¹⁷ Then ^(A)we who are alive, who remain, will be ^(B)caught up together with them ^(C)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always ^(D)be with the Lord.

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “^(A)Do not let your heart be troubled; ^[a]believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many ^[b]rooms; if that were not so, ^[c]I would have told you, because ^(B)I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, ^(C)I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that ^(D)where I am, there you also will be.

Those Who Died in Christ

¹³ But ^(A)we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who ^[a](B)are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed ^(C)the rest of mankind do, who have ^(D)no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, ^(E)so also God will bring with Him ^(F)those who have fallen asleep ^[b]through Jesus. ¹⁵ For we say this to you ^(G)by the word of the Lord, that ^(H)we who are alive ^[c]and remain until ^(I)the coming of the Lord will not precede ^(J)those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord ^(K)Himself ^(L)will descend from heaven with a ^[d](M)shout, with the voice of ^(N)the archangel and with the ^(O)trumpet of God, and ^(P)the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then ^(Q)we who are alive, who remain, will be ^(R)caught up together with them ^(S)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always ^(T)be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore, ^[e]comfort one another with these words.

⁵¹ Behold, I am telling you a ^[a](A)mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be ^(B)changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for ^(C)the trumpet will sound, and ^(D)the dead will be raised ^[b]imperishable, and ^(E)we will be changed. ⁵³ For this ^[c]perishable must put on ^[d](F)the imperishable, and this ^(G)mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ But when this ^[e]perishable puts on ^[f]the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “^(H)Death has been swallowed up in victory.

⁹ For they themselves report about us ^[a]as to the kind of ^(A)reception we had with you, and how you ^(B)turned to God ^(C)from ^[b]idols to serve ^[c](D)a living and true God, ¹⁰ and to ^(E)wait for His Son from ^[d]heaven, whom He ^(F)raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who ^(G)rescues us from ^(H)the wrath to come.

¹⁹ For who is our hope, or ^(A)joy or crown of pride, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His ^[a](B)coming? Or is it not indeed you? ²⁰ For you are ^(C)our glory and joy.

^11 (A)Now may ^(B)our God and Father ^(C)Himself, and our Lord Jesus, ^(D)direct our way to you; ¹² and may the Lord cause you to increase and ^(E)overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; ¹³ so that He may ^(F)establish your hearts ^(G)blameless in holiness before ^(H)our God and Father at the ^[a](I)coming of our Lord Jesus ^(J)with all His ^[b]saints.

Those Who Died in Christ

¹³ But ^(A)we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who ^[a](B)are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed ^(C)the rest of mankind do, who have ^(D)no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, ^(E)so also God will bring with Him ^(F)those who have fallen asleep ^[b]through Jesus. ¹⁵ For we say this to you ^(G)by the word of the Lord, that ^(H)we who are alive ^[c]and remain until ^(I)the coming of the Lord will not precede ^(J)those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord ^(K)Himself ^(L)will descend from heaven with a ^[d](M)shout, with the voice of ^(N)the archangel and with the ^(O)trumpet of God, and ^(P)the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then ^(Q)we who are alive, who remain, will be ^(R)caught up together with them ^(S)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always ^(T)be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore, ^[e]comfort one another with these words.

²³ Now ^(A)may the God of peace ^(B)Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your ^(C)spirit and soul and body be kept complete, ^(D)without blame at ^(E)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.