13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.  14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15  For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 

16-17 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s  voice, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.  18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Christian Standard Bible

If Jesus Christ were to return from heaven today, what would happen to a Christian who died just four days ago? Did he or she miss the Lord by just four days? That seems to have been the sort of question being asked by the new Christians at Thessalonica. And every sentence of Paul's reply is worth taking to heart. Firstly, he uses the phrase 'fallen asleep' to describe the death of a believer in Christ. What can be more gentle than that? While dying, or knowing you are about to die, may still be an unnerving experience, it has lost the terror it once held. Why is that? (vs 14)

Because Jesus conquered any power death had when He rose to life again and was physically seen by many witnesses over many weeks. And God has promised that at Jesus' return, He will be accompanied by believers who have passed away over the centuries. Verse 15 assures us that this was not just some wishful thinking on Paul's part – it had been directly revealed to the apostles by the Lord. Verse 15 suggests that at Christ's return there is an expectancy of something about to happen? What do you think that could be?

Verses 16-17 give us the answer. Firstly, the return of Christ will not be some quiet event that happens in secret. No, no. Triumphant shouts and the sounds of trumpets will announce His coming. Then all the bodies of believers who have died will be raised. (The implication is that it's their spirits that have accompanied Christ in His coming, but now their spirits will be clothed with wonderful immortal resurrection bodies! And, in the twinkling of an eye, those Christians who are alive on the day Christ returns will find themselves wonderfully transformed and caught up to join the resurrected throng around King Jesus! They too will have been clothed with immortality so as to be 'always with the Lord'. HALLELUJAH.

Paul deals with the question of what our resurrection bodies will be like in 1 Corinthians 15:35-58. And while we don't know all the details, he uses illustrations there to point out that, wonderful as our bodies now are, the resurrection body will be even more glorious.

But let's go back to vs 13. What is the solemn distinction Paul makes in that verse between those who have believed on Christ for salvation and those who have not?

Christians grieve too. The death of a dear one can be devastating. The sense of loss can be great. But through the darkness of the Christian's grief shines the flaming light of a sure and certain hope! They know that the soul of the loved one whose body they lay to rest is with the Lord in glory. They know that that soul will return with Jesus one day to be united to the resurrected body. They know that they, and the loved one, will be with the Lord forever!

What a contrast to those who have kept God at arm's length. Some have done so despite living respectful lives. Others have made no secret of their defiance. But whether they were respectable or outright rebellious, they have this in common – they die without hope. For them the coming of the Lord will be a terror, not a blessing. May the thought of Christ's return encourage us to hold firm in our faith in Him, and soften the grief we feel when loved ones in Christ fall asleep.