The Coming of the Lord

¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, ^(A)that you may not grieve as others do ^(B)who have no hope.

² And many of those who ^(A)sleep in ^(B)the dust of the earth shall ^(C)awake, ^(D)some to everlasting life, and ^(E)some to shame and everlasting contempt.

^10 (A)who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

¹⁵ For this we declare to you ^(A)by a word from the Lord,^[a] that ^(B)we who are alive, who are left until ^(C)the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

¹⁸ Then those also who ^(A)have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If in Christ we have hope^[a] in this life only, ^(B)we are of all people most to be pitied.

¹² remember ^(A)that you were at that time separated from Christ, ^(B)alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to ^(C)the covenants of promise, ^(D)having no hope and without God in the world.

^4 (A)They will say, “Where is the promise of ^(B)his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

⁶⁰ And ^(A)falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ^(B)“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, ^(C)he fell asleep.

¹¹ Then he said to me, ^(A)“Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and ^(B)our hope is lost; ^(C)we are indeed cut off.’