^12 (A)that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

¹³ But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen ^[a]asleep, lest you sorrow ^(B)as others ^(C)who have no hope. ¹⁴ For ^(D)if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him ^(E)those who ^[b]sleep in Jesus.

¹⁵ For this we say to you ^(F)by the word of the Lord, that ^(G)we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are ^[c]asleep. ¹⁶ For ^(H)the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with ^(I)the trumpet of God. ^(J)And the dead in Christ will rise first. ^17 (K)Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them ^(L)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus ^(M)we shall always be with the Lord. ^18 (N)Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Our Final Victory

⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that ^(A)flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a ^[a]mystery: ^(B)We shall not all sleep, ^(C)but we shall all be changed— ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. ^(D)For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and ^(E)this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ^(F)“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and ^(H)the strength of sin is the law. ^57 (I)But thanks be to God, who gives us ^(J)the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

^58 (K)Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing ^(L)that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.