Paul giving a lesson on "where are the people that have passed on (died)?". Was partly misunderstood by the church of Thessalonia, so Paul hastily wrote 2 Thessalonians to correct any misunderstandings in this first letter (mainly the misunderstanding of a pre-trib rapture that 2Thess2 is directly targeted at correcting).

[1Thess 4:1] Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

that = in order that.

more and more = the more.

"Try and correct all your little shortcomings, and make sure you don't stop trying and making repentance." This is how you correct shortcomings - by repentance in Christ's name..

[1Thess 4:2] For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

know = (oida) to know (intuitively), to understand.

[1Thess 4:3] For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

sanctification = (hagiasmos) See Rom 6.19.

abstain = (apechomai) See Acts 15.20.

[1Thess 4:4] That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

every = each.

his = his own.

"You know how to control yourselves, but we still slip and fall. We just need to repent, and get back to work!"

[1Thess 4:5] Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

concupiscence = lust, desire.

Gentiles = Gentiles, also.

The passion of the lust of the flesh (physical and spiritual).

[1Thess 4:6] That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

of = concerning.

testified = See Acts 2.40.

Interesting that this matter of fraud is brought up in the same chapter that "the lie" is based and taught from.

[1Thess 4:7] For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

God's Word teaches us the way to Christ, not the way to antichrist.

[1Thess 4:8] He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

despiseth = (atheteo) See John 12.48.

us = you (talking to those called).

Holy Spirit = (pneuma hagion) diving power (the gift, not the giver). The gift is the gift of understanding - and then being able to follow God's plan.

Those that despise the Word of God do not despise man, but God Himself.

[1Thess 4:9] But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

brotherly love = (philadelphia) See Rom 12.10.

"When it comes to brotherly love, I don't have to teach you about that." This group was a very loving and compassionate group.

[1Thess 4:10] And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

"Don't ever slack off in the Love, and teaching the Love of God - the Word." Don't be afraid to associate with others.

[1Thess 4:11] And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

study = (philotimeomai) desire to study, strive to learn.

be quiet = (hesuchazo) See Luke 23.56.

do... = "attend to your own affairs". Cp 2Thess3.11.

"Mind your own business and set a good example in the community."

[1Thess 4:12] That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

honestly = (euschemonos) See Rom 13.13.

them that are without = Cp. 1Cor5.12,13, Col4.5.

Talking about those that are without Christianity. Set for the non-Christians a good example of how a real Christian lives.

[1Thess 4:13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

I = we.

asleep = (koimaomai) dead.

others = the rest. (non-Christians).

not = no.

Paul introduces a new topic in this verse that will be the subject of the next six verses. The subject is "where are the dead?". Paul had learned that this group at Thessalonia was teaching that when a person died that the soul remained in the ground until Christ arrived. Paul wants to set this church straight and inform them of where the soul of man goes when the flesh body ceases to function.

"don't be sorry about the death like the heathen are." Paul is giving comfort on this issue.

The subject: where the souls of the dead are. The object: The dead people themselves. Do not get off this subject like the pre-trib rapture teachers do - the subject is not "the rapture of the saints". This church of Thessalonia mistook these next 6 verses as well and Paul hastily (within several weeks) wrote 2 Thessalonians to correct their misinterpretation (2Thess2 deals with the pre-trib rapture misunderstanding).

[1Thess 4:14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

even so them also = so (we believe) also that them.

sleep = are fallen asleep. (i.e. flesh death)

in Jesus = through Jesus.

in...Him = "God will through Jesus bring with Him."

Notice that we are addressing the saints that have passed-on in this verse.

[1Thess 4:15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

prevent = (phthano) go before. See Rom 9.31.

asleep = i.e. the already dead (physically). See Ecc 12.7.

we = i.e. those that are alive in the flesh body at the time of the second advent of Christ.

What this verse is saying is that those that are alive in the flesh body at the second advent of Christ will not precede those people that have already died in the flesh (because they are already with Christ).

1Cor15.51+ gives the time frame of Christ's second advent - at the last trump (which is event Rev 19:11-16 of the 7th trump). The 7th trump occurs after the tribulation of fake jesus.

[1Thess 4:16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Because = (hoti) because.

shout = (keleusma) word of command.

trump = (salpigx) trump. See 1Cor15.52. This is the last trump, not the first trump. The last trump is after fake jesus' short reign. See Rev 11.8-15.

dead in Christ ... = The dead in Christ have risen first because they are already with Him in heaven. Paul is stating this is a very simple manner.

[1Thess 4:17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Then = (epeita) thereafter. I.e. after the 7th (the last) trump blows. Trump is symbolic of action.

caught up = (harpazo) to seize.

the clouds = clouds. Figure of speech for a large group of people - commonly used at that time. Not talking about physical "clouds of vapour" in the sky. It is documented that Paul spoke "street Greek". He used this word "cloud" to describe a group of people meeting together. Another example of Paul's use of "cloud" is in Hebrews 12.1. Paul was a Hebrew scholar, not a Greek scholar. It is easy to confuse this with a physical "cloud" because of the misunderstood word "air" in this verse. This is the primary reason Paul hurriedly sent them his second letter of the Thessalonians - because some people misunderstood this and believed in the lie.

air = (aer) the air (as in the "breath of life"). This word does not mean "sky" for the word for sky in the Greek is "ouranos" as used in Luke 9.58, Matt 8.20. This word has reference to the spiritual body that we will all be changed into when the true Christ returns to earth. Christ arrives at the conclusion of the 7th trump when in a "wink of an eye" we will all be changed (all people - not just Christians). 1Cor15.51-53.

[1Thess 4:18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Wherefore = so then.

These words were meant to be a comfort to people who wanted to know where the dead go. The subject was never "how we gather to Christ", as is so mistakenly and widely taught by the so-called "men of God" across the world.

Remember that this letter was Paul's response to the Thessalonians because several of the Church's members believed that the "dead" were still in the grave, slowly rotting away. Unfortunately, this church misunderstood this chapter, and Paul had to send 2Thessalonians hastily to tackle the "big lie (2Thess2:11)" (a pre-trib rapture) which had been circulating in Church: the belief that Christ would come at "any moment" - instead of the structure of God's Word.

The danger in the "any-moment" doctrine is that it sets one up to worship Satan in his role as imitation-Jesus, because the fake jesus arrives on the earth first (2Thess2:8-9). Those who know the True Word will escape the temptation of worshipping the fake jesus because the elect will not find him tempting - but repulsive. They will know that it is just borrowed power and borrowed time until the True Christ arrives.

The "any-moment" doctrine is "the big lie" and tragically will lead to many innocent souls going down the path of destruction and possible spiritual death (if not in ignorance). Most churches continue to teach this doctrine because it leaves the impression of "I don't need to know the Word, but I will make it into God's good standing if I just believe in Christ" attitude in the minds of congregations around the world - i.e. so the churches won't thave to do work and know the real Truth (it's not a priority - filling the pews are). It's unfortunate that the Christ that they teach and will ultimately worship that "raptures" (an easy escape) them away is a disguised Satan (and fallen angels of Jude) who is allowed by God to borrow His power for a short period (Rev 9:4).

In a large part, the "any-moment" doctrine is part of the mark of the beast (666 - Rev 13.18) which is in (not on) the minds (foreheads) of those caught in the web of false men of God and false teachers of the Word around the globe. See all of Ezek 13 to see what God thinks of these false teachers. See also Matt24 - Christ's response to these false teachers/preachers that have a sole basis in materialism and emotionalism in their pulpits (but no Truth of the Word of God).