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1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
The Comfort of Christ's Coming
 Back (The Rapture)​
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
NKJV


One of the areas of life where the Thessalonians Christians either had a lack of faith or  just needed reassurance about was  the issue of life after death. They kept seriously pondering the question when Jesus came back for the church, would they reunite with loved one who had professed their salvation in Jesus Christ and had since fallen asleep (died). Paul had taught throughout the Church age to prepare for the imminent return of Jesus Christ at any moment. In Thessalonica, the members of that growing,  persecuted church began to become overly concerned about the future of their deceased loved one. They eagerly awaited for Jesus to come, especially in the midst of the fierce persecution they were under by the many enemies of the Christian faith, to the extent that the apostle had heard that the Thessalonians continued to mourn over their dead like the pagans did in general over their dead relatives but , like the pagans having no hope of the resurrection of the body. The church members had been puzzled concerning the doctrine of the resurrection and were having a hard time grasping its meaning. To set them straight and ease their concerns on this important subject, The Apostle Paul wrote to this church and addressed the issues concerning the resurrection of the body from the grave. He delivers three important truths in his letter:

​1. He emphasizes, as he had done many times before, that they who died in the Lord should have, by the virtue of Christ's resurrection, a resurrection unto eternal life and blessedness. That is, as Jesus said in John 14, He would one day return to retrieve those of the church who were truly HIS that believed the gospel message. and exemplified that in the way they lived while waiting for His return. 

2. He shares with them a "secret", a new discovery, that the believers who live in the last days (the time of Jesus' return) will not die at all, but be in a moment changed from being mortals (humans) to immortals. Paul shared with them the same message he shared with the Corinthian church:

"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O  Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord". (1 Corinthians 15:51-58)
NKJV

3. He then adds another mystery that, those who be living at the time of the Jesus' return will not not die, but will be instantly transformed, with those who were deceased first being raised from their graves, and  together meeting the Lord in the air now made glorious and immortal.

Their blessed hope concerning their saved loved one was they shall meet them in the air with the Lord and they shall go home to glory together!
 




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The "Roman" Road to Salvation:
 First you must acknowledge that you are indeed a "sinner"
Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God"

Many a person had sought to be justified, or approved, by God; but all of us had failed. Many have sought to live under works of the Law, yet have since discovered the Mosaic Law could not secure a person's soul for eternal life with God.

And because you are a sinner, there is no way you can save yourself...and the end result of the sin life is death.
Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD"....

It is said the servant is worthy of his hire, and that servant feels it to be their due or right to be paid for the work they have done. They simply want their just due. Well...God lets us know that death is the payment, the pay off, the just due for a life of sin. The person who lives their life by sin's standards will receive the just due of sin: "DEATH".
 
Death means ultimately their soul is lost for eternity. First, they will go to hell- the place in the underworld reserved for the wicked. Second, Revelation 20: 11-15 reveals a Great White Throne judgment where the sinner will one day appear where they stand before God in judgment to give account of everything they ever did, thought of said when they were alive. Books will be open, then the Book of Life will be opened. If their names are written in the Book of Life, they are then cast into the Lake of Fire eternally separated from God and tormented day and night. 

THE GIFT OF GOD." God's Amazing Grace reigns in the bestowal of grace, that is a chance for the sinner to be reconciled and return to a right relationship with our God that 's "in Jesus Christ our Lord." That gift is eternal life through accepting Jesus Christ as their lord and personal Savior. the Apostle Paul in Romans 10: 1-10 makes this appeal to the Hebrews: 

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them." But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?" (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach); that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto "salvation."
Salvation is in Jesus Christ alone!

This Ministry website is both educational and inspirational. All of the "works" contained on this site regardless of the Authors are "Bible" based, "Christ" centered, "Holy Spirit" led and "Evangelistic" in mission.   

As the songwriter wrote: "Come on over here...the table is spread...and the feast of the Lord is going on"...  I pray that each article blesses each visitor enriching, educating and enlighten you.  Feel free to use the topic discussion board to post the topics you want me to research and discuss. 

I'm extremely excited about this site because I believe many will be blessed and some will be compelled to confess salvation in Jesus Christ. I pray each of you gain valuable insight and sufficient information to take back to your field of ministry.
Please keep this site in your prayers that God will truly and clearly minister his word to you , giving helpful and encouraging topics and biblical messages designed to help you along the Christian road of this life.  

Website Disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted, all articles written from this website are the personal property and ministry of Rev. Dr. William Edward Boddie, founder of "God's Word in Exposition" and those contributing writers of various other sermon and biblical teaching materials. 
All who browse this website may do so freely and as often as you wish. Duplication of, or transference of any article appearing on this website in whole or in part to another article or website without expressed consent of Rev. Dr.William Edward Boddie or the author of other articles, etc.. constitutes plagerism and copyright infringement both of which are subject to the enforcement of all applicable copyright laws in a court of law. Neither I nor any contributing author have  jurisdiction concerning duplication of any Bible passages. This disclaimer only concerns the content surrounding them. You may use brief excerpts of any articles written from this website for the purpose of quotation, as long as you give me and the other authors proper writer's credit for said excerpt.
Please out of respect for the ministry work I must ask that you limit the number of quotes you use from these articles to short paragraphs as they represent over 34 years of my ongoing personal ministry work  and academic research from my time spent in 2 seminaries, my pastorate, teaching, lectures, as well as other ministerial and community involvement. Please treat and respect the works on this site in the same manner you would wish me and others to treat your work
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Questions, comments and biblical topical suggestions are welcome! For all prayers and correspondences
You can reach me @ [email protected]. [email protected], 

 Yours in the Love and Spirit of Jesus Christ,

​Rev Dr. William Edward Boddie


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