1. powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2012 Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2012

2. Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide An Appeal Dear User…. This PowerPoint Show is freely shared to all who may find it beneficial. While intended primarily for personal use, some find it useful for teaching the lesson in church. There are those, however, who add illustrations, change background, adjust font size, etc. While their intention may be good, this is not right. Slide #1 says “designed by claro ruiz vicente.” For honest Christians, it is not necessary for another’s creation to be copyrighted in order to be respected. P LEASE U SE A S I S.

3. Jon Paulien, Principal Contributor

4. 1 The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica 2 Preserving Relationships 3 Thessalonica in Paul’s Day 4 Joyous and Thankful (1 Thess 1:1–10) 5 The Apostolic Example (2:1–12) 6 Friends Forever (2:13–3:13) 7 Living Holy Lives (4:1–12) 8 The Dead in Christ (4:13–18) 9 Final Events (5:1–11) 10 Church Life (5:12–28) 11 Promise to the Persecuted (2 Thess 1:1–12) 12 The Antichrist ( 2:1–12) 13 Keeping the Church Faithful (2:13–3:18) 1 and 2 Thessalonians Contents

5. 1 and 2 Thessalonians Our Goal {5} We’ll get a glimpse into the life of an early Christian church and see some of the struggles and challenges that it faced, including the difficulties that arose from the fact that Christ had not yet returned.

6. 1 and 2 Thessalonians Lesson 8, August 28 1 and 2 Thessalonians Lesson 8, August 28 The Dead in Christ

7. Key Text 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.”

8. The Dead in Christ Initial Words {91} Paul is reacting to a theological misunderstanding among the Thessalonians. Some members were definitely in distress about the difference between those who died before Jesus’ return and those who would be alive when it happens.

9. The Dead in Christ Quick Look 1. Dying and Rising (1 Thessalonians 4:14) 2. Rising in Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:15, 16) 3. Rising to Reunite (1 Thessalonians 4:17, 18)

10. The Dead in Christ 1. Dying and Rising 1 Thessalonians 4:14 NKJV “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.”

11. 1.Dying and Rising False Belief in Thessalonica {92} Only those who were alive at the end would be carried up into heaven. Those who died before the end would be resurrected and remain on earth. It would be a serious disadvantage to die before the end came. It would also mean a separation between those taken to heaven and those left on earth.

12. Paul describes the believers who have died as having “fallen asleep through Jesus.” While falling asleep is a common metaphor for death in New Testament times, the normal expression for a believer’s death is “fallen asleep in Jesus” or “in Christ.” 1.Dying and Rising Hopeless Grief {93}

13. A second issue is the idea that God will “bring with him” those who have fallen asleep. Some read this phrase as meaning that those who have died in Christ (and, they presumed, went to heaven at death) will return with Jesus when He comes. 1.Dying and Rising Hopeless Grief {93} But the resurrection of dead believers occurs at the Second Coming, not before.

14. Paul is drawing a parallel between the death and resurrection of Jesus and the death and resurrection of the believer. The recent resurrection of Jesus from death was the guarantee that all believers would also be resurrected at the Second Coming. 1.Dying and Rising Hopeless Grief {93}

15. God does not “bring” the resurrected Christians down to earth when Jesus comes; instead (as He did with Jesus), He “brings” them up from the grave and, together with the living ones, to heaven. Just as the resurrection of Jesus preceded His ascension to heaven, so it will be with His faithful followers. 1.Dying and Rising Hopeless Grief {93}

16. The Dead in Christ 2. Rising in Christ 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 16 NKJV “We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17. 2. Rising in Christ At Christ’s Return {95} The living believers do not “precede,” or have any advantage over, the dead. The dead in Christ are the ones who will rise first. That happens before the living ascend to meet Jesus in the air.

18. 2. Rising in Christ At Christ’s Return {95} This passage does not teach that believers go to heaven when they die. If Paul had taught that their dead loved ones were in heaven, why would they be grieving, and why didn’t he just tell them so? The comfort here is the knowledge that the resurrection will reunite them with those they have loved.

19. The Dead in Christ 3. Rising to Reunite 1 Thessalonians 4:17, 18 NKJV “Then we who who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

20. 3. Rising to Reunite Comfort One Another {96} The key theme is the act of reuniting with each other and being together with Jesus. The movement of the saints is only upward. The dead believers first rise up from their graves. Then they and the living believers ascend together to meet their Lord in the air.

21. 3. Rising to Reunite Comfort One Another {96} When Jesus comes, He will take His disciples to be where He is (heaven). He does not come to join them where they are (on earth). During the thousand years after Jesus’ return (Rev. 20:4–6), the righteous will be with Him in heaven,

22. 3. Rising to Reunite Comfort One Another {96} the wicked will be dead, and Satan will be confined to earth with no one to tempt or annoy. Only after all the events associated with the millennium do the faithful come back to the earth to dwell.

23. The Dead in Christ Final Words {98} Death is not the final chapter in the life of a follower of God but only a temporary separation that will give way to a glorious reunion on resurrection morning.