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God’s message regarding those who have died

13-17 Now we don’t want you, my brothers, to be in any doubt about those who “fall asleep” in death, or to grieve over them like men who have no hope. After all, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again from death, then we can believe that God will just as surely bring with Jesus all who are “asleep” in him. Here we have a definite message from the Lord. It is that those who are still living when he comes will not in any way precede those who have previously fallen asleep. One word of command, one shout from the archangel, one blast from the trumpet of God and the Lord himself will come down from Heaven! Those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise, and then we who are still living on the earth will be swept up with them into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And after that we shall be with him for ever.

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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.

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