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NASB | Matthew 7:21 ¶ "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 7:21 ¶ "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. |
Subject: Are all Christians going to heaven? |
Bible Note: Greetings Appleseed! Those refered to as "asleep" in this passage are those who have literally died in Christ. In 1 Thess. 4 and 5, Paul is dealing with various issues. The issues breakdown in the following way: 1) 1 Thess. 4:1-8: Sexual Purity 2) 1 Thess. 4:9-10: Brotherly Love 3) 1 Thess. 4:11-12: Quietness of Life 4) 1 Thess. 4:13-18: Rapture of the Church 5) 1 Thess. 5:1-11: Second Coming of Christ 6) 1 Thess. 5:12-28: Final Instructions The passage you have been referring to (1 Thess. 4:13-18) is Paul's attempt to correct some false teaching that the Thessalonicans had received. There were some who had falsely taught that those who had died previous to the return of Christ would miss out on the blessings of His return. Paul corrects this teaching by pointing out that those "who are asleep" would actually go in the Rapture before those who are alive. The word translated "those who are asleep" is the Greek word 'koimao.' It is used 18 times in the New Testament. In 13 of it's occurances, it obviously refers to physical death. Mt. 27:52, Acts 7:60, 13:36, 1 Cor. 7:39, 11:30, 15:6, 15:18, 15:20, 15:51, 1 Thess. 4:13, 4:14, 4:15, and 2 Peter 3:4. The other 5 occurances refer to physical sleep, though two of these are used symbolically in reference to Lazarus. Mt. 28:13, Lk. 22:45, John 11:11, 11:12, and Acts 12:60. The context makes it clear that physical death is referred to in this passage. The are not to sorrow or grieve as those who have no hope. For just as Christ died and rose again, so God will raise those who have died in Him. So this passage does not refer to Christians who are asleep in their walk with Christ, but to Christians who are literally dead. I hope this helps! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |