The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

17 Then we 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.

18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.”

Whenever you say something important, you want everyone to understand it fully and clearly. That’s exactly what the Apostle Paul wants of us and of all who read his words – yet, they are not his words; they are the LORD’s Words!

He is writing to the Thessalonian Christians, and some of them are saddened by the loss of loved ones. It’s not wrong to be saddened when one dies. It’s only wrong when hope is lost; and Christians don’t lose hope, because there is life beyond the grave!

Listen! Do you believe that Jesus died and rose again? If you do (I do!), we will see all of our beloved believers again. Paul borrows Christ’s word “sleep” instead of using “death” (see John 11:13), because life to a believer always supersedes death!

Still, the heart of Paul’s message here –the message he wants us to clearly understand – is that Jesus is Coming back to gather up all true believers, both living and asleep. He will descend from Heaven. There will be a shout –no doubt a shout of victory by His archangel. And a heavenly trumpet will declare His Presence!

At this point, all believers now in graves throughout the world will arise from their graves. Military veterans, who have believed upon Jesus, and have been buried at sea, will be resurrected with all other believers, and be caught up to meet the LORD in the air! My dear wife and I used to talk about how we would hold hands as we would arise in the air to meet Him. She got anxious and went before He came. But, He IS Coming! And I will see her again, too!

The BIG Question: Do you know Him? Have you trusted Him as your LORD and Savior? Are you ready to meet Him if He should come today? Is your life

clean of worldliness and sin? Are you living for Him and sharing Him with others? Be ready! He could come at any time!! Now is the time to prepare.

I love you all, and trust you know Him and are sharing Him with others.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”