Them which are asleep
are the believers who have died.
I would not have you to be ignorant,
brethren, concerning them which are asleep,
that ye sorrow not, even as others
which have no hope.
The dead in Christ shall rise first.
“Them which are asleep” is Paul’s phrase in 1 Thessalonians 4 for believers who have died. Sleep is a picture of death for those who belong to Christ. Their bodies rest. Their hope is sure. Paul does not want the church to be ignorant about them or to sorrow as those who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. At the Rapture the dead in Christ will rise first. Then the living will be caught up with them.
- Sleep describes the death of believers, not the end of their existence.
- The hope is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus.
- God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
- The resurrection of the dead includes them. They rise first.
- Comfort one another with these words.
They are asleep in Jesus. They will rise. Sorrow is real, but it is not the sorrow of those who have no hope.
Concerning them which are asleep,
sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with him.
The dead in Christ shall rise first.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is the primary passage.
- “Asleep” is the term for believers who have died.
- The church is not to sorrow as those who have no hope.
- Those who sleep in Jesus will be brought with Him.
- The dead in Christ rise first at the Rapture.
- The living and the dead in Christ will be together with the Lord forever.
- The Term – Believers who have died.
- The Picture – Sleep, not annihilation.
- The Hope – Grounded in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- The Promise – God will bring them with Him.
- The Order – The dead in Christ rise first.
- The Comfort – Encourage one another with these words.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 – “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 – “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep… 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.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:18 – “Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished” (if Christ is not raised).
- 1 Corinthians 15:20 – “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”
- John 11:11 – “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.”
I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
The dead in Christ shall rise first.
Them which are asleep are the believers who have died. They sleep in Jesus. They will rise. Comfort one another with these words.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.