and we'll be looking at chapter four. And we're going to conclude tonight the brief series on Christian grief. Having seen that grief is a reality for the believer and is to be embraced, in John chapter 11, we saw the grief of two genuine disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, Mary and Martha, and we saw the grief and sorrow of our Lord Jesus Christ himself over the death of his disciple and friend Lazarus. And we saw that that grief is also a reality to be embraced by the whole congregation. We are to weep with those who weep in Romans 12 and verse 15. We come now to see how believers are to grief. in 1 Thessalonians 4, and particularly verses 13 and 14, but the other verses I'll go over as well. And it says in verse 13, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. By way of introduction to Thessalonians, brief introduction, the apostle Paul has written to the Thessalonians a very personal, encouraging and joyful letter in Thessalonians 1-3. He thanks them. He reminds them of his prayers for them, his longing to see them and more. His joy over them, these desires to see them and be with them openly laid out for all to see and read. It's only in chapter 4 that the Apostle begins to exalt them. He deals with abstaining from sexual immorality, as we read in 1 Thessalonians 4, verses 3 to 8. He encourages them to continue and increase more and more in their expressions of brotherly love and righteous living, particularly before those who are outside the church. In 1 Thessalonians 4, verses 9 to 12. In 1 Thessalonians 4 and verse 13 and following, the apostle begins to deal with ignorance concerning believers who have died. but I do not want you to be ignorant, Brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep or died." One says about this ignorance, he says, the phrase is very weighty and marks how lamentable such a piece of ignorance would be. It's like the Corinthians were doubting the resurrection of the dead, when we saw how effective, how infective, and how disturbing that would be in the light of the whole faith would be undermined. We will see, God willing, the apostles' concern for the Thessalonians. Secondly, his instruction. And thirdly, God willing, some conclusion. So firstly, the apostles' concern for the Thessalonians, there in 1 Thessalonians 4 and verse 13. I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. He did not want them to be ignorant, The Apostle is still speaking on behalf of his fellow laborers there in Thessalonians 1 and verse 1 particularly. Thessalonians 1 and verse 1. Paul, Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. expresses his loving concern for the Thessalonians in this statement. He did not wish them to be ignorant concerning those who had fallen asleep. But this concern, as I suggested just briefly in the introduction, was a concern that he always showed towards these, his beloved Thessalonians, just back in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 17, chapter 3 and verse 3. Verse 17 of chapter 2 of 1 Thessalonians 1. But we, brethren, having been taken away from you in a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavor more eagerly to see your face with great desire, Therefore we wanted to come to you, even I Paul, time and again, but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? This is a big issue. This is a big issue for them to be assured of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and them to be present with nothing undermining it, verse 20, for you are our glory and joy. Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone and sent Timothy our brother and minister of God and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith. that no one should be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this." And there in verse 10. Night and day and praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith. The Apostle then shows this great concern. He wanted to visit them again, to instruct them in the things they were lacking, having been separated from them. So we'll just come to that in Acts 17. He's lying to be with them again, that he may instruct them in the things they were lacking in their faith. Perhaps This in one Thessalonians 13 and following. What had crept in, their discomfort, their sadness at the proposition that they would not see their loved ones anymore. Perhaps it's in this that they needed further instruction. They were ignorant concerning those who have fallen asleep. But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren. Ignorance, as we know it, has to do with not knowing, not knowing. The apostle wants the Thessalonians to know and not to be ignorant. This bothered him, this concerned him, concerning fellow believers who had died. especially, as I said earlier, in the light of the instance in Acts 17 and verse 2 to 10. If we just turn to Acts 17, the note verses 2 to 10, Acts 17. Acts 17, go from verse 1. Now when they had passed through Amphilicum and Apollyon, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went into them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, this Jesus whom I preach to you is Christ. And some of them were persuaded, and a great multitude of devout Greeks, and not few of the leading women joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not persuaded become envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace and gathered them up, set all the city in uproar, and attacked the house of Jason and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them. And these are all acting contrary to the decree of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus. And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. So we get the picture. This was a troubled situation that they had left the church in. In the light of this, where the apostles teaching, particularly in that, if you notice, of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, there at Thessalonica, in the middle of that teaching, it was cut short. The apostles had to leave this infant church in a hurry. So perhaps it was this unfinished business concerning the resurrection, the teaching of the resurrection that Paul needed to finish that are brought about this in verse 13 of chapter four of 1 Thessalonians, but I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep. It's perhaps this unfinished business. I say that because we need to note how the apostle Paul joins the ignorance of the loss of these loved ones, brethren, who have died with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just note there in 1 Thessalonians 4 and verse 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus. He brings these two things together. Again, to seek to undergird the resurrection of the dead. Remember, we saw that in 1 Corinthians, a very similar thing in 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians 15, from verse 12. Now, if Christ is preached, that he is not raised from the dead, how do some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God because we have testified of God, that he raised up Christ, whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead do not rise. But if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile. You are still in your sins. Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we have all men most pitiful. So we see that it's a similar thing here. Perhaps this unfinished business the apostle now needs to instruct them further. Perhaps this is what led to them being destabilized by false teaching, by their own thinking, whatever it was. The doctrine of the resurrection, whatever way, is under attack at Thessalonica as it was at Corinth. The apostle concerned was that his brethren, the Thessalonians, were ignorant concerning those who had died. And he wants them to know the truth and not be deceived or remain ignorant. His concern was ignorance, but more. The Apostle's concern was not just ignorance, but the effect of ignorance. And that's the problem in the Church and in society today. Ignorance is one thing, but ignorance does not remain alone. It's his effect, the effect upon the Church, the effect upon society. The Apostle is concerned about ignorance. But more, the apostle's concern is about the effect of ignorance. Lest you sorrow, he says. Ignorance concerning the resurrection of the dead, concerning their loved ones who have died, brings sorrow. Or so that you should not sorrow. He doesn't want them to sorrow. He doesn't want them to be grieved. That's what sorrow is about. The word sorrow has to do with then distress. It is being grieved. It is the pain of grief that many of us are feeling and have been feeling over the past few years and months and days. It is deep grief. Experiencing deep emotional pain And sorrow. We have this grief, this sorrow in Matthew's gospel. And chapter 17, Matthew's gospel chapter 17 and verse 23. Matthew 17 and verse 23. And they will kill him. Remember, he's talking about the Lord predicts his death and his resurrection. And they will kill him. And on the third day, he will be raised up. And they were exceedingly sorrowful. You can imagine the sorrow. Jesus is telling them that they will be killed. And the third day, you'll be raised up. But they didn't realize that. We know that. The sorrow engulfed them. And then also Matthew 26, verses 37 and 38. Matthew 26, 37 and 38. And he took with him Peter, the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful. and deeply distressed. And he said to them, my soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me. Remember there in the garden, prior to our Lord's death, he was deeply sorrowful. This is the word used here. The apostle then was concerned, lest they should sorrow. Not that they should not grieve their losses. As we have seen, our Lord experienced grief. He was grieved at Mary and Martha and Lazarus and others. We have seen the corporate grief, the weeping, the sorrow that we are to show for all those who are affected by death and other sorrows. We saw that in Matthew John 11 and Matthew Romans chapter 12. We saw that. And we see it just then in Matthew 26 and verse 37, our Lord's own grief. So grief is natural, a natural human emotion to be embraced by believers. We saw all of that. Our Lord embraced it. The disciples of Christ embraced it. And here the apostle does not discourage grief. He's not doing that. But clearly clarifies his concern. It isn't just sorrow. In verse 13, less you sorrow as others who have no hope. That is the clarification. Sorrow is natural. Grieving is natural. Deep grieving is natural, but lest you sorrow as others who have no hope." He does not want them to grieve like others. And he doesn't mean like any other natural grieving of a person. But the grief and the type of person grieving, he does not want them to emulate is the grieving, the sorrow, as others who have no hope. That is the clear clarification. Now when the Apostle says others, he means the rest, others, as we know. Those remaining, apart from them, the rest. He is speaking of the type of grieving, those who grieve outside of the church. Those not having hope is the original layout. And we see that even in our text in chapter 4, it says that each you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification, honor, not in passion and lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God. They have no hope because they do not know God. So he's speaking about Gentiles, non-Jews, but more so unbelievers. Those outside of the church have no hope. No matter how strong they appear, no matter how confident they appear, no matter how they seem to ride their distresses, they have no hope. And hope here means expectation. It means trust. It means confidence. Expectation of what is sure and certain that can only be grasped by faith. He did not want the Thessalonians, his brethren, to return or remain in this case, to that mindset, that situation before salvation. He didn't want them to go back to that mindset before they were saved, with no hope, or remain in ignorance with no hope concerning their dead, believing loved ones, such as in Ephesians 2 and verse 12, Ephesians 2 and verse 12, that at that time you were without Christ, being alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. That is a person's position without God, without salvation through Jesus Christ. No matter what you have in this world, you have no hope. The grave always looms and no prospect of returning from the grave in a positive way. He didn't want them to go back there or remain there. He wanted them to maintain the hope particularly of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Remember in 1 Peter 1 and verse 21. 1 Peter 1 and verse 21. Who through him, believing God, who raised him from the dead, Christ, and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. God raised up Christ from the dead and that gives us hope in God. The only hope that sustains us, the only hope that lasts, the only hope that would lift us from the depths of the sorrow that the world faces. And so the apostle says, He wants them to maintain the hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And so, the hope of the resurrection and coming again and seeing again of those dead in Christ. He wants them to maintain this hope. The apostle wanted the Thessalonians to continue to stand firm then in their gospel foundation. As we've seen before, in 1 Corinthians, the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the hope of Him returning from glory with those who die in Christ. Verse 14, for we believe that Jesus died and rose again. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him those who sleep. And it's similar, again, to what we saw. He wants to undergird their faith, the things they believe. He reminds them. He's in re-instructing them. Remember what we saw in that 1 Corinthians 15, verses one to four. 1 Corinthians 15, verses one to four. Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preach to you. which also you receive, and in which you stand, what is the gospel, by which you also are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached you, unless you believe in vain. For I deliver to you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scripture, and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scripture, verse 12. Now if Christ is preached that he is risen from the dead, how do some among you say there is no resurrection from the dead? He's reminding them of what they believe. Somehow they have not put it together. They were ignorant, they had not realized the things they had been instructed, even though this was a fledgling church and the apostle was taken away and not like the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 15, but nonetheless, there was unfinished business, but they were disturbed as the Corinthians were disturbed. So there we see the apostles concern for this church. They're Thessalonica. Secondly, the instruction of the apostle. The apostle reminds the Thessalonians again, as he did to the Corinthians, of their faith, their own gospel hope, and that of all believers, that Jesus Christ died and rose again. Verse 14, for if we believe, If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus. He reminds them. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, he says then, even so, and that can be translated in this way, in this manner, as Jesus died and rose again, in this way, in this manner, like this, as I have said, in this way also, God will bring with him those who sleep. In other words, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a guarantee that those who die in Christ will come again with him, will be raised from the dead. That is, those who have died in Christ will be raised. Matthew, Paul says they sleep in Jesus as the text speaks. Not only alive, but die in Him. They're alive in Him, but they die in Him, as even physically symbolized in baptism. But here they live in Christ and they die in Christ. In other words, as in life, so in death, they remain in that union with Jesus Christ. Our loved ones remain in that union with Jesus Christ. There is nothing that can separate them from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. Not even death, nor life, nor principalities, nor powers, nothing. Nor height, nor death, nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ. Jesus. Those who are deaf, who rest from their labors in the Lord. Revelation 14 and verse 13. It is those who have died in the Lord he is speaking about here. Genuine Christians but they have died in the Lord. He's not talking about being asleep. Remember some get mixed up there when he speaks in verse 14. We believe that Christ died and rose, even so God will bring with him those who sleep. People get mixed up with this sleeping. But if you turn to 1 Corinthians 11 verse 30, it's obvious that he's talking about death. 1 Corinthians 11 and verse 30. For this reason, Remember there was disrespect in the Lord's Supper. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep." They had died. And also remember that we saw before in John's Gospel, chapter 11, and verse 11, where the same word is used, John's Gospel, chapter 11, where the same word, sleep, is referring to death, and verse 11. These things he said, our Lord. And after they said to them, our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up. And then the disciples said, Lord, if he sleeps, he will get well. However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought he was speaking about taking a resting sleep. And some believe that. that this is just a nap. But no, this is death. So those who live and die in Christ will return with Him, according to our text. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him, with Christ, the same God that raised Christ from the dead, will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. Those who live and die in Christ will return with Him, it's sure, when Christ returns to judge the world and take His people. Remember the purpose of this instruction is to remove ignorance or the effects of ignorance. which you do when you remove ignorance, its effects disappear. And also to give comfort to those who are unduly disturbed about the loss of their loved ones, their brethren in Christ. It's clear in verse 18. Therefore, 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 18. Therefore comfort one another with these words. The encouragement is, though their brethren have died, as they also will die in Christ, Christ will bring with Him all those that have died in Him. It is through Christ, His death and His resurrection that they will pass from this life. into death, into glory, through what Christ did, and so by His resurrection they will return with Him. They will be brought with Him, they will be carried with Christ. We see this great picture of unbroken unity with Christ. Unbroken, death may have broken it for us, And the body may be in the grave, but it's regarding this union, this unbroken union with him. Christ died and rose again. And importantly, we know that he rose, he died and rose again, and he ascended to heaven. In Acts 1 and verse 9, they saw him ascending to heaven. and is at the right hand of the Father's glory. So not only have we been told that the dead rise, but we've been told something else, that they go to be with the Lord. Because it's obvious that Jesus comes from heaven. Look at verse 14. For if we believe that Christ died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus. He died and rose again and ascended to heaven at the right hand of the Father. So it's obvious that where he is coming from, of where he is coming from, he's coming from heaven. And those who died in Christ Jesus are equally coming from heaven too. Just note in our text in verse 16, for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with the voice of an archangel, with the trump of God and the dead in Christ will rise, but from heaven. We note the same thing in 1 Thessalonians 1, where Christ is coming from and where our brethren who have passed away will be coming from. Verse 10 of 1 Thessalonians 1 and chapter 1. And to wait for the sun, from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. And 2 Thessalonians 1 and verse 7. And to give you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed, where from? From heaven, with his mighty angels. It's clear. Not only will they be resurrected, but it's also telling us that they will come from heaven. Those coming with Christ will come from heaven. And they are coming as they went to heaven, not in the perfection, but the spirit leaves the body, the soul leaves the body. As they went to heaven, without their bodies, according to that text, 1 Thessalonians verse 16. If you notice it, chapter 4 and verse 16, 1 Thessalonians 4 and verse 16. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with the shout and with the voice of an archangel and with the trump of God. Remember, they're already with him in verse 14. With the trump of God and the dead in Christ will rise. He's coming from heaven, the dead in Christ are coming from heaven. Their bodies are still in the grave. And he calls them from the grave of a mighty shout of an archangel. Those who come with Christ then, as many places in the scripture seem to indicate, those who come with Christ must be, as we have seen before, the spirits of just men made perfect. Turn to Hebrews chapter 12. Hebrews chapter 12 and not verses 22 to 24. But you have come not to Mount Zion, the old, the Sinai, where the law was given, the fire and the noise, but you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God. the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the judge of all, and no, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of So we're speaking about the soul of a believer and death goes to be with the Lord and shall return with the Lord. But the apostle continues his encouragement in this instruction, his teaching, in his instruction to their ignorance and to comfort the Thessalonians. and us, he reminds them that the spirits of their just brethren will be reunited to their now glorified bodies and that there will be a glorious reunion in the air. And it seems to me that that reunion will be before we together return to heaven's glory to be forever with the Lord. Note verses 16 to 17 of 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with the shout and the voice of an archangel and with the trump 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. Remember again in 1 Corinthians 15, verses 50 to 53, that encouraging passage, 1 Corinthians 15, and verse 50 to 53. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, For the trump will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Remember John's gospel in chapter 14. These are all encouragements to us, dear brethren. John's gospel, chapter 14 and verse three. The Lord is speaking, pastors open this text. And if I go, and if I go and prepare a place for you, no, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am there, you may be also. This unbreakable union with Christ and his people. So let me quickly conclude. My dear brethren, particularly those who are torn with grief over the many we have lost. Our brothers, our sisters, our mothers, our fathers, our children, our uncles, aunties, grandparents, great-grandparents who die in the law. We have this blessed hope that we will see each other again. That's for sure, in glory. That there will be this glorious reunion in the air with our Lord and them together. We will not precede them but enter heaven's glory together after this reunion. And then when meeting in the air you can imagine all of us together the great procession together into heaven's paradise to be together forever with the Lord. You see, with this Christian hope that the apostle was established here and in Corinthians and other places, with this Christian hope, we cannot grieve or sorrow as those without hope. Those who do not have this hope because they're not in Christ. If we believe that Christ died and rose again, then we must believe he will bring with him those who sleep in him because of the union that cannot be broken not by death nor any other created thing. With this knowledge, 1 Thessalonians 4 and verse 14, With this knowledge, a note in verse 15 of 1 Thessalonians 4. With this knowledge, for this we say to you by the word of the Lord. With this knowledge, as revealed in the Holy Scripture, the word of the Lord. With this knowledge, and also not just the Lord, the apostle of the Lord, we cannot sorrow. as the world outside. For revealed to us in the Scriptures and testified to us by the inward influence of the Holy Spirit, the helper, the comforter, the paraclete is the great comfort with which we are to confront and help and comfort each other in the Lord. Verse 18 of 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. Therefore comfort one another with these words. We can't remain in this depressive, unhopeful state because we will be reminded and should be reminded and encouraging and consoling and comfort one another with these facts from the Scriptures. We have a tremendous hope. We cannot grieve. Sometimes we see Christians who just never get over the loss of their loved ones, even if they're in Christ, because of their personal attachment to them, because they've been taken away from them. It's far better for them to die and be with Christ, to be with the Lord and to be on earth. But we have this attachment, a sentimental attachment, and we grieve. because we cannot have that union. Well, here is the comfort, we will have that union. It's guaranteed. There's no break in the union of Christ and his people, even though death comes. And therefore we are to comfort ourselves with the scriptures and comfort one another. But a word to my unbelieving friends, those watching on Zoom, you need to sorrow. You need to sorrow for your sins against God. I said this morning, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. You need to sorrow for your sin. Ask God to show you your sin and repent. And you need to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because when Jesus Christ returns, it will be for judgment for you. Not like the believer. Not this glorious reunion and procession into heaven with their Lord and Savior, but for judgment. And after judgment, hell and not heaven. All in the grace, everyone, believer or not, will hear the voice of Jesus Christ. But the resurrections will be completely different. Note John's Gospel, Chapter 5. The Gospel of John, Chapter 5, and verses 28 to 30. John's Gospel, Chapter 5, verses 28 to 30. Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming. in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth. Those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation. Judgment. That's what it speaks about. Judgment and hell. There are many passages that refer the same. Daniel 12 and verse 2. 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 12. But just look at Hebrews 9 and verse 27 to realize the urgency. For you, my unbelieving friends. Hebrews chapter 9. And note verse 27. Hebrews 9 and verse 27. and as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this, the judgment. After this, the judgment. So was Christ offered once, to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. That is your hope. Christ is coming, but man has once to live on this earth, and then the judgment This life is all that you have, my dear friends. And then an eternity in misery, in torment, and not this glorious expectation of reunion with our loved ones. Some of you may say, well, if my loved ones have gone to hell, then I don't want to be there also. But you don't realize, you see, if they were in hell, they wouldn't want you to be there. They wouldn't want you to be there. They'd be saying, listen to the gospel, because we didn't listen. Turn to Luke's Gospel, Chapter 16. Luke's Gospel, Chapter 16. I'm just going to read two verses. The picture is the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man is in hell, the heat of hell, and Lazarus is ascending to heaven with Abraham. But note verses, Luke's Gospel, Chapter 16, but note verses 27 and 28 of Luke's Gospel, Chapter 16. 16, verse 27. This is the rich man speaking. In hell, in the flames of hell, we torment. Then he said, I beg you therefore, father, Abraham, that you would send him, Lazarus, to my father's house. For I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment. My friends, if you've lost loved ones, I don't know where they've gone, no one knows. They may surprise you, they may be in heaven. Remember the feet on the cross in the 11th hour. You mustn't presume because of that we have hope. But if they were in hell, they would not want you there. And therefore to avoid hell and to have this blessed hope and assurance of seeing our loved ones who are true believers in Christ in heaven. to be part of that meeting, reunion in the air, and an eternity in paradise to be forever with the Lord. To do that, you need to listen. Listen to the word. A rich man never listened. His brothers wouldn't listen. You need to listen. And Jesus says, repent and believe the gospel. Repent of your sin against God and believe on Jesus Christ for the saving of your soul. May God add his blessing to his word. Amen.