Literal Or Figurative Resurrection? (1st Thessalonians 4:13-18) James Flanders

http://contentcourt.com/profile/144/j... Just as there are people like me who believe in Bible prophecy yet to be fulfilled, there are others (and it seems to be a growing group) who are downplaying prophecy in Scripture. Especially what a lot of folks call the rapture or the snatching away... being caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. They see it as something that has either already taken place in some mysterious way, or they say that when Paul wrote about it in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 that he was not speaking about a literal event, but instead he was talking about something figurative. But as you read the passage in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4, which I will share with you in a few moments, Paul is speaking about people who have literally died (not figuratively died) and he is trying to bring literal encouragement and literal comfort to people who are experiencing literal grief... real life grief over the death of people they love. As he does this, he is speaking about a resurrection to come. The dead in Christ being resurrected from the grave and at the same time those believers who are alive and remain being caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. I'm not sure how a figurative event could be meant to bring comfort in regard to literal death and literal grief. "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." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV) Here's how it's worded in the Concordant Literal New Testament: "Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are reposing, lest you may sorrow according as the rest, also, who have no expectation. For, if we are believing that Jesus died and rose, thus also, those who are put to repose, will God, through Jesus, lead forth together with Him. For this we are saying to you by the word of the Lord, that we, the living, who are surviving to the presence of the Lord, should by no means outstrip those who are put to repose, for the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall be rising first. Thereupon we, the living who are surviving, shall at the same time be snatched away together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And thus shall we always be together with the Lord. So that, console one another with these words." Think about it. In a world filled with literal death, what hope and comfort would we have if the resurrection is not a literal event? What about the rapture (snatching away)? Thank you for visiting, James Flanders prophecy in the Bible http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-This-All...