay or lengthy period between verse 17 and Jesus’ return to earth.
It is unfortunately quite common for Christians to read their theology into texts, especially well-known and well-used texts like 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18. However, we should always do our best to acknowledge what the text says and does not say. The first step in acknowledging what a text actually says is acknowledging the authors’ main point. In 1 Thessalonians, the apostles are providing encouragement and comfort to Christians who are grieving over dead Christians. To comfort them, the apostles state that God has not abandoned them because dead Christians will be raised from the dead and spend eternity with Jesus. With this main point in mind, let’s note what 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 affirms and does not affirm.
| What 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 Affirms | What 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 Does Not Affirm |
|---|---|
| 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17 is about the return of Jesus, his second coming. The Greek term for “coming” in the phrase “the coming of the Lord” is παρουσία (v 15). Every time παρουσία is used of Jesus, it refers to his return to earth, his second coming, including in both Thessalonian letters (Matt 24:3, 27, 37, 39; 1 Cor 15:23; 1 Thess 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23; 2 Thess 2:1, 8; Jas 5:7-8; 2 Pet 1:16; 3:4, 12; 1 John 2:28). | The apostles are not presenting a systematic theology of the return of Jesus. They are presenting the most important facts so that Christians do not grieve over other Christians who have died as if there is no hope for them. |
| When Jesus returns (when “he will descend from heaven”), the resurrection of the dead will occur (1 Thess 4:16). Verse 16 claims that the resurrection of the dead in Christ does not happen prior to Jesus’ return, but once he descends. | 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 does not affirm two comings of Jesus or one coming in two parts. It simply speaks of the παρουσία, the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Any kind of a dual return of Jesus must be gleaned from outside of this passage. |
| When Jesus returns (when “he will descend from heaven”), all living Christians will ascend to a meeting with Jesus in the air (1 Thess 4:17). Verse 17 is where the rapture terminology is found. The Greek term is ἁρπάζω (harpazο), which means “to grab or seize suddenly so as to remove or gain control” (BDAG, s.v. “ἁρπάζω”). The Latin term for ἁρπάζω(harpazο) is raptus, from where the term “rapture” comes. | 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17 does not present or affirm a time gap between any stage in the sequence. Thus, 4:14–17 does not present a seven-year or 3.5-year gap between any stage in the sequence. Further, the language of 4:14–17 does not suggest a time lag between the four stages of the sequence. |
| The meeting with the Lord Jesus in the air happens at his return and is attended by all of God’s people, the dead in Christ and the living in Christ (1 Thess 4:17). | |
| A key point that the apostles make in 1 Thess 4:13–17 is that all those who believe in Christ, whether they have died or are living, will spend eternity with Jesus (v 17). | |
| The point of Paul’s eschatology in 1 Thess 4:14–17 is to comfort those who are grieving the death of a Christian loved one (v 13, 18). |
Summary of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy do not want the Thessalonians to be ignorant regarding Christians who are dead or will die for the purpose that the living Christians (those who remain) do not grieve as people who have no hope. To remove the Thessalonians’ ignorance in order that they grieve as those who have hope, the apostles inform the Thessalonians about the fate of all Christians who die: they will live forever with Jesus. Specifically, when Jesus descends from heaven, he will first raise the deceased Christians from the dead, then the Christian who are alive will be caught up into the clouds with the risen dead for all to meet with Jesus and be with Jesus forever. The apostles then command the Thessalonian Christians to encourage one another with the above message.
Another helpful way of summarizing a passage is by producing an outline. An outline can help you remember the main points and the argument of a passage at a glance and is a useful tool for teaching a passage.
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy do not want the Thessalonians to be ignorant about Christians who have died (v 13a)
A. For the purpose that the Thessalonians do not grieve like people who have no hope (v 13b)
B. Because God will bring/lead with Jesus those who are asleep “in Jesus” before Christians
who are alive (v 14–15)
1. Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of the archangel,
and the trumpet of God (v 16a)
2. Then the dead in Christ will rise first (v 16b)
3. Then Christians who are alive when Jesus returns will be caught up with the dead
in Christ to meet Jesus in the air (v 17a)
4. Then all Christians will always be with the Lord Jesus (v 17b)
5. Based on the fate of all Christians, encourage one another with these words (v 18)
Application of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 to Modern Christians
There are two points of application in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18.
- Do not grieve over the death of a Christian (someone who is “in Christ) like a person who has no hope (v 13).
- Encourage one another with “these words,” that is, the eschatological message of 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17 (v 18).
Because the commands to not grieve like those who have no hope and to encourage one another with the eschatological message of 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17 are given to the Thessalonians who “believe that Jesus died and rose again” (v 14), so too do the commands apply directly to modern Christians who also believe that Jesus died and rose again. Further, the eschatology that the apostles present in 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17, which is the basis for grieving correctly and encouraging one another, concerns all who are “in Christ,” whether they are dead or alive when Jesus returns. Thus, the eschatology of 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17 concerns modern Christians as well.
Thus, modern Christians should apply 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 as follows.
- Do not grieve over the death of a Christian (someone who is “in Christ) like a person who has no hope (v 13). The apostles are not saying Christians should not grieve at all when a Christian loved one dies, but that Christians should grieve appropriately, as one with hope. When a Christian loved one dies, we do not grieve as if that person is gone forever, as if that person is no more, or as if that person is in torment or in a state of purgatory. When a Christian loved one dies, we do not grieve as if we do not know what has happened or will happen to that person. Rather, when a Christian loved one dies, those who remain may grieve over the temporary loss of a loved one, but they should never grieve as if there is no hope because all who are “in Christ” will partake in the meeting with the Lord Jesus at his return to be with Jesus forever (v 17).
- Encourage one another with “these words,” that is, the eschatological message of 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17 (v 18). Modern Christians should also encourage one another with the fact of Jesus’ return, the resurrection of the dead in Christ at Jesus’ return, and the meeting with the Lord Jesus for all who are in Christ, both of the living and the dead. This message should be especially prominent at funerals of Christians and when comforting those who have lost loved ones who are Christians.
Prayer Based on 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
To pray 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, we need to focus on grieving correctly. There are three ways we could adequately pray this passage:
- In the midst of your current grief over a Christian who has passed away, you could affirm your confidence in God that your Christian loved one will return with Jesus when he returns.
- You could ask the Lord to remind you of the eschatology in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 when a Christian loved one passes away so that you engage in hopeful grief.
- You could pray for grieving Christians that 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 encourages them in their grief over a Christian loved one who has passed away.
Let’s pray the second option now, although feel free to pray either of the above depending on your situation and the situation of those you know.
Dear God, in this fallen world that is wreaked by sin, death is inevitable for us all until Jesus returns. When the Christians we love die, please remind us that death is not the end for them. Remind us that Jesus will return one day, and that when he returns he will raise the dead in Christ and bring them with him back to earth, so that all those in Christ will be with Jesus forever. Lord, remind me of these truths when the Christians I love die so that I will grieve as one who has true hope and not like those who have none. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.