In the last lecture we documented that we have a spiritual body and a flesh body. As soon as the body dies the spirit returns to the Father (Ecclesiastes 12:7). We will go further to give background and evidence to what takes place.
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
5:1 Tabernacle G 4636; temporary residence. Dissolved G 2647; destroy. Not made with human hands but spiritual. Eternal (last forever) as spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15.
5:2 Groan G 4727; pray inaudibly (with grief), to sigh. We should all look forward to when the 7th trump sounds and are changed into that body eternal, for there will be no more aches, pain, etc.
5:3 (compare Rev 14:13). Our spiritual bodies are clothed with our righteous acts.
5:4 Mortality G 2349; liable to die. We long for that body which is corruptible (flesh) to be done away with and that incorruptible (deathlessness) to take its place. So we can have life eternal.
5:5 Wrought G 2716; to work fully, accomplish, perform. Earnest G 728; a pledge, part of the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest. God gave us that comforter (Holy Spirit) as a guarantee that His word is true.
5:6 Absent: this would show that we were with God before because here in this body we are absent from God (indicates we were with Him before because we are now absent). We have the comforter which is our guarantee that we will see Him again.
5:7 We walk by believing and not seeing.
5:8 Willing G 2106; well pleased. We are not afraid of death because to be absent from this body is to be present with God.
5:9 Accepted G 2101; well pleasing. Regardless of what we are doing or where we are, we should try our best to be well pleasing to our Father.
5:10 We will be judged according to what we have done in the flesh. We now know from Ecclesiastes 12:7 that, to be absent from this body is to be present with God. So when one dies they are with God instantly. With this groundwork laid we can take a better look at 1 Thessalonians 4 and begin to understand what God is talking about. Let’s listen to what God would say.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
4:13 don’t be ignorant about those that are dead (asleep).
4:14 We know Jesus died and is in heaven, so are those that have passed away already. God will bring them back because they are already there with Him.
4:15 Prevent G 5348; come before, precede. The subject is the coming of the Lord. We that are alive will not go before them because they are already there (dead). It’s not that difficult to understand once traditions of men are done away with and the Word of God is taught. Don’t let people fool you, if you believe Jesus rose again then you believe those already dead will come back with Him again.
4:16 (compare: 1 Cor 15:52, Matt 24:31). Giving further evidence to the fact. With the trump (7th/last) the dead will return with Christ. No great mystery here as to what is happening. We will all gather with God again but not until the last trump, for God is coming here to set up His kingdom (compare: Rev 21), so where are you going to fly away too? The weapon satan uses is deception, be on guard.
4:17 (compare: Hebrews 12:1). Clouds here are used as a figure of speech. Paul was using this to describe a large group of people. Air is that change that takes place into that spiritual body at the 7th trump we read about in 1 Corinthians 15. Ever means we will have on that incorruptible body (deathlessness). So to recap a little: the 7th trump will sound and those already dead (asleep) will God bring back with Him and those alive that are not dead will be changed into that spiritual body to be with the Lord.
Hebrews 12:1
12:1 Here is another example of cloud used by Paul. He states that they are going to gather in a great cloud of witnesses to bring the work of God forward.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Paul knew that the people were confused about things from the first letter he wrote them. So while still in the same place he wrote them another letter to clarify what was written so they wouldn’t be confused.
2:1 The subject is the coming of the Lord and our gathering together to Him.
2:2 Shaken G 4531; waver. Don’t be fooled by a man, an evil spirit or by the first letter written. Prophecy must first come to pass before the Lord returns (we will not be taken out of here at “any moment”).
2:3 Falling away G 646; apostasy. Perdition G 684; to die, perish. Reveal G 601; to take off the cover. A stern warning against man’s deception/ traditions-be on guard! (compare: Ezekiel 28). The son of perdition is satan, the only one by name who is sentenced to die by God. God is saying that we will not gather with God (compare: 1 Thess 4:17) until that one who is sentenced to die (satan) is revealed (made known). Listen to the word of God!
2:4 (compare: Dan 9/11). Opposeth G 480; to lie opposite, adversary. Satan will sit in the temple of God (Mt. Zion-Jerusalem) showing himself to be God (compare: Rev 13:11). Many will follow after satan as he comes as the antichrist (anti in the Greek is a word that means instead of). Understand the word of God and don’t be fooled.
2:6-7 the subject is satan. The verb is transitive and an object must be supplied (which is satan). Remember the last subject or object mentioned was satan sitting in the seat of God. He letteth: Michael the Archangel will kick satan out of heaven (compare: Rev 12:7-9).
2:8 satan will be revealed for who he is (no more deception), and the true Jesus return. Remember satan uses deception to make it happen so the Lord will come back with truth which dispels lies.
2:9 Deception is what satan works in. come out of deception and take on that truth that turns darkness to light.
2:10 Deceivableness G 539; delusion, deceit. Those deceived by satan because they think he is Jesus. These would not receive the truth.
2:11 Because they don’t want to believe God satan will come (a lie) and lead them astray.
2:12 This is the Truth-not a story made up by men. Trust in God.
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