“我们就要和主永远同在。” – 帖前 4:17
死后我们的灵魂会怎样？ 历代历世以来，很多人对我们死后的命运曾提出很多看法，但圣经怎样说呢？
旧约圣经说，我们死后，我们的躯体会归于地，但我们的灵魂会归于神（传道书 12:7）。而在这处的新约经文，使徒保罗用在基督里“睡了”去形容信徒的死亡（参考哥林多前书 15:20；7月26日）。有些基督徒说，我们死亡时，我们是在一个“灵魂睡觉”的境况 – 但那个说法可能不是最贴切的描述。而且耶稣在十架上曾对那贼人应许：“今日你要同我在乐园里了”（路加福音 23:43）。
此外，使徒保罗还在帖撒罗尼迦前书第4章中提出一个应许，它形容圣经其中一个有关主再来的最引人注目的埸景。在天使长的呼叫声和吹号的响声中，主耶稣会从天堂降临。所有属耶稣的人会从死里复活，而仍活着的人会被招聚到衪那里。
在这里保罗提供了一个不可磨灭和永恒的应许：“我们就要和主永远同在。”有了这个保证，我们便可以充满希望和彼此劝慰了。
祷告
亲爱的耶稣，虽然那未知何时会发生的死亡是我们每一个人都要面对的现实，然而我们感谢你永远不会离开或抛弃我们。阿们。
帖撒罗尼迦前书 4:13-18
13论到睡了的人，我们不愿意弟兄们不知道，恐怕你们忧伤，像那些没有指望的人一样。
14我们若信耶稣死而复活了，那已经在耶稣里睡了的人，神也必将他们与耶稣一同带来。
15我们现在照主的话告诉你们一件事：我们这活着还存留到主降临的人，断不能在那已经睡了的人之先。
16因为主必亲自从天降临，有呼叫的声音和天使长的声音，又有神的号吹响，那在基督里死了的人必先复活，
17以后我们这活着还存留的人必和他们一同被提到云里，在空中与主相遇；这样，我们就要和主永远同在。
18所以，你们当用这些话彼此劝慰。
Soul Sleep?
“We will be with the Lord forever.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:17What happens to our souls when we die? Across the ages, many people have offered ideas on our destiny after death. But what does the Bible say?The Old Testament says that when we die, our
What happens to our souls when we die? Across the ages, many people have offered ideas on our destiny after death. But what does the Bible say?
The Old Testament says that when we die, our bodies will return to the earth but that our souls will return to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7). And here in the New Testament the apostle Paul describes death for believers as being “asleep” in Christ (see also 1 Corinthians 15:20; July 26). Some Christians have suggested that when we die, we are in a state of “soul sleep”—but that may not be the best way to describe it. There’s also the promise from Jesus to the thief on the cross: “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
In addition, the apostle Paul provides a promise in 1 Thessalonians 4, describing one of the most striking scenes in the Bible about the Lord’s return. With the shout of the archangel and the blast of a trumpet, the Lord Jesus will descend from heaven. All who belong to Jesus will be raised from the dead, and the living will be gathered to him.
And here Paul supplies an indelible, eternal promise: “We will be with the Lord forever.” With this assurance we can be filled with hope and encourage one another.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, although the unknown moment of our death is a reality for each of us, we give thanks that you will never leave or forsake us. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
