¹³ “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,^[a](A) coming^(B) with the clouds of heaven.^(C) He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. ¹⁴ He was given authority,^(D) glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him.^(E) His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom^(F) is one that will never be destroyed.^(G)

Believers Who Have Died

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed^(A) about those who sleep in death,^(B) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.^{(C) 14} For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,^(D) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.^{(E) 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,^(F) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(G) 16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(H) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(I) and with the trumpet call of God,^(J) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(K) 17} After that, we who are still alive and are left^(L) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(M) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(N) forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another^(O) with these words.