The Second Part.
Vers. 13. But I would not have you bee ignorant, Bre∣thren, concerning them which are asleep, that yee sorrow not, even as others which have no hope,
The second part of the Chapter containeth matter of consolation against the immoderate mourning for the death of friends, which hee disswades them from by two Arguments.
Arg. 1. Immoderate mourning belongs to Heathens and Infidels, who have no hope of the resurrection: Therefore immoderate mourning doth not become you.
Vers. 14. For if wee beleeve that Iesus died, and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Iesus, will God bring with him.
Arg. 2. How certain soever wee beleeve that Christ is risen from the dead, so certainly wee may also know that the faithful dead in Christ shall rise again, and bee presented alive in the company of Christ at the day of judgement: Therefore yee must have a care of immode∣rate mourning.
Vers. 15. For this wee say unto you by the word of the Lord, that wee which are alive, and remain unto the comming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep.
That this consolation may bee strong, by revelation from the Lord, hee fore-tells the manner of the com∣ming of Christ, and the resurrection; which is contained in these six Articles.
Artic. 1. The faithful that are alive at the comming of Christ, shall not prevent the resurrection of those that are dead in Christ.
Vers. 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from Hea∣ven with a shout, with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the Trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
Artic. 2. Christ shall descend from Heaven with all his Angels.
With the voice] Artic. 3. The manner of his com∣ming shall bee with much expression of authority and majesty, for as the chief Judge hee shall command by his authority, that every element give up their dead, from whereupon all the dead shall bee gathered together to his Tribunal, but his command shall bee promulged by some chief Angel, the Trumpet shall sound, or a voice in stead of a Trumpet, and the sound shall bee heard in all places where the dead are to bee raised.
And they] Artic. 4. The dead in Christ shall arise, before the living shall bee changed.
Vers. 17. Then wee which are alive and remain, shall bee caught together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air; and so shall wee ever bee with the Lord.
Artic. 5. The faithful that are alive at the comming of the Lord, being changed suddenly, in a moment, in the twinckling of an eye, from mortality to immortality, shall bee caught up together with the Saints that are rai∣sed, to meet the Lord in the Air.
And so] Artic. 6. The Saints after judgement shall go with the Lord into Heaven, and shall remain with him to eternity. Hee speaks nothing concerning the Repro∣bates, because consolation doth not pertain to them; nei∣ther concerning them, when they dye, can any comfort bee taken.
Vers. 18. Wherefore comfort one another with th••se words.
Hee applies a Prophecy to the use of the Thessalonians, that from the Resurrection every Beleever should seek comfort in his grief, and also should administer it to o∣ther Beleevers.