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.

^58 (A)Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in ^(B)the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

^9 (A)The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but ^(B)is patient toward you, ^(C)not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.