Psalm 70 / I Thessalonians 4:13-18

Hold onto your hats! This passage in I Thessalonians 4:13-18 is bound to surprise. It has to do with death, what happens after we die, and what our ultimate state of being will be.

It will be very important, as you read these verses, to know that Paul uses a verb (koimaomai) that means “to fall asleep” where our English translations use “to die” — verses 13, 14, and 15. Try reading it this way. For example, in verse 13: “…But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep…”.

How does this change your understanding about what happens after we die?

Consider the often-used phrase, “Rest In Peace.” How does “falling asleep” align with this? Consider the often-used substitutes for dying — “He passed on,” “She passed away,” or simply, “They passed.”

Paul’s understanding is that, when we die, we do not, “Go to heaven,” right away. We go to sleep.