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.

The Order of Resurrection

²⁰ But the fact is, Christ ^(A)has been raised from the dead, the ^(B)first fruits of those who ^(C)are asleep. ²¹ For since ^(D)by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For ^(E)as in Adam all die, so also in ^[a]Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ ^(F)the first fruits, after that ^(G)those who are Christ’s at ^(H)His coming, ²⁴ then comes the end, when He hands over ^(I)the kingdom to our ^(J)God and Father, when He has abolished ^(K)all rule and all authority and power.

The Mystery of Resurrection

⁵⁰ Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that ^(A)flesh and blood cannot ^(B)inherit the kingdom of God; nor does ^[a]the perishable inherit ^[b](C)the imperishable. ⁵¹ Behold, I am telling you a ^[c](D)mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be ^(E)changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for ^(F)the trumpet will sound, and ^(G)the dead will be raised ^[d]imperishable, and ^(H)we will be changed.

⁶ Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that ^(A)while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— ⁷ for ^(B)we walk by faith, not by ^[a]sight— ⁸ but we are of good courage and ^(C)prefer rather to be absent from the body and ^(D)to be at home with the Lord.

¹⁰ And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, ^(A)two men in white clothing stood beside them, ¹¹ and they said, “^(B)Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who ^(C)has been taken up from you into heaven, will ^(D)come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

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.