My Answers to some Muslim objections to Paul Part 1

Posted on May 25, 2025 by Jerry

 

A Muslim posted a meme on the Internet which states:

“The Gospel which Paul preached”

1 Corinthians 15:

1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Paul and his sidekick Luke authored 2/3 of the New Testament.

Pagen Paul calls Jesus apostels Matthew, Peter, Mark, John, etc., of being false.

My response:

This meme represents a total misreading of the New Testament text. Paul did not preach “another Gospel.” That is what Paul condemned others for doing. See Galatians 1:6-9. Paul was commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself to be His Apostle. This is recorded in Acts 9:15 and context.

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Act 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Act 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

 

Muslim challenge to me:

When John was in prison, Jesus came to Galilee and preached his gospel. What gospel did Jesus preach in Galilee? Then there is no New Testament.

That is what Jesus warned you in 2 John 1:9-11 that whoever does not abide in the teaching of Jesus does not have God.

How can you say this Paul’s New Testament is the word of God?

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14).

What Gospel was he preaching? Certainly not the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, which didn’t exist in his lifetime.

My response:

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is firmly based upon the teaching of the Hebrew Scriptures. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the first century primary source records of what Jesus did and taught.

 

How can you logically make reference to Mark 1:14 if you do not consider the writing that contains it to truly represent the message of our Lord Jesus Christ?

 

Muslim response to me in the form of a meme which states:

“Pagen Paul calls Jesus apostels Matthew, Peter, Mark, John, etc, of being false apostels of Christ, deceitful workers 2 Corinthians 11:13.”

My  response:

In order to understand a verse such as 2 Corinthians 11:13 it is necessary to understand the contexts correctly.

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

In this case, Paul is not being critical of Matthew, Peter, Mark, or John. He never accused them of being false apostles.

Paul is accusing the Judaizers of being false apostles. These were individuals who attempted to derail the work of Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles. The Judaizers taught that to become a Christian, a person must first become a Jew. This is explained in detail in Acts chapter 15:

Act 15:1  And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
Act 15:2  When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Paul is not criticizing Peter. Peter, if you read his writings in the New Testament, called Paul’s writings Scripture:

2Pe 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Peter in his very last words at this end of his second letter speaks of Paul as “our beloved brother Paul.” Peter speaks of Paul’s letters as being hard to understand for the unlearned and unstable, for those enemies of Paul wrest or twist what Paul has written, “as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” Peter, therefore, very clearly considers the writings of Paul to be Scripture.

Mark worked with Peter, and the Gospel that Mark wrote reflects the teaching and preaching of Peter. Paul refers to Mark in one of his letters very favorably:

2 Timothy 4:11
11  Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
King James Version

John was one of the three “pillars of the church” who extended the right hand of fellowship to Paul and Barnabas:

Galatians 2:9
9  And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
King James Version

That means that Peter (Cephas), James, and John fully accepted the validity of Paul’s ministry.

All this evidence directly contradicts your claim. Therefore, you are mistaken in your understanding of the historical record given in the New Testament.

Based on what Peter wrote about the writings of Paul, anyone who twists them does so to their own eternal destruction. May the Lord Himself grant you grace and wisdom as you more carefully read the Bible from now on.

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Doctrinal Discussions, False Religions, How to Interpret the Bible Correctly | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Daily Bible Nugget #949, 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Posted on May 24, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (KJV)

1Th 4:17 then those of us who are still living will be caught up along with them on clouds in the air to meet the Lord, and so we shall be with the Lord forever. (Williams NT)

1Th 4:17 then we who are living, who are remaining over, together with them shall be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in air, and so always with the Lord we shall be; (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

1Th 4:17  Then we who are alive, who remain, will be snatched away at the same time together with them in the clouds for a meeting with the Lord in the air, and thus we will be together with the Lord always. (LEB, Lexham English Bible)

1Th 4:17  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. (NET Bible)

1Th 4:17 then *we*, the living who remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall be always with the Lord. (Darby translation)

1Th 4:17 Then we who are still living will be taken up together with them into the clouds to see the Lord in the air: and so will we be for ever with the Lord. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

1Th 4:17  After that we who are still alive at that time will be gathered up with those who have died. We will be taken up in the clouds and meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with the Lord forever. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

1Th 4:17 Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

1 Thessalonians 4:17 is the key verse in the Bible about the Pretribulation Rapture. I have heard and read the objection that the word “rapture” is not in the Bible. My answer to that is that the underlying concept is in the Bible, right here in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The term “rapture” is taken from a Latin term, rapio, expressed in English by the word rapture, in reference to the underlying Greek word harpadzo translated as caught up in the KJV. Elsewhere in the Bible the term translation is used (Hebrews 11:5 in reference to Enoch who was translated) and in older writers (including George N. H. Peters three volume work, The Theocratic Kingdom, who uses the term translation in reference to the Pretribulation Rapture many times but never uses the term rapture).

The Rapture of living believers of this age must be Pretribulational because Paul always mentions the Rapture before he discusses the Day of the Lord, a time when the Great Tribulation takes place. I present the Biblical evidence below in my notes on 1 Thessalonians 4:17 taken from my Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury.

To dig deeper into the correct meaning and teaching of 1 Thessalonians 4:17 read and study carefully the cross references and the explanatory notes as given in the two Bible study resources below:

from the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

1 Thessalonians 4:15
by the: 1Ki 13:1, 1Ki 13:9, 1Ki 13:17, 18, 1Ki 13:22, 1Ki 20:35, 1Ki 22:14

which are: 1Co 15:51, 52, 53; 2Co 4:14

prevent: Job 41:11; Psa 88:13, Psa 119:147, 148; Mat 17:25

asleep: 1Th 4:13

 

from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

1 Thessalonians 4:17
Then. Gr. epeita [S# G1899, thereupon, thereafter (CB), marking the order of events, but not necessarily indicating any interval (Hogg & Vine, p. 144): Rendered (1) then: Mrk 7:5, Luk 16:7, Jhn 11:7, Gal 1:18; Gal 2:1, 1Th 4:17, Heb 7:27, Jas 3:17; Jas 4:14, (2) after that: 1Co 12:28; 1Co 15:6, 7, Heb 7:2, (3) afterward(s): 1Co 15:23; 1Co 15:46, Gal 1:21]. FS157, +1Co 15:6. 1Co 15:52.

we which. *+1Th 4:15, 1Co 15:23, 24; 1Co 15:52.

are alive. Note that “alive and remain” is a reference to believers who are alive when the “dead in Christ” have been resurrected. Paul is contrasting the time of resurrection of the living saved with the dead in Christ. He declares that the “dead in Christ” rise first, “then we who are alive and remain” shall be caught up together with them. There is no discernible lapse of time between these two events, for Paul describes these events in 1Co 15:52, saying, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye … and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” There is no intervening time element designated between “raised incorruptible” and “we shall be changed.”

caught up. Gr. αρπαγησομεθα, *S# G726, harpadzo. Mat 11:12 (take). Mat 13:19 (catcheth away). Jhn 6:15 (take…by force). Jhn 10:12 (catcheth). Jhn 10:28 (pluck), Jhn 10:29 (to pluck). Act 8:39 (caught away). Act 23:10 (take…by force). 2Co 12:2 (caught up), 2Co 12:4 (caught up). Jud 1:23 (pulling). Rev 12:5 (caught up).

This clause gives the basis for belief in the Rapture (from the Latin, rapio) of the living saints.

The Rapture is clearly Pretribulational, for Paul’s purpose is to comfort (1Th 4:18) the Thessalonians by calling attention to this glorious prospect and blessed hope (**Tit 2:13).

Paul corrects the mistaken view of the Thessalonians again in the second epistle by showing that the day of Christ was not at hand.

Logically, this must refer to the fact that they had been taught and correctly understood that the day of Christ was secret in its initial stage—at least unknown to the world, and not the public manifestation of Christ at his return in glory, or they could not have been confused about the day of Christ having already transpired, or being already present, without their having had a part in it, 2Th 2:1.

Paul argues they could know that the day had not yet come because the Rapture had not taken place (2Th 2:1), nor had the great apostasy and the revelation of the Antichrist transpired (2Th 2:3; 2Th 2:8).

Careful students of prophecy have noted that the Second Advent of Christ takes place in two stages: at the first stage Christ’s coming for his saints is unobserved by the world (Isa 26:20, Zep 2:3, +*Mat 24:42 note. 1Th 5:2, 2Th 2:1, 2Pe 3:10); the last stage, when Christ comes with his saints, is most public and visible (Joel 3:11, +*Zec 14:5, +*Mat 24:30, +*Rev 1:7; Rev 19:14).

The timing of the first stage is not revealed; the Rapture is imminent: it could take place at any time.

The second stage takes place at the end of the Great Tribulation, therefore the precise timing will be known (+*Mat 24:42 note. Dan 9:27; Dan 12:7).

Because many prophetic events take place between the two stages, the time interval may be greater than the usually postulated seven years. The amount of time between the Rapture and the onset of the Tribulation is apparently unrevealed, but in terms of events predicted to transpire between the two events, considerable time is involved.

This fact utterly demolishes the contentions of those who believe in the “pre-wrath rapture of the church,” for they cannot account for how the events can take place in their shortened time frame between these two events.

The Rapture is clearly Pretribulational (note the sequence of discussion in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 which discusses the Rapture with no mention of the Great Tribulation, followed in chapter 5 where the Great Tribulation is mentioned at verse 2, 1Th 5:2). 1Ki 18:12, 2Ki 2:11; 2Ki 2:16, +*Psa 7:6; +*Psa 7:7; Psa 50:5, Isa 57:1, Joel 2:32, +*Zep 2:3, Mat 11:12 g. Mat 13:19 g. %Luk 17:34, Jhn 6:15 g. Jhn 10:12; Jhn 10:28, 29 g. **Act 8:39; Act 23:10, **+2Co 12:2, 3, 4, Jud 1:23, Rev 11:12; *Rev 12:5.

together with them. 1Th 4:14, 1Th 5:10, Psa 50:5, +*Eph 1:10, **2Th 2:1.

in the clouds. Gr. en nephelais, “the instrumental case, by means of clouds, portrays clouds as the vehicle by which the rapture of the saints is executed” (Boyce W. Blackwelder, Toward Understanding Thessalonians, p. 101). Ellicott explains “the clouds forming the element with which they would be surrounded, and in which they would be borne up to meet their coming Lord.” “…upon which the glorified and luciform body will be caught up in the enveloping and upbearing clouds” (Comm. on Thessalonians, p. 65, 66). Other interpreters more generally understand this as “in clouds,” as the Greek article is lacking. +Gen 9:13, +*Exo 13:21; +*Exo 16:10; Exo 19:9; Exo 24:16, Num 11:25, +**2Ch 5:13, Psa 18:11, 12; +*Psa 68:17, Isa 19:1, +*Dan 7:13, Mat 17:5; +*Mat 24:30; Mat 26:64, Mrk 14:62, Act 1:9, 1Co 10:2 note. +*Rev 1:7; **Rev 11:12.

to meet. Gr. apantēsis (S# G529). FS171J9, +Act 16:1, Alford notes “as he descends.” The word “implies meeting one who was approaching—not merely a ’meeting with’ a person.” “Christ is on His way to this earth: and when De W. says that there is no plain trace in St. Paul of Christ’s kingdom on earth,—and Lun., that the words show that the Apostle did not think of Christ as descending down to the earth, surely they cannot suppose him to have been so ignorant of O. T. prophecy, as to have allowed this, its plain testimony, to escape him” (Greek Testament, vol. 3, p. 276). Almost invariably the word suggests that those who go out to meet him intend to return to their starting place with the person met (Hogg & Vine, p. 146). 1Sa 13:10, 1Ki 9:14, 2Ch 15:2; 2Ch 19:2, Psa 84:7, Mat 25:1 g, Mat 25:6 g, Mat 25:31, Jhn 11:20; Jhn 11:28, Act 16:1; *Act 28:15 g. Col 3:4, *2Th 2:1.

the Lord. 2Th 1:7.

in the air. The word for “air” in Greek is aer, a reference to the dense atmosphere of earth, not aither (a word not used in the New Testament), which would refer to the upper atmosphere. Act 22:23, 1Co 9:26; 1Co 14:9, Eph 2:2, Rev 9:2; Rev 16:17.

and so. Nothing in this verse remotely suggests that we accompany Christ thereupon back to heaven! The Greek grammar indicates Christ continues to his destination, which is earth. +*Psa 16:11; *Psa 17:15; *Psa 49:15; Psa 73:24, Isa 35:10; Isa 60:19, 20, Jhn 12:26; +*Jhn 14:3; Jhn 17:24, **2Co 5:8, +*Php 1:23, 2Pe 3:13, Rev 7:14, 15, 16, 17; Rev 21:3, 4, 5, 6, 7; Rev 21:22, 23; Rev 22:3, 4, 5.

so. i.e. by resurrection or translation (CB).

ever be. Wordsworth states “We shall be caught up into the air, and so be ever with Christ. There is no indication of any intervening Millennium on earth between Resurrection and heavenly glory” (Greek Testament, vol. 2, p. 19). His misunderstanding is grounded in his failure, among other things, to note that only the righteous are spoken of as being included in this resurrection. His careful observation earlier on the same passage, that the “circumstances of the Second Advent, and of the Last Judgment, appear to have been prefigured by those of the Giving of the Law on Mount Sinai” is carefully drawn:

[“The circumstances of the Second Advent, and of the Last Judgment, appear to have been prefigured by those of the Giving of the Law on Mount Sinai; Men will be judged according to their works, of which the Law of God is the Rule: and therefore the future Great Assize, in which men will be rewarded or punished according to their Deeds, to be then judged by the standard of the Divine Law, was fitly typified by the promulgation of that Law. Compare the words of Moses describing the delivery of the Law (Exo 19:16) with the language used by the Apostle here describing the last Judgment (1Th 4:16, 17, 18 ?). Compare 2Th 1:8.

There is also mention made by Moses of the cloud, 1Th 4:16, Compare here, verse 17 (1Th 4:17).

Also the Law was given with the ministry of Angels (Act 7:53, Gal 3:19), and Angels will come with the Lord to Judgment.

The Trumpet here and in 1Co 15:52 seems to be no other than that of the Seventh Angel in the Apocalypse (Rev 11:15, 16, 17, 18).

Whether you eat or drink, or wake or sleep, let that Trumpet be ever sounding in your ears with this call, “Arise, ye dead; come ye to the Judgment” (St. Jerome ap. A Lapide).”],

Except for the mistaken connection with the Last Judgment, Wordsworth independently confirms Peters, cited below. Further confirmation of such connections is provided by the study of “Antitypical Parallels” alluded to by Peters (Theocratic Kingdom, vol. 2, Proposition 121, Observation 8, note 28, point 4, p. 191), but developed fully by others as in Antitypical Parallels; or, The Kingdom of Israel and of Heaven, by “Gershom” (Major General J. E. Goodwyn), London: S. W. Partridge, 1866, pp. xxiv, 1-501. Psa 140:13, *+Jhn 12:26.

with the Lord. Paul, having accomplished his purpose of comfort by asserting that the living saints would rejoin deceased believers at the rapture, abruptly stops the discussion.

No doubt the Thessalonians had received much fuller instruction from Paul about prophecy when he was with them in person. We are left to infer from other Scripture where the saints will go once they are raptured.

The usual view is that Christ takes the saints back to the third heaven, some believe forever, others suppose for the seven years of the Tribulation.

Interestingly enough, Paul does not say here, nor does Scripture elsewhere state, that the saints return to heaven.

(See the following references, which I have carefully noted, as they are not represented in the indexes in Peters’ volumes: Theocratic Kingdom, volume 3, Proposition 170, Observation 6, pp. 59, 60, Prop. 166, Observation 6, note 1, pp. 25, 26,

For other significant references to the “third heaven” in Peters not found in his indexes see: Volume 1, pp. 245, Prop. 35, Observation 2; page *596, Prop. 89, Observation. 1; page 602; Prop. 90, Observation 5; page 615, Prop. 93, Observation 6, point 2; Volume 2, pp. 11, 12, Prop. 107, Observation 2, page 13; Prop. 107, Observation 4; page 29; Prop. 108, Observation 3, note 7; page 222, Prop. 123, Observation 4; page 227, Prop. 125, p. 227; page 303, Prop. 128, Observation 12; page 341, Prop. 131, Observation 3; page **346, Observation 7; page **377, Prop. 134, Observation 2, point 15; page 378; Prop. 134, Observation 2, note 3; page 411, Prop. 138, Observation 3; page *501, Prop. 148, Observation 3; pages **575, 576, Prop. 154, Observation 3, note 1 & 2; page 578, Observation 5, point 4; Volume 3, p. 25, 26, Prop. 166, Observation 6, note 1; page 46, Prop. 169, Observation 2, note 2; page 453, Prop. 196, Observation 4, note; page 459, Prop. 196, Observation 12, point 7).

Peters cogently argues that such a removal of the saints from this earth to heaven with Christ (especially if conceived of as a permanent removal) would be in violation of prophecy and covenant, which place the inheritance and kingdom of Christ here upon this earth (+*Mat 5:5, +*Act 7:5 note. +*Eph 1:11 note. +*Heb 11:13; +*Heb 11:16 note).

Peters establishes at length and in great detail from Scripture that the saints will be taken by Christ to some secure appointed place upon earth (+*Deut 33:2) to organize and prepare for the establishment of the kingdom, when believers will receive their training and appointments (+*Jhn 14:2, where “house” is put for “kingdom,” and “mansions” is a reference to “abiding or dwelling places”) to posts of rulership and responsibility (Psa 149:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, Mat 19:28, 29; Mat 24:47; Mat 25:21; Mat 25:23, Luk 22:29, 30, 1Co 6:2, 2Ti 2:12, Rev 2:26, 27; Rev 20:4; Rev 20:6) in that kingdom (Theocratic Kingdom, vol. 3, Proposition 166, pp. 17-28).

When the preparation is complete, Christ will march (+*Deut 33:2, *Isa 63:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) upon his enemies, then victorious will ascend the Mount of olives (Zec 14:3, 4, 5) and enter Zion (*Isa 1:27; +*Isa 51:11; +*Isa 59:20, *Joel 3:16, *Zec 1:16; *Zec 1:17, +*Rom 11:26) with all his saints, and establish his kingdom over the whole earth, ruling from Jerusalem (Isa 24:23, Zec 14:9).

with the Lord. **+Deut 33:2, Psa 149:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, Hos 12:4, Zec 14:9, +Mat 5:5; Mat 19:28, 29; Mat 24:47; Mat 25:21; Mat 25:23, +**Luk 1:32; +**Luk 1:33; Luk 22:29, 30, Jhn 12:26; +*Jhn 14:2; +*Jhn 14:3, +Act 7:5, +Rom 11:26, 1Co 6:2, 2Co 5:8, +Eph 1:11, **Col 3:4, *2Th 2:1, 2Ti 2:11, 12, Heb 9:28 note. +Heb 11:13; Heb 11:16, Rev 2:26, 27; Rev 20:4; Rev 20:6.

 

 

Posted in Bible Promises, Bible Prophecy, Bible Study Tools, Daily Bible Nuggets, Doctrinal Discussions | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Daily Bible Nugget #948, 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (KJV)

1Th 4:16 because the Lord himself, in a shout, in the voice of a chief-messenger, and in the trump of God, shall come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

1Th 4:16 for the Lord himself, with an assembling shout, with archangel’s voice and with trump of God, shall descend from heaven; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; (Darby translation)

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (NET Bible)

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (LEB, Lexham English Bible)

1Th 4:16 Because the Lord Himself shall come down from Heaven with a commanding shout of an archangel’s voice, and with God’s trumpet. And the dead in Christ will rise again first. (LITV, Literal Translation of the Holy Bible)

1Th 4:16 Because our Lord will himself descend from heaven, with the mandate, and with the voice of the chief angel, and with the trump of God; and the dead who are in the Messiah, will first arise; (Murdock NT)

1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself, at the summons sounded by the archangel’s call and by God’s trumpet, will come down from heaven, and first of all the dead in union with Christ will rise, (Williams NT)

1Th 4:16 Because the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a word of authority, with the voice of the chief angel, with the sound of a horn: and the dead in Christ will come to life first; (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

1Th 4:16  There will be the shout of command, the archangel’s voice, the sound of God’s trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven. Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first;  (GNB, Good News Bible)

1Th 4:16  The Lord will come from heaven with a command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the dead who believed in Christ will come back to life. (GW, God’s Word translation)

1Th 4:16  The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And the people who have died and were in Christ will rise first.  (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

1Th 4:16 With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God’s trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Our Lord Jesus Christ will return for those who believe and trust in Him BEFORE the onset of the Great Tribulation in an event called the Pretribulation Rapture.

This passage, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, together with the very next verse, 1 Thessalonians 4:17, is the most detailed discussion or presentation about this event found in the Bible. Taking these two passages together makes it most evident that the dead in Christ and the believers who are alive at the time this event takes place together at virtually the same moment in time are taken up to meet our Lord Jesus Christ as He returns to the earth.

There is no discernable time gap between what takes place in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and what transpires immediately after in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 beyond what Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:52 calls “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” where Paul speaks of this same event.

I mention this because I read with great interest just last week a book by a sincere student of the Bible where at the end of his book he suggests that we must insert a time gap of 1000 years between 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17. That, for me, was a most “surprise ending” of his book!

That hardly agrees with these texts themselves or with what Paul expresses in 1 Thessalonians 4:18, that his purpose is to enable the Thessalonian believers to “comfort one another with these words.”

There is much more to learn about what Paul is teaching about the Pretribulation Rapture in this very interesting important text.

I invite every reader here to feel free to post a comment should you have a question, or wish to express agreement or disagreement with what I posted here.

To dig deeper into the truths taught in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, read and study the cross references and notes of explanation from these two important Bible study resources:

from the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

1 Thessalonians 4:16
the Lord: Isa 25:8, 9; Mat 16:27, Mat 24:30, 31, Mat 25:31, Mat 26:64; Act 1:11; 2Th 1:7; 2Pe 3:10; Rev 1:7

with a: Num 23:21; Psa 47:1, Psa 47:5; Zec 4:7, Zec 9:9

the archangel: Jud 1:9

with the trump: Exo 19:16, Exo 20:18; Isa 27:13; Zec 9:14; 1Co 15:52; Rev 1:10, Rev 8:13

and the: 1Co 15:23, 1Co 15:51, 52; Rev 20:5, 6

 

from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

1 Thessalonians 4:16
the Lord. 1Th 3:12, *Psa 96:13, *Isa 25:8; *Isa 25:9, *+Mat 16:27 note. +*Mat 24:30, 31; +*Mat 25:31; Mat 26:64, Mrk 13:26, Jhn 14:3, +*Act 1:11, *2Th 1:7, *2Pe 3:10, +*Rev 1:7.

himself. Clearly, the emphatic expression “For the Lord himself” (+Act 2:36) teaches that Jesus Christ will himself return in person in bodily form as a man (1Ti 2:5) for true believers at the Rapture, not as the archangel named Michael, as some most mistakenly teach. +1Th 3:11, 1Co 11:26, 2Ti 4:1.

descend. Gen 18:21, *Php 3:20.

from heaven. 1Th 1:10, Luk 2:15, Act 1:11, Php 3:20, 2Th 1:7, 1Pe 3:22.

with a shout. Gr. keleuma (S# G2752, only here). Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout. There is difference of opinion as to who will hear this shout. Will the unsaved hear it? Only the saved will hear this voice. At Jhn 5:28, 29 we are told “all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, [29] and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” This passage in John has been used by many to mistakenly teach that there is just a single, general resurrection of all the dead. A comparison of the related Scriptures will inform us that the resurrection of the just (**Luk 14:14) is an event that precedes by a thousand years the resurrection of the unjust (Isa 24:22, Rev 20:5). Therefore, there is good reason to believe that the “voice” in each case will be heard only by those to whom it is directed and for whom it is intended. This is not necessarily a “noisy” event which will be heard by the world (2Th 2:2 note). Num 23:21, 2Sa 6:15, Job 14:15, Psa 47:1; Psa 47:5, Pro 30:27 g. Jer 25:30, 31, Joel 2:11, Zec 4:7; Zec 9:9, Mat 25:6, Jhn 5:28, 29.

the voice. Note that “the voice of the archangel” does not affirm that this is an archangel’s voice, but rather is a common figure of speech in Scripture technically named Antimereia (FS24L, +Gen 6:2) which is also found at such passages as 1Ch 12:22 note (host of God, meaning a very great or numerous host); 1Ch 16:42 (musical instruments of God, meaning great or loud instruments); 2Ch 30:21, margin (“loud instruments,” Hebrew, instruments of strength); Gen 23:6, margin (“a mighty prince,” Hebrew, a prince of God); Job 1:16, “The fire of God,” or, A great fire; Jon 3:3, margin (“an exceeding great city,” Hebrew, a city great of God); Act 7:20, margin (“exceeding fair,” or, fair to God). There are many more instances of this figure. Thus, “the voice of an archangel” by this figure would mean a very loud voice. *Joel 2:11, Zep 1:14, +Mat 24:31; Mat 25:6, 1Co 14:7, 8, Rev 1:10; Rev 4:1.

the archangel. Hogg and Vine note that there is no article before “voice” and “archangel” in the Greek, “so that the quality of the voice, its majesty and authority, is intended; but there is nothing to indicate that any particular angelic chief was in the writer’s mind” (Comm. on 1 Thessalonians, p. 142). Jehovah’s Witnesses argue from this text that Jesus is the archangel Michael, since Michael is the only archangel named in Scripture (Dan 12:1, Rev 12:7). This of course is shaky inference indeed, opposed to very clear declarations of Scripture as to the two natures in Christ. The motivation for such identification is to remove the basis for the doctrine of the deity of Christ and the Trinity. But such wresting of Scripture will not stand up to careful comparison of Scripture. In Heb 2:16 it is declared that Jesus “took not on him the nature of angels,” but took on in his incarnation “the seed of Abraham.” As Paul asserts Christ before the incarnation was in the form of God (Php 2:6), Christ could not have been an archangel in time past; Scripture declares that Jesus during his earthly life “became flesh” (Jhn 1:14) and was made in the likeness of men (Php 2:7), and now as man is in heaven (1Ti 2:5). These direct assertions of Scripture leave no room before, during, or after the incarnation for Jesus Christ to have been or to have since become an archangel: He is truly man, in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily (Col 2:9). The Jehovah Witness doctrine regarding the person of Christ also fails in that it requires the discontinuity of the person of Michael the archangel, and is subject to the same fatal objection noted in their doctrine of the mortality of the soul, namely, that not resurrection but new creation must take place in reconstituting the person, so that the same person does not exist before and after (see note on +*Mat 10:28 note. Compare 1Co 15:54 note). The apostle Peter could not truthfully assert, as he emphatically did, that it was “this same Jesus” who is now exalted to the right hand of the Father, if he believed Jesus is now Michael (+*Act 2:36). Perhaps Jehovah’s Witnesses would be helped to perceive the invalidity of their logic if we apply the same logic to the succeeding phrase: since Christ is to return with the “trump of God,” He must be God. While on other grounds this can be proven true, Jehovah’s Witnesses would rightly object to the logical form of such an argument here; and for the same reasons they find it invalid, their own argument identifying Jesus with Michael fails. Dan 10:13; Dan 10:21; Dan 12:1, Rom 8:38, Eph 1:21, Col 1:16, *Jud 1:9, Rev 12:7.

with the. To suggest that this “trumpet” equates to the seventh trumpet mentioned in the book of Revelation (Rev 11:15) to establish a chronology for the Rapture is mistaken. Furthermore, the “last trump” mentioned in 1Co 15:52 must not be understood absolutely as the very last trumpet, for clearly the post-tribulation trumpet mentioned in Mat 24:31 follows the tribulation (Mat 24:29). Not all mentions of “trumpet” refer to the same trumpet, any more than all references to the “elect” refer to the same group(s), entities, or individual(s) called “elect.” The “elect” gathered from the “four winds” of Mat 24:31 are clearly the Jewish remnant who are finally gathered to their own land supernaturally in fulfillment of the provisions of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 15:18), supported by the fact that all the references in Matthew 24 pertain to the Jews, as reflected by the explicitly Jewish imagery: [Mat 24:13, 14, 15 (temple), Mat 24:16; Mat 24:20 (flight on the Sabbath day), Mat 24:21 (Great Tribulation, the time of Jacob’s Trouble, Jer 30:7), Mat 24:28 (carcass, Ezk 39:4)] used throughout the passage. By this time the living believers were Raptured to be with Christ before the onset of the Tribulation, and certainly do not need to be gathered supernaturally by angels!

trump. This “trump” must not be equated with “the last or seventh trump” in Revelation (where no such expression occurs, but see Rev 8:6 and Rev 11:15), for John had not yet written Revelation; it absolutely must not be equated with Mat 24:31, for Mat 24:29 specifies that takes place “after the tribulation” and the context there pertains to the final complete regathering of Israel to their land in fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant (+Act 7:5), not the rapture of the church. The “trump of God” here spoken of takes place before the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, for the Rapture is always mentioned by Paul in that order. Paul speaks here of the Rapture before the Day of the Lord mentioned after in 1Th 5:2, the coming of which emphatically is not a matter of comfort (1Th 4:18; Jer 30:7; Ezk 30:2, 3; **Amos 5:18). In 2Th 2:1, 2, 3 the same order is observed, for “our gathering unto him” of 2Th 2:1 is a reference to the rapture of 1Th 4:17; at 2Th 2:2 the “day of Christ,” where significant textual evidence reads “day of the Lord,” follows the mention of the rapture; 1Co 15:22, 23, 24 with 1Co 15:51, 52, 53, 54 again presents the same order, first the Rapture, then events of the Day of the Lord, for Paul places the resurrection of the “dead in Christ” and the Rapture before making reference to “Then cometh the end” in 1Co 15:24. Exo 19:13; Exo 19:16; Exo 20:18, +=Lev 23:24, Num 10:10, Jdg 7:20, 2Sa 6:15, Isa 27:13, Joel 2:1, Zep 1:16, Zec 9:14, +Mat 24:31, **1Co 15:52 note. Heb 12:19, Rev 1:10; Rev 8:13.

of God. FS24L, +1Ch 16:42 note. The “trump of God” by the same figure of speech (Antimereaia) means a loud trumpet. 2Sa 9:3 note. Psa 65:9, Zec 9:14, Rev 15:2.

and the dead. +Rom 4:17; Rom 8:10, +1Co 15:23; +1Co 15:51; +1Co 15:52, 2Th 2:1, +*Rev 14:13; *Rev 20:5; *Rev 20:6.

in Christ. Since the resurrection of the wicked is not mentioned here, this resurrection has exclusive reference to the resurrection of the righteous, a fact utterly opposed to a simultaneous resurrection of all the dead. 1Th 4:14, Rom 8:38, 39.

rise first. FS157, +1Co 15:6. This proves that Scripture does not teach a single general resurrection of the righteous with the wicked at the end of the world (xJhn_6:39), as so often taught. Here reference is made to the resurrection of the “dead in Christ,” not all the dead. Daniel asserts that “many of,” not “many,” and certainly not “all” that sleep in the earth shall awake. While “many” by a figure of speech may sometimes stand for “all” (Mat 26:28 note), such cannot be so for the phrase “many of” which is different (See Peters, Theocratic Kingdom, vol. 2, Proposition 126, Observation 2, who cites Dr. Hody to this effect, p. 245). Clearly the wicked are resurrected at another time, which Scripture elsewhere teaches is after a one thousand year interval, at the end of the millennium (Rev 20:5). Since the resurrection of the wicked is not mentioned here, this resurrection has exclusive reference to the righteous, a fact utterly opposed to a simultaneous resurrection of all the dead (Peters, Theocratic Kingdom, vol. 2, p. 297). Isa 25:6, 7, 8, 9; +*Isa 26:19 note, Isa 26:21; Isa 27:6, Ezk 37:12, **Dan 12:2, **Luk 14:14; **Luk 20:35; **Luk 20:36, Act 26:6, 7, 8, *+1Co 15:23, *Php 3:11 g. Heb 11:35, +*Rev 20:3; +*Rev 20:5; +*Rev 20:6.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #947, 1 Thessalonians 4:15

Posted on May 21, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

1Th 4:15  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. (KJV)

1Th 4:15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. (ESV, English Standard Version)

1Th 4:15  For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. (NET Bible)

1Th 4:15 For on the Lord’s own authority we say that those of us who may be left behind and are still living when the Lord comes back, will have no advantage at all over those who have fallen asleep. (Williams NT)

1Th 4:15 And this we say to you, by the word of our Lord, that we who may survive and be alive, at the coming of our Lord, shall not precede them who have slept. (Murdock NT)

1Th 4:15  We are telling you what the Lord taught. We who are still alive when the Lord comes will not go into his kingdom ahead of those who have already died. (GW, God’s Word translation)

1Th 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are still living at the coming of the Lord, will not go before those who are sleeping. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

1Th 4:15  What we tell you now is the Lord’s own message. Those of us who are still living when the Lord comes again will join him, but not before those who have already died.  (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

1Th 4:15 Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes, we won’t go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already died. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

1 Thessalonians 4:15 is of critical importance to understand accurately. Many Bible readers and some Bible scholars miss the point of what Paul declares.

Paul declares that this teaching about the Pretribulation Rapture comes directly from the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry.

I have just finished reading a very lengthy scholarly study by an author who fully did his homework. This author does not take a position on the various prophetic positions taken by many based on this passage. Rather, this author painstakingly, step by step, absolutely establishes that the teaching in this passage is based directly upon the earthly teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ that was well known in the early church even though it is minimally addressed in the Gospel accounts that have come down to us.

Here is the bibliographical information that identifies the book I just finished reading in my Logos library:

Ferda, Tucker S. 2024. Jesus and His Promised Second Coming: Jewish Eschatology and Christian Origins. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

I believe this author confirms the accuracy of the notes I have placed in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury at 1 Thessalonians 4:15.

Dig deeper into 1 Thessalonians 4:15 by studying the cross references and notes from:

the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

1 Thessalonians 4:15
by the: 1Ki 13:1, 1Ki 13:9, 1Ki 13:17, 18, 1Ki 13:22, 1Ki 20:35, 1Ki 22:14

which are: 1Co 15:51, 52, 53; 2Co 4:14

prevent: Job 41:11; Psa 88:13, Psa 119:147, 148; Mat 17:25

asleep: 1Th 4:13

 

my expansion as given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

1 Thessalonians 4:15
For this we say. 1Th 4:18, Gen 24:67, Gal 3:17, Eph 4:17.

by the word. Paul prefaces his remark by telling us that he is speaking in accordance with the already revealed word of the Lord, an expression Paul has used in some of his other letters to specify that what he is teaching is based directly upon what Jesus taught during his earthly ministry (%Rom 16:25, *1Co 7:10; 1Co 9:14; 1Co 11:23; %1Co 14:34 note, 1Co 14:37, %Gal 1:12). Among the passages recorded in our four Gospels which Paul may have reference to would be Luk 20:35, 36; and especially **Jhn 11:25, 26. **1Th 4:2 note. +1Th 1:8, 1Ki 13:1; 1Ki 13:9; 1Ki 13:17, 18; 1Ki 13:22; 1Ki 20:35; 1Ki 22:14, **Luk 20:35; Luk 20:36, **Jhn 11:25; **Jhn 11:26, Act 18:9, Gal 1:12, Eph 3:3.

that we. FS39, Act 17:27, Some have mistakenly drawn the inference that Paul here asserts he expected the return of Jesus in his own lifetime. This, of course, is an unwarranted inference which fails to take into account Paul’s own inspired prediction regarding the great apostasy and the coming of Antichrist given in 2 Thessalonians 2, events which Paul certainly did not suppose were to be compressed into his own lifespan. The fact that Christ revealed to Peter certain events which would transpire in his life (Jhn 21:18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23), as well as to Paul (Act 9:15; Act 20:23, 24; Act 27:24), must not be understood to deny the doctrine of the imminency of the return of Christ. Robertson notes Paul “was alive, not dead, when he wrote” (Word Pictures, vol. 4, p. 32). Paul sometimes associates himself with the living (as here, and Php 3:20, Tit 2:12, 13), and sometimes with the dead, (as **1Co 6:14, **2Co 4:14; 2Co 5:8, Php 1:21, 22, 23, 24; Php 2:17, 2Ti 4:6, 7, 8). By such words Paul simply associates himself with the class of the living to which he then belonged, as opposed to the dead, and was not making a statement about how soon Jesus would return, a secret which God has kept in his own counsel (+*Deut 29:29, Mat 24:36, +*Mrk 13:32, +*Act 1:7), as Hogg and Vine well observe (Comm. on 1 Thessalonians, p. 138). 1Th 4:17, 1Th 5:10, Psa 66:6, Hos 12:4, Mat 16:28 note. Mrk 9:1, Luk 9:27, Rom 13:11; Rom 13:13, +1Co 6:14; 1Co 15:51, Php 3:20, Tit 2:12, 13.

which are alive. Paul now explains what will happen to those believers who are alive and among those few true believers that remain when Jesus returns at the Rapture. 1Th 4:17, **1Co 15:51, 52, 53, *2Co 4:14.

and remain. Gr. περιλειπομενοι, *S# G4035, only here and 1Th 4:17, perileipomenoi, present passive participle of perileipō, “remain, be left behind,” “to leave over; to remain over, to survive,” (Arndt, Gingrich; Thayer); compare citation in MM, p. 506b, “a very small portion…will be left.” Job 1:21, +*Isa 24:6, +*Mat 7:14, Luk 18:8.

the coming. Gr. parousia, +Mat 24:3, +1Th 2:19. Parousia has the basic meaning of presence or arrival, used in later Greek secular literature of the official visit of a king or ruler. In the New Testament it is used nontechnically of presence (1Co 16:17, 2Co 10:10, Php 1:26; Php 2:12); of coming or arrival (2Co 7:6, 7, Php 1:26); and in a technical eschatological sense of the second coming of Christ, with the connotation of ultimate presence (+Mat 24:3 note, Mat 24:27; Mat 24:37; Mat 24:39, 1Co 15:23, 1Th 2:19; 1Th 3:13; 1Th 4:15; 1Th 5:23, 2Th 2:1; 2Th 2:8, Jas 5:7, 8, 2Pe 1:16; 2Pe 3:4; 2Pe 3:12, 1Jn 2:28). Hogg and Vine note that the usual translation, “coming,” is misleading, for other Greek words are better so translated (erchomai, Luk 12:45; Luk 19:23, eleusis, Act 7:52, eisodos, Act 13:24). “…whereas these words fix the attention on the journey to, and the arrival at, a place, parousia fixes it on the stay which follows on the arrival there” (Comm. on Thessalonians, p. 87, See also Boyce Blackwelder, Toward Understanding Thessalonians, p. 85). The word parousia does not itself denote either secrecy or invisibility (Mat 24:3 note). Hogg and Vine further note (p. 88) that when used non-prophetically of Christ, parousia refers to a defined period (**2Pe 1:16, the transfiguration, see **Mat 17:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). Where it is used prophetically, parousia refers to the time beginning with the descent of the Lord from heaven into the air (1Th 4:16, 17), and ending with his revelation and manifestation to the world (2Th 1:7). “The Parousia of the Lord Jesus is thus a period with a beginning, a course, and a conclusion. The beginning is prominent in 1Th 4:15; 1Th 5:23, 2Th 2:1, 1Co 15:23, Jas 5:7, 8, 2Pe 3:4; the course in 1Th 2:19; 1Th 3:13, Mat 24:3; Mat 24:37; Mat 24:39, 1Jn 2:28; the conclusion in 2Th 2:8, Mat 24:27” (Hogg and Vine, Thessalonians, p. 88). Based upon the meaning of the word for “coming,” this text teaches that when Jesus Christ returns at the Rapture, He returns to stay, not to return to the third heaven as many mistakenly teach. Thus, Jesus returns at his coming, or ultimate presence, to the earth, not merely over the earth, at this Pretribulation Rapture. *1Th 3:13, *1Co 15:23, 2Th 2:1, 2, 2Ti 4:1.

shall not. FS158, +Mat 5:18, +Act 10:42. Those believers in Christ who are alive at His return will not take precedence over those who have died in Christ.

prevent. obsolete for precede. Probably everyone knows that the English expression used in the King James Version (“prevent”) means “precede.” Thus, at the Rapture, all the dead in Christ are raised first by resurrection before the living are translated without dying into their glorified bodily form. Job 41:11, Psa 59:10; Psa 88:13; Psa 119:147, 148, Mat 17:25, 1Co 15:52, 2Co 10:14.

asleep. See on 1Th 4:13, +*Isa 26:19, Jhn 11:11, 1Co 15:6.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #946, 1 Thessalonians 4:14

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Jerry

 

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.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #945, 1 Thessalonians 4:13

Posted on May 17, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

1Th 4:13  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. (KJV)

1Th 4:13 But it is our desire, brothers, that you may be certain about those who are sleeping; so that you may have no need for sorrow, as others have who are without hope. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

1Th 4:13 Also we do not want you to have any misunderstanding, brothers, about those who are falling asleep, so as to keep you from grieving over them as others do who have no hope. (Williams NT)

1Th 4:13  Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about those who have died. We don’t want you to be sad like other people—those who have no hope. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

1Th 4:13 My friends, we want you to understand how it will be for those followers who have already died. Then you won’t grieve over them and be like people who don’t have any hope. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

In a recent discussion on Facebook, the article I shared was about the Pretribulation Rapture. The first part of the article drew upon early church writings that some suppose support the doctrine. I do not base my understanding of the Pretribulation Rapture on what early Christian writers have written. I base my understanding of all doctrine on what is IN the Bible, not by what is NOT IN the Bible.

The article I shared listed and gave the English text of several Bible verses the article author believes support the Pretribulation Rapture doctrine. I am not the one who chose the verses.

Here is the list of verses that were given:  (1) Revelation 3:10. (2) Luke 21:36. (3) 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. (4) 1 Thessalonians 1:10. (5) 1 Thessalonians 5:9. (6) 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2, 3.

I decided to write an exposition of each of these Bible texts and more as required by the subject. I am giving more specific technical detail than I have given in previous Real Bible Study posts for the above-listed passages.

I have already given information on Revelation 3:10. I believe that article alone fully establishes the correctness of the Pretribulation Rapture position because it accurately follows the Greek grammar involved in that text.

If I were making my own list of verses to support the Pretribulation Rapture I would not likely have selected Luke 21:36. It is a marvelous verse. Studying the far more complete cross references for that verse (as I have shared them in my preceding post) from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury will provide new insights about just what the Bible teaches about subjects mentioned in that verse.

The original article made reference to 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. This is perhaps the most important passage in the New Testament about the Pretribulation Rapture. But to better understand 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17, I believe it is necessary to carefully study the whole section, 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.

My Exposition and Explanation of 1 Thessalonians 4:13

Paul is answering the concerns of the Thessalonican believers by answering their question about those of their number who have died already. Will those persons miss the blessing they were taught about by Paul of experiencing the Rapture?

I will present the cross references for 1 Thessalonians 4:13 from two sources.

First, I will present the cross references as originally given in The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. I do this to ease the entrance into the habit of studying cross references by using its references. They are less extensive and far fewer in number.

Then I will present the cross references from my digital resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, which is far more complete and more suited to yet deeper study of the Bible.

from The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

1 Thessalonians 4:13
I would: Rom 1:13; 1Co 10:1, 1Co 12:1; 2Co 1:8; 2Pe 3:8

which are: 1Th 4:15, 1Th 5:10; 1Ki 1:21, 1Ki 2:10; Dan 12:2; Mat 27:52; Luk 8:52, 53; Jhn 11:11, 12, 13; Act 7:60, Act 13:36; 1Co 15:6, 1Co 15:18; 2Pe 3:4

ye sorrow: Gen 37:35; Lev 19:28; Deut 14:1, 2; 2Sa 12:19, 20, 2Sa 18:33; Job 1:21; Ezk 24:16, 17, 18; Jhn 11:24; Act 8:2

which have: Eph 2:12; Job 19:25, 26, 27; Pro 14:32; Ezk 37:11; 1Co 15:19

 

from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury: 

1 Thessalonians 4:13
I would not. FS175B, +Gen 21:16, Paul is addressing the question of those Christians known to the Thessalonians who have already died. Paul urges that they not sorrow over the loss of these loved ones in the manner of those who have no hope. Those who have already died in Christ will not miss out should it happen that Christ returns in the lifetime of those believers who were then still living. 1Th 3:10, Rom 1:13; Rom 11:25, +1Co 10:1; 1Co 12:1, 2Co 1:8, Col 2:1, 2Pe 3:8.

which are. 1Th 4:15, 1Th 5:10, 1Ki 1:21; 1Ki 2:10, Ezk 44:25, +*Dan 12:2 note. +Mat 27:52, Luk 8:52, 53, *Jhn 11:11, 12, 13, *Act 7:60; Act 13:36, 1Co 15:6; 1Co 15:18, 2Pe 3:4.

asleep. Gr. koimaomai, to fall asleep, involuntarily: hence used (in nearly every place) of death, but only of saints. Contrast +*1Th 5:6, “sleep,” Gr. katheudo, to go asleep, voluntarily: hence not used of death, but either of taking rest in sleep, or of the opposite of watchfulness. EWB (F/S 372) observes, “Thus the marked use of koimaomai in the first series, and of katheudo in the second series teaches us that the hope of Resurrection and Ascension before the Day of the Lord is for all who are Christ’s, whether they are dead or alive, whether they are watchful or unwatchful” 1Th 1:10 note. “This metaphorical use of the word sleep is appropriate because of the similarity in appearance between a sleeping body and a dead body; restfulness and peace normally characterise both. The object of the metaphor is to suggest that as the sleeper does not cease to exist while his body sleeps, so the dead person continues to exist despite his absence from the region in which those who remain can communicate with him, and that, as sleep is known to be temporary, so the death of the body will be found to be. Sleep has its waking, death will have its resurrection” (Hogg & Vine, p. 128). *S# G2837. 1Th 4:14, 15, Psa 4:8, Pro 3:24, Song 7:9, Isa 14:8 g. Dan 12:2, Mat 27:52; Mat 28:13, Mrk 5:39, Luk 20:36; Luk 22:45, Jhn 11:11, 12, Act 7:60; Act 12:6; Act 13:36, 1Co 7:39; 1Co 11:30; 1Co 15:6; 1Co 15:18; 1Co 15:20; 1Co 15:51, 2Pe 3:4.

ye sorrow not. Gen 24:67; Gen 37:35; Gen 44:31; Gen 50:1, Lev 19:28; Lev 21:2; Lev 25:28, *Deut 14:1; *Deut 14:2, **2Sa 12:19, 20, 21, 22, 23; 2Sa 18:33, **Job 1:21, Ezk 24:16, 17, 18, Mrk 5:39, Luk 7:13, *Jhn 11:24; *Jhn 11:33,, 34, 35, Act 8:2; Act 9:39, 2Co 2:7, Php 2:27.

even as. Gr. kathōs (S# G2531). 1Th 2:4; 1Th 3:6; 1Th 5:11, Rom 1:13, Php 1:21.

others. or, the rest. FS142, +Gen 20:16. 1Th 4:12, 1Th 5:6, Luk 8:10, Act 4:2; Act 5:13, Eph 2:3.

have no hope. While all the dead shall be raised (Jhn 5:28, 29), the resurrection of unbelievers cannot be described as a hope (see Hogg & Vine, p. 130). 1Th 1:3, Job 14:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; %+*Job 19:25, 26, 27, %*Psa 16:9; %*Psa 16:10, +*Pro 14:32, Ecc 9:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, +*Isa 26:19; Isa 38:18, 19, Ezk 37:11, Hos 6:2, Mat 22:31, 32, **Mrk 12:18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, Luk 20:37, 38, Act 23:8; Act 26:7, 8; Act 27:20, 1Co 15:19; 1Co 15:32, See on +*Eph 2:12, %*Php 1:21, 2Th 2:16, Heb 6:2, %1Pe 1:3.

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Daily Bible Nugget #944, Luke 21:36

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Luke 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (KJV)

Luk 21:34 But ever be on your guard, so that your hearts may not be loaded down with self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries, and that day, like a trap, catch you unawares.
Luk 21:35 For it will come upon all who are living anywhere on the face of the earth,
Luk 21:36 But ever be watching and always praying, so that you may have strength to escape all this that is going to take place, and so you may take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man.” (Williams NT)

Luk 21:34 But give attention to yourselves, for fear that your hearts become over-full of the pleasures of food and wine, and the cares of this life, and that day may come on you suddenly, and take you as in a net:
Luk 21:35 For so it will come on all those who are living on the face of all the earth.
Luk 21:36 But keep watch at all times with prayer, that you may be strong enough to come through all these things and take your place before the Son of man. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Luk 21:34  “Be careful not to spend your time having parties and getting drunk or worrying about this life. If you do that, you won’t be able to think straight, and the end might come when you are not ready.
Luk 21:35  It will come as a surprise to everyone on earth.
Luk 21:36  So be ready all the time. Pray that you will be able to get through all these things that will happen and stand safe before the Son of Man.” (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Luk 21:36 Watch out and keep praying that you can escape all that is going to happen and that the Son of Man will be pleased with you. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

This (Luke 21:36) is the second verse of six passages given in the Facebook article that I shared. There was much discussion of the author’s appeal to the Church Fathers, but no discussion of the six Bible verses presented at the end of the article. These are not necessarily the verses I would have chosen in support of the Pretribulation Rapture of the Church. Nevertheless, these are instructive verses, so I am sharing them here.

When I compiled the cross references for Luke 21:36 for The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, this was one of the few Bible verses for which I manually searched for and found all its “reciprocal references.” Reciprocal references are those verses elsewhere in the Bible which have a cross reference to Luke 21:36.

Dig deeper by studying the cross references shared below from: 

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: 

Luke 21:36
Watch: Luk 12:37, 38, 39, 40; Mat 24:42, Mat 25:13, Mat 26:41; Mrk 13:33, Mrk 13:37; 1Co 16:13; 2Ti 4:5; 1Pe 4:7, 1Pe 5:8

pray: Luk 18:1; Job 27:10; Act 10:2; Eph 6:18, 19; Col 4:2; 1Th 5:17

accounted: Luk 20:35; 2Th 1:5, 6

stand: Psa 1:5; Mal 3:2; Eph 6:13, 14; 1Jn 2:28; Jud 1:24

The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: 

Luke 21:36
Watch. *Luk 12:37, 38, 39, 40; Psa 127:1; *Pro 8:34; +*Mat 24:42; *Mat 25:13; Mat 26:41; *Mar 13:33; Mar 13:37; Mar 14:34, 35, 36, 37, 38; Act 20:31; 1Co 16:13; 1Th 5:6; 2Ti 4:5; Heb 13:17; 1Pe 4:7; 1Pe 5:8; Rev 3:2; Rev 3:3; *Rev 16:15

pray always. *Luk 18:1; Job 27:10; Psa 40:1; Act 10:2; *Eph 6:18; Eph 6:19; *Col 4:2; +*1Th 5:17

accounted worthy. *Luk 20:35; +*Zep 2:3; *Mat 10:37; Mat 21:28; +✓Col 1:10; ✓2Th 1:5; 2Th 1:11; *2Ti 4:8; *Tit 2:13; Heb 9:28; or, prevail. Luk 23:23; Hos 12:4; Jas 5:16

to escape. Gen 19:29; Psa 32:6; Psa 32:7; Psa 37:38, 39, 40; *Psa 71:2; *Psa 83:3; +*Psa 94:13; Pro 3:25; Pro 3:26; +*Pro 11:8; Pro 14:26; Isa 4:2; *Isa 16:1, 2, 3, 4, 5; +*Isa 26:20; +*Isa 57:1; Jer 11:11; Jer 15:21; Jer 44:14; +*Joe 2:32; +*Ob 17 mg. +*Hab 3:16; +*Zep 2:3; *Mal 3:17; +*Mat 6:13; Rom 2:3; +*1Th 1:10; 1Th 5:3; Heb 2:3; +*Rev 3:10

stand. Ezr 9:15; +*Psa 1:5; Psa 76:7; +*Pro 22:29 n. Jer 15:19; Jer 35:19; Jer 40:10; +*Dan 1:5; Dan 7:10; +*Dan 12:13; *Mal 3:2; Eph 6:13; Eph 6:14; *1Th 2:19; 1Jn 2:28; *Jud 1:24; Rev 6:17

before. Isa 24:23; Hos 6:2

Son of man. +Luk 5:24

The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury: 

Luke 21:36
Watch. *Luk 12:37, 38, 39, 40, Deut 11:16, Neh 4:9, Psa 127:1, *Pro 8:34, +*Mat 24:42; *Mat 25:1; *Mat 25:13; Mat 26:41, *Mrk 13:33; *Mrk 13:37; Mrk 14:34, 35, 36, 37, 38, Act 1:7 note. Act 20:31, 1Co 1:7; 1Co 16:13, Col 4:2, +*1Th 1:10; 1Th 5:6, 2Ti 4:5, Heb 12:15; *Heb 13:17, 1Pe 4:7; 1Pe 5:8, 2Pe 3:13, 1Jn 2:3 note. Rev 3:2-3; Rev 4:1 note. *Rev 16:15.

pray always. *+Luk 18:1; Luk 22:46, Neh 4:9, Job 27:10, Psa 40:1, +*Dan 6:10, Hab 3:2, Act 6:4; Act 10:2; Act 17:11, *Eph 6:18; *Eph 6:19, *Col 4:2, +*1Th 5:17.

accounted worthy. Luk 13:24; *Luk 20:35; %+Luk 23:23 (prevailed). Psa 50:23, +*Zep 2:3, *Mat 10:37; Mat 21:28; +*Mat 21:43; Mat 22:8, Act 5:41, Php 3:11, +**Col 1:10, 1Th 2:12, **2Th 1:5; **2Th 1:11, 1Ti 5:17; 1Ti 6:19, 2Ti 2:15; *2Ti 4:8, *Tit 2:13, *Heb 9:28; Heb 12:15, 2Pe 3:13, Rev 2:28; Rev 3:4. or, prevail. Luk 23:23, Hos 12:4, Jas 5:16.

to escape. Gen 19:29, Exo 12:13, 2Ki 2:10, Job 21:30, Psa 32:6, 7; Psa 37:38, 39, 40; *Psa 71:2; *Psa 83:3; +*Psa 94:13; +*Psa 116:4, Pro 3:25, 26; +*Pro 11:8; Pro 14:26, Isa 4:2; *Isa 16:1, 2, 3, 4, 5; +*Isa 26:20; +*Isa 57:1, Jer 11:11; Jer 15:21; +*Jer 30:7; Jer 44:14, +*Joel 2:32, +*Oba 1:17 mg. +*Hab 3:16, +*Zep 2:3, *Mal 3:17, +*Mat 6:13, Act 2:40, Rom 2:3; **Rom 5:9, *1Co 10:13, +*1Th 1:10; 1Th 5:3, Heb 2:3, 2Pe 2:9, +*Rev 3:10; Rev 7:3.

stand. Gen 41:46, +Deut 10:8, *Jdg 20:28 note. +*1Ki 10:8; 1Ki 17:1, 1Ch 6:32, 33; 1Ch 6:44, Ezr 9:15, +*Psa 1:5; Psa 50:3, 4, 5; Psa 76:7; Psa 134:1, +*Pro 22:29 note. Jer 15:19; Jer 35:19; Jer 40:10 mg. +*Dan 1:5; Dan 7:10; +*Dan 12:13, Zec 3:1, *Mal 3:2, Mat 25:31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, Eph 6:13, 14, *1Th 2:19, Heb 10:11, 1Jn 2:28, *Jud 1:24, Rev 6:17; Rev 7:9.

before. +**Isa 24:23, Dan 7:13, Hos 6:2, Amos 4:12, Mat 10:32.

Son of man. +Luk 5:24.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #943, Revelation 3:10

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Rev 3:10  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (KJV)

Rev 3:10  Because you have obeyed my command to endure, I will keep you safe during the time of testing which is coming to the whole world to test those living on earth. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Rev 3:10 `Because thou didst keep the word of my endurance, I also will keep thee from the hour of the trial that is about to come upon all the world, to try those dwelling upon the earth. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Rev 3:10 Because you kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep you out of the hour of trial which is going to come on all the habitable world in order to try those dwelling on the earth. (LITV, Literal Translation of the Holy Bible)

Rev 3:10 You obeyed my message and endured. So I will protect you from the time of testing that everyone in all the world must go through. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, *I* also will keep thee out of the hour of trial, which is about to come upon the whole habitable world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Darby Translation)

My Comment:

From the above translations of Revelation 3:10 the attentive reader can see that even Bible translations are divided about whether the promise in Revelation 3:10 is a promise to be kept safe during the Great Tribulation or to be kept entirely out of the Great Tribulation.

Those who believe in the Pretribulation Rapture of the Church affirm that the promise for the Church is to be kept entirely out of the Great Tribulation. This is a major Bible text that supports this view.

I understand that the Greek grammar underlying our English translations very much favors the ” kept entirely out of” the Great Tribulation view.

I have in my print library a book by Gerald B. Stanton titled Kept from the Hour: Biblical Evidence for the Pretribulational Return of Christ (Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1964. 320 pages). This book is the doctoral thesis of Gerald B. Stanton. It goes into more depth on the subject than popular works written for the mass market of general readers do.

This is Part 1 of a short series I intend to write on the subject of the Pretribulation Rapture. I intend to dig deeper into this subject than I have in previous posts here about Bible prophecy. This means I expect serious readers to carefully read and study what I present. I welcome comments on my posts here. Feel free to submit them.

This series arises from an Internet post I shared recently on Facebook. The post attracted more responses than most of what I share on Facebook. I am writing to emphasize the Bible basis for belief in the Pretribulation Rapture. I am using the Bible verses cited in the Facebook post. The post began, however, with citations from Church Fathers who allegedly believed in the Pretribulation Rapture. I do not go by what the Church Fathers have to say. Sometimes they are right. Sometimes they are wrong. Quite often they appear to be contradictory.

Because the Bible is not written in the form of a systematic theology, what it teaches about a subject is not usually confined to a single passage of Scripture. More often, to learn what the Bible has to say about a subject, we must consult all the passages in the Bible about that subject. Cross references are links to related passages of Scripture. I will share my cross references and notes for each important verse that pertains to the Pretribulation Rapture. I will present the references given in the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, followed by the more complete references given in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury.

Dig deeper by consulting the cross references given below for Revelation 3:10 from:

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: 

Revelation 3:10
the word: Rev 1:9, Rev 13:10, Rev 14:12

I also: Mat 6:13, Mat 26:41; 1Co 10:13; Eph 6:13; 2Pe 2:9

all: Mat 24:14; Mrk 14:9; Luk 2:1; Rom 1:8

to try: Isa 24:17; Dan 12:10; Zec 13:9; Jas 3:12; 1Pe 4:12

The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury: 

Revelation 3:10
hast kept. Rev 3:8, Psa 19:11; +*Psa 119:8; +*Psa 119:44; +*Psa 119:67, Pro 16:17, *+Jhn 17:6, Php 4:1, +*1Ti 1:19; %*1Ti 4:1; 1Ti 4:2, 2Ti 4:7, Jas 1:27.

the word. Rev 1:9; Rev 13:10; Rev 14:12.

of. FS181E, +Gen 3:24.

my patience. or, endurance. Gr. hupomonē (S# G5281, Luk 8:15). +Rev 1:9; Rev 2:2, 3; Rev 2:19; Rev 13:10; Rev 14:12, Psa 39:7, 8, Mat 10:22; Mat 24:13, +Luk 8:15; *Luk 21:19, Rom 2:7; Rom 5:3, 4; Rom 8:25; +*Rom 15:4; +*Rom 15:5, 2Co 6:4, 1Th 1:3, 2Th 3:5, Heb 10:36, 37; *Heb 12:1; *Heb 12:2, Jas 1:3, 4; Jas 1:12; Jas 5:7; Jas 5:11, *+1Pe 1:6; *+1Pe 1:7.

I also. *Pro 1:10; *Pro 3:25; *Pro 3:26; +*Pro 4:23, +*Mat 6:13; *Mat 26:41, +*1Co 10:13, *Eph 6:13, Heb 2:18, *+2Pe 2:9.

will keep. Gr. tēreō (S# G5083, Mat 19:17). Gen 19:28, 29, +*Exo 12:13, +*1Sa 2:9, Psa 12:7; *Psa 17:5; +*Psa 32:7; Psa 91:8; *Psa 94:18; Psa 121:8 note. *Pro 2:8, +*Isa 26:20; Isa 33:16; +*Isa 57:2, Hab 3:16, Zep 2:3, +**Luk 21:36; Luk 22:31, 32, Jhn 17:11, 12, Act 21:13, +*Rom 5:9, +*1Co 10:13, Col 1:13, 1Th 5:9.

from. Gr. ek, lit. out of. Some who favor a posttribulational rapture of the church understand the primary force of this preposition to mean “out from within” (Robert Gundry, The Church and the Tribulation, p. 55). Gundry asserts “the preposition ek appears in John’s writings approximately 336 times, far more often than in the writings of any other NT author. There is not a single instance where the primary thought of emergence, or origin, cannot fit, indeed, does not best fit the thought of the context. Surely the invariability of meaning in such a high number of occurrences establishes the Johannine usage” (p. 57). Gundry’s unexamined universal assertion is not supported by a careful examination of the particular instances. We have met this claim for a universal meaning for ek in other connections, and fully proved by the citation of specific instances, that ek may sometimes mean not “out of,” as from within, but from, as here (Act 8:39 note). J. B. Smith points out that if ek means “out of,” in the sense of being preserved in the hour of temptation, applying this construction to the acclaimed parallel in Jhn 17:15, “shouldst keep them out of (the evil one),” the words “would really mean safe in the evil one, that is, safe in the devil. Thus the absurdity of such an interpretation becomes apparent” (Comm. on Revelation, Appendix 10, p. 333). A much more satisfactory parallel is **Jhn 12:27, which, taken with its parallels (Mat 26:38, Mrk 14:36, Luk 22:42, Jhn 18:11, Psa 42:5, 6) proves that, when Jesus in his human nature prayed “Remove this cup from me,” and the parallel or equivalent request, “Save me from this hour,” he was not praying to be spared during the hour, but to be kept from it, which settles the meaning of the expression here. Rev 7:14, Psa 27:5; Psa 32:6; Psa 37:19; Psa 41:1, Pro 7:5; Pro 14:3, Mrk 13:13, Luk 11:4; >Luk 21:36; Luk 22:40, Jhn 5:24; **+Jhn 12:27; **+Jhn 12:32; Jhn 13:4; Jhn 14:3; Jhn 17:15 g. +*Rom 5:9, 2Co 1:10, +*1Th 1:10; 1Th 4:16, 17, 2Th 3:3, Jas 1:27, 2Pe 1:10; 2Pe 2:9.

the hour. Rev 2:10; Rev 14:7; Rev 14:15, Psa 41:1, Luk 22:53.

of temptation. or, trial. Gr. peirasmos (S# G3986, Heb 3:8; this is the only occurrence in Revelation), anything that tends to cause to swerve from the right, either in feeling or action, whether an allurement, prophecy of evil, threat, persecution, or an affliction (see Luk 4:13; +*Luk 8:13; Luk 22:28; Luk 22:40; Luk 22:46; Act 20:19; 1Co 10:13; Gal 4:14; 1Ti 6:9; 1Pe 1:6; 1Pe 4:12); It is so styled because it is a trial, a test, of faith or the spirit of obedience. The hour of temptation (testing) is doubtless that special period referred to, 1Pe 4:12, and by our Lord, Mat 24:21, 22; (a period both of testing and of punishment—primarily, however, of the former). This special period, be it observed, is distinguished from the period of ordinary peirasmoi referred to 1Pe 1:6, and Mat 24:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. It is to be observed that the promise is not of preservation in trial, as was the promise to Peter, Luk 22:32; but preservation from (ek) the hour or period of trial (compare 2Pe 2:9). The idea of this promise seems to be, that as the Philadelphians had continued steadfast throughout the period of ordinary testing, they were to be exempted from those extraordinary peirasmoi which were to come upon the world (E. R. Craven in Lange). Rev 2:10, +*Deut 4:34; Deut 7:19; Deut 29:3, +*Dan 12:1, Zep 1:14, 15, 16, 17, 18, Mat 6:13; **Mat 24:21; **Mat 24:22; **Mat 24:24, Mrk 14:38, Luk 11:4, 1Co 10:13, 1Pe 1:7.

come upon. Rev 6:1; Rev 7:14; Rev 8:7, *Dan 7:21; *Dan 7:25, **2Th 2:8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

all the world. Gr. oikoumene, +Mat 24:14, The use of this phrase shows this testing is not to be confined to “an hour of trial or tribulation upon the churches of John’s day” (Dake), for no such world-encompassing tribulation occurred in John’s day. Rather, this time of testing “may be equated with the tribulation yet to come,” which proves that the Philadelphian church, “as well as the other churches, is representative of the church universal” (J. B. Smith, Comm. on Revelation, p. 88). Rev 12:9; Rev 13:3; Rev 13:8; Rev 16:14, +Mat 24:14, Mrk 14:9, Luk 2:1; Luk 4:5, Act 17:31, *Rom 1:8; Rom 10:18, Heb 1:6.

to try. or, test. Gr. peirazō (S# G3985, Heb 2:18). Rev 2:2; Rev 2:10; Rev 9:20, 21; Rev 16:11; Rev 16:21, *Isa 24:17, +*Dan 11:35; *Dan 12:10, *Zec 13:9, *Mrk 13:13; *Mrk 13:19, Jhn 6:70, Heb 11:17, *Jas 1:3; *Jas 1:12, *1Pe 4:12.

that dwell. Rev 6:10; Rev 8:13; Rev 11:10; *Rev 12:12; *%Rev 13:6; *Rev 13:8; *Rev 13:12; *Rev 13:14; Rev 14:6; Rev 17:2; Rev 17:8, Isa 24:17, Mrk 5:3, Act 4:26, %Heb 11:13.

upon the earth. +*Rev 6:10, Zep 1:14, 15, 16, 17, 18, Jhn 1:10; Jhn 16:33, %Php 3:20, %1Th 1:10.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #942, Acts 2:32

Posted on April 27, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Acts 2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (KJV)

Acts 2:32 I mean Jesus whom God raised from the dead, to which fact we are all witnesses, (Williams NT)

My Comment:

I made reference to Acts 2:32 in my previous post.

This post, it is my purpose to give the cross references for the clause, “whereof we all are witnesses” by printing out the full text so that anyone can see by reading this collection of verses that the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is a major, if not central theme, in the New Testament:

whereof we all are witnesses

Acts 2:24
24  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
King James Version

Acts 1:8
8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
King James Version

Acts 1:22
22  Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
King James Version

Acts 3:15
15  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
King James Version

Acts 4:20
20  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
King James Version

Acts 4:33
33  And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
King James Version

Acts 5:31
31  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
King James Version
Acts 5:32
32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
King James Version

Acts 10:39-41
39  And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40  Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41  Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
King James Version

Acts 13:31
31  And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.
King James Version

Luke 24:46-48
46  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48  And ye are witnesses of these things.
King James Version

John 15:27
27  And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
King James Version

John 20:26-31
26  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
King James Version

1 Corinthians 15:4
4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
King James Version

1 Corinthians 15:15
15  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
King James Version

Hebrews 13:20
20  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
King James Version

1 Peter 1:21
21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
King James Version

1 Peter 5:1
1  The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
King James Version

1 John 1:2
2  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
King James Version

There are many more verses which relate to this important central theme of the New Testament, but those I have selected and presented above abundantly demonstrate the point that the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Third Day was the subject of the original Apostolic witness to Christ, and must be the central theme of our witness today if we are to be true to the command of Christ in Acts 1:8.

Any ministry which does not include this Bible theme as a central, major part of their teaching is false to the Scriptures and disobedient to our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

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Short Version of my Three Questions

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Jerry

 

I ask JW’s 3 questions: (1) Why did Jesus come? (2) What did the original apostles give witness to? (3) What is meant by bodily resurrection and is it necessary to believe?

Where the answers are found:

Question 1 = Luke 19:10

Question 2 = Acts 2:32 and its cross references

Question 3 = Romans 10:9

Link to the long version:

Three Questions

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