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.”

I have just completed correspondence with the First Baptist Church of St. Ann, Missouri –a church I formerly pastored. Within that correspondence was a remembrance of her former pastor, the late Dr. Earl L. Pounds. Included, too, were some personal notations regarding my late wife, Rose Marie, who was the first to introduce me to biblical eschatology.

Yes, I was green before green was “in.” All of that led me to explain the passage above, lest you wander in ignorance, as I once did.

The word “asleep” (??????) in this context is a euphonism for the word “death.” It’s a more pleasant-sounding word. We generally grieve when someone we love has died. It’s completely normal that we be sad; however, we are not to grieve like others who have no hope beyond the grave. When I was working for an undertaker, I witnessed a woman pass out three time within less that 30 feet! She had to be revived with smelling-salts. I call that “grieving” –grieving without hope of ever seeing her loved one again. Born-again believers in Christ are to focus on Hope, not on death.

The passage teaches us that Jesus is Returning to gather His Church (all born-again believers, worldwide). He will not come down and touch the Earth; rather, we will be “caught up” to meet Him in the air. There will be some “noise.” The LORD will come with a SHOUT and with the Voice of the Archangel. The Trumpet of God will sound, announcing His Coming; and those who are alive will be “transformed” and those who are “asleep” will arise from their graves. All believers will then receive new bodies. First Corinthians 15:44 (the Resurrection chapter) tells us that the “natural body…is raised a spiritual body,” one that is suited for Heaven.

It will all take place in a nano-second, less than the batting of an eye! We who know the LORD will go Home with Him!

But, what about those who don’t know Him? What will their fate be? They will remain in Sheol, the Old Testament’s name for the place of the dead. The New Testament teaches that Sheol is divided into Paradise, where the believers go and Hell, where the unbelievers go. If ever there is to be grieving, it will be for those who have not believed upon Jesus.

Money and prestige, even worldwide prestige, will mean nothing in that day! All that will matter is what one has done with Jesus. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? If not, please, please do so today! And if you have trusted Him, share Him with those who have not trusted Him! It’s more than a “life-or-death” situation. It’s ETERNITY!

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.”