⁶ Jesus answered, “I am^(A) the way^(B) and the truth^(C) and the life.^(D) No one comes to the Father except through me.^(E)

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,^(A) the firstfruits^(B) of those who have fallen asleep.^{(C) 21} For since death came through a man,^(D) the resurrection of the dead^(E) comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.^{(F) 23} But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits;^(G) then, when he comes,^(H) those who belong to him.^(I)

⁵¹ Listen, I tell you a mystery:^(A) We will not all sleep,^(B) but we will all be changed^(C)— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,^(D) the dead^(E) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable^(F) must clothe itself with the imperishable,^(G) and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”^[a](H)

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin,^(J) and the power of sin is the law.^{(K) 57} But thanks be to God!^(L) He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.^(M)

¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended^(A) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)^{(B) 11} So Christ himself gave^(C) the apostles,^(D) the prophets,^(E) the evangelists,^(F) the pastors and teachers,^{(G) 12} to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ^(H) may be built up^{(I) 13} until we all reach unity^(J) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God^(K) and become mature,^(L) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.^(M)

²¹ who, by the power^(A) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies^(B) so that they will be like his glorious body.^(C)

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,^(A) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(B) 16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(C) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(D) and with the trumpet call of God,^(E) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(F) 17} After that, we who are still alive and are left^(G) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(H) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(I) forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another^(J) with these words.

3 See what great love^(A) the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!^(B) And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.^{(C) 2} Dear friends,^(D) now we are children of God,^(E) and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,^[a](F) we shall be like him,^(G) for we shall see him as he is.^{(H) 3} All who have this hope in him purify themselves,^(I) just as he is pure.^(J)

The Throne in Heaven

4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open^(A) in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet^(B) said, “Come up here,^(C) and I will show you what must take place after this.”^(D)