Bible Study
December 19, 2025
1 Thessalonians 4:14 – 15 (CSB)
14 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.”
“Taken Away”
Many people believe Jeus was a real person and we who believe have faith in His Word. Paul is saying “if we believed”. The crux of Christianity was born of a virgin, lived on this earth for thirty-three years, healed people, forgave sin, died on a cross, shed His blood and in three days he rose again (in bodily form) ate with His followers and rose to be with God our and His Father.
It takes for faith for an atheist, the agnostic to not believe in God. Faith after all is trust in the unseen. A basic element is believing in what isn’t fully visible or proven, like God’s promises or a future outcome.
Paul says if we believe then we believe He is returning as He promised, the dead will be raised up, the living at the time will join Him and those dead (asleep) in Christ and the church will be raised up into heaven. This is the rapture of the church. See some references in John 14:1-3 and 1 Corinthians 15:51 – 58.
If we want to experience this new life in Him then we must believe and accept His offer of forgiveness while we are still alive. There is no such thing as “praying” people into heaven. The sole way to join is to be forgiven of the sin in our lives by making a personal decision.
Many people do not understand the ‘rapture” of the church since the word “rapture” does not appear in the scriptures. But there is strong evidence of the Jesus return and those who sleep will be raised and along with those who are alive will be taken up into heaven where our fate is sealed for eternity.
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 