¹⁵ According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,^(A) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(B) 16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(C) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(D) and with the trumpet call of God,^(E) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(F) 17} After that, we who are still alive and are left^(G) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(H) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(I) forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another^(J) with these words.

³⁰ “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth^[a] will mourn^(A) when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven,^(B) with power and great glory.^{[b] 31} And he will send his angels^(C) with a loud trumpet call,^(D) and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

³² “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.