Note 1 at 1 Th. 4:13: Ignorance is one of Satan's primary weapons against us. The apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 1:3, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." Any person with a pure heart will be set free through knowledge that reveals God's truth (Jn. 8:31-32).

Note 2 at 1 Th. 4:13: Paul is giving instruction to those who have experienced the death of a believing loved one. He states clearly that the purpose of this instruction is to keep them from sorrowing like unbelievers who have no hope.

One of the most painful things about experiencing the death of a loved one is the thought of never seeing that person again. It all seems so final; there are all the things you said that you wish you could take back and all the things you wish you would have said but didn't. But that is not so for the Christian.

Paul reveals that all the dead in Christ shall rise first and then we who remain will be reunited with them for eternity (vv. 16-17). This is comforting (see note 16 at v. 18, p. 1240). Understanding this makes death for the Christian, nothing more than a long separation.

For the person who is not a believer, this is not so. It is true that Christian and non-Christian alike will be resurrected, but the non-Christian will be banished from God and everything which causes pleasure for all eternity. It is not clear from this side of eternity exactly what this torment will be, but isolation will likely be a part of it.

Note 3 at 1 Th. 4:13: Paul is not saying that it is wrong for Christians to have sorrow over people they love who have died. He is saying we shouldn't sorrow "even as others which have no hope" (unbelievers). It is normal to miss the people we love but the Christian's hope of being reunited with those people in the resurrection greatly diminishes the pain and actually gives comfort.