I did not copy all of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 I left out some words. These; “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
The demonstration of our incomplete understanding of the resurrection was not meant to discourage or confuse anyone. Those comments were given so that we would not be overly confident in what we think.
“The Bible reveals some things to us that are “hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16). We recognize some of these things in our experience, but when we try to define or explain their essential nature or how they actually work, we find ourselves utterly perplexed.” Quote for Jon Bloom
I quote here the words of Jon Bloom because it is a realist expression of what we might discover during our studies.
And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
What we know and what we think we know does not matter in the eternal and only has a momentary encouragement in this time of life. We have not entered into His Sabbath Rest.
What we lust after only matters now.
Isaiah 26:9 My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
Why isn’t learning righteousness enough? Why do we think we need to understand everything perfectly?
Perhaps it is hidden in our innermost emotions that says knowing righteousness does not make us righteous. Or once again is our understanding of righteousness imperfect?
1 Corinthians 7:7 I wish that all were as I myself am.
Who among us has read Paul’s words of his personal desires and made them our own?
We should want what God has made us to be and be encouraged that He is not done yet. What that might be is not for anyone else to say.
What does our soul yearn for in the night?