The Comfort of Christ’s Coming
13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 4:13 Jr 14:19; Eph 2:12; 1Th 1:314 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose 4:14 Lk 18:33 again, 4:14 Rm 14:9,15; 1Co 8:11; 15:3–4; 2Co 5:15 in the same way, through Jesus, 4:14 Jn 14:19; Rm 8:11; 1Co 6:14; 15:18–20; 2Co 4:14; Php 1:23 God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: 4:15 2Pt 1:21; Rv 11:8 We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming 4:15 1Jn 2:28 will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 4:15 1Co 15:5116 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, 4:16 Or command, 4:16 Jn 5:25 with the archangel’s 4:16 Jd 9 voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ 4:16 Rm 16:7; 1Co 15:18; 1Pt 5:14; Rv 14:13; 20:5 will rise first. 17 Then 4:17 1Co 15:23,51–52 we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds 4:17 Mt 26:64 to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage 4:18 Or comfort one another with these words.