Verse 11-12

• “And” – Continuing from where we left off last week. This has to do with Gods will and how we possess our vessels.

• “Study to be quiet” – Strive, make it your aim to be, be ambitious about it. The opposite of this is found in 2Thess 3:11-12, 1Tim 2:2 –“They lead a quiet life” (not meddlesome, mind their business)

• “Do your own business, work with your own hands” – “If a man doesn’t work he shouldn’t eat” comes from the scripture – 2Thess 3:10.

i. Paul setting the example – 2Thess 3:9, 1Thess 2:9, 1Cor 4:11-12, Acts 18:3, 20:34.

ii. Different instructions than those expecting to enter the kingdom – Luke 12:22-31 cf 1Thess 4:11-12, 2Thess 3:10-12 .

• “As we commanded you” – One of the commandments of Paul – 1Thess 4:2

• “That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without “ – Rom 12:1….. By living and working among them, and by not being blasphemed or accused of unrighteousness and bringing accusations on the church.

• “That ye may have lack of nothing” - Paul taught that we should provide for our own – 1Tim 5:8…. Further evidence of the dispensational change from Jesus earthly ministry to Paul. Here it is work to provide…. in MMLJ it is have faith in God to provide – Luke 12:31.

Verse 13-15

• “I would not have you to be ignorant” – When it comes to the Bible, ignorance is a choice – 1Cor 14:38….Rom 11:25, 1Cor 10:1, 12:1,

• “Concerning them which are asleep” – Here the topics is about those who are dead – John 11:11-13, Acts 7:60, 1Cor 15:6,8, 2Pet 3:4

• “That ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” – As Christian’s, we should not sorrow over the dead the same way as the lost because we know we have the hope of resurrection unto eternal life, this is our hope of glory – Rom 8:18,23-25, Eph1:18, Tit 1:2,3:7

• “Verse 14” – Our hope is in Christ and his resurrection – 1Cor 15:12-24.

• “Even so” – Our life is in Christ – Rom 6:3-4,8

• “Bring with him” - Because the dead rise first.

• “This we say by the word of the Lord” – Not simply something Paul is making up

• “We which are alive and remain shall not prevent them which are asleep” – Christ doesn’t just come back for the living but the dead also because he will resurrect them.

Verse 16-17

• “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven” – Christ is the one who has power to resurrect – here he descends, but not all the way to the earth – (Vs 17)

• “With a shout” - The idea is one giving a shout like a captain would to his sailors.

• “The voice of the archangel” - Perhaps the one doing the shouting – Michael – Jude 1:9.

• “The trump of God” – 1Cor 15:52

• “The dead in Christ rise first” – This why those that are currently asleep in Jesus will be brought with him in vs 14….. In Christ -Eph 1:13-14,4:30

• “Then…. We which are alive and remain” – After the dead are raised.

• “Shall be caught up together in the clouds… in the air” – Because that is where our position is – Eph 2:6, Col 3:14, Phil 3:20-21.

• “So she’ll we ever be with the Lord” – Our eternal destination, our hope of glory.

• “Verse 18” – The resurrection is our hope and comfort – (Rom 8:18) This is our hope and should give us comfort knowing there is life after death. The dead in Christ do not stay dead as others who have no hope.