1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
We have hope that goes beyond the worldly sorrow of death. Just as Jesus Christ died and rose again, so will all who are in Him rise with Him. He will bring us up from the grave to meet Him with the trumpet of victory over sin and death and hell. This certain hope was proven by His own resurrection and backed up by God’s immutable promises, so we need not doubt or fear death as believers who are so in Christ. We have hope! Because of these promises, we can comfort each other when we lose believing loved ones and not fear death ourselves if we know we are in Him. Though we do not know all the details of His coming and our new incorruptible bodies nor what it will be like, even the edges of His ways bring infinite hope, comfort, and boundless joy to one day be in His presence.
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