The Nugget:
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (KJV)
1Th 4:14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. (ESV, English Standard Version)
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then through Jesus, God will bring back with Him those who have fallen asleep. (Williams NT)
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus has died and has risen again, so also God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. (Darby translation)
1Th 4:14 For if we have faith that Jesus underwent death and came back again, even so those who are sleeping will come again with him by God’s power. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)
1Th 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and came back to life. We also believe that, through Jesus, God will bring back those who have died. They will come back with Jesus. (GW, God’s Word translation)
1Th 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings Jesus back again, he will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)
My Comment:
The seven English Bible translations cited above of 1 Thessalonians 4:14 state that since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that when Jesus returns at His second advent, he will bring those who had faith in Jesus before they died with Him.
The Scriptures do not teach that we who believe in Jesus will live forever in heaven. The Scriptures do teach that when Jesus returns at His second advent He will set up His Kingdom of Heaven here on this earth where He will reign not for 1000 years but forever.
To dig deeper into the teaching of 1 Thessalonians 4:14 study the cross references given below from:
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
1 Thessalonians 4:14
if we: Isa 26:19; Rom 8:11; 1Co 15:12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23; 2Co 4:13, 14; Rev 1:18
sleep: 1Th 4:13, 1Th 3:13; 1Co 15:18; Rev 14:13
God: 1Th 4:17; Gen 49:19; Zec 14:15; Mat 24:31; 1Co 15:23; Php 3:20, 21; 2Th 2:1; Jud 1:14, 15
from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:
1 Thessalonians 4:14
if we believe. FS184A, +1Co 15:2. Note the “if.” It is the first class condition, indicative mood, expressing no doubt. +*Isa 26:19 note. +*Rom 8:11; **Rom 10:9; **Rom 10:10, *1Co 15:12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 2Co 4:13, 14, Col 2:20; Col 3:1, Rev 1:18.
that Jesus. 1Th 1:10; 1Th 2:15, **Act 1:11; Act 7:56; *Act 9:5, **1Ti 2:5, 2Ti 2:8, Heb 2:17, 18; Heb 4:15, Rev 22:16.
died. The message is to and for those who truly believe that Jesus died and rose again. It is for true believers who accept the Bible teaching of the bodily resurrection from the dead. Since spirits cannot die, only bodies die, only bodies can be raised from the dead. 1Th 5:10, Jhn 19:30, **1Co 15:3.
rose again. The assurance is given that as certainly as we positively know that Jesus died and rose again, so just as surely we know that those who have fallen asleep in physical death will at the time Jesus returns at the Rapture accompany Him, for those are the ones that God will bring with Him. 1Th 1:10, **Jhn 10:18; Jhn 11:25, +Act 2:24; Act 4:2; Act 24:15, Rom 1:4, 1Co 6:14; **1Co 15:4; **1Co 15:13; **1Co 15:16; **1Co 15:20, Heb 6:2.
them also. +1Co 15:18, **Php 3:10; **Php 3:11.
sleep in Jesus. Paul’s teaching answers the question that troubled the Thessalonians: what happens to those who have already died when Jesus returns to this earth? Will they miss out on this momentous event? +*1Th 4:13, 1Th 3:13, 2Sa 7:12, Job 14:12; Job 14:14, Psa 4:8; Psa 16:9, Pro 3:24, Song 7:9, *Dan 12:2, Hos 13:14, Mat 27:52, Mrk 5:39, Jhn 11:11, Act 7:60, 1Co 11:30; +1Co 15:18; %1Co 15:51, Rev 1:18; +*Rev 14:13.
God bring. Jhn 5:19; Jhn 5:28, 29, 1Co 15:35.
with him. 1Th 4:17, +*1Th 3:13; 1Th 5:10, +*Gen 49:10, +*Zec 14:5, +*Mat 24:31; *Mat 25:31, Mrk 13:27, Rom 6:8; Rom 14:8, **1Co 15:23, 2Co 13:4, Php 1:23; +*Php 3:20; +*Php 3:21, Col 3:4, 2Th 1:10; **2Th 2:1, Heb 9:28 note. **Jud 1:14; **Jud 1:15.