The Dead in Christ at the coming of the Lord

13 We don’t want you to be ignorant, friends, about those who have passed to their rest. We don’t want you to grieve like other people who have no hope. 14 For, as we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring, with Jesus, those who through him have passed to their rest. 15 This we tell you on the authority of the Lord – that those of us who are still living at the coming of the Lord will not anticipate those who have passed to their rest. 16 For, with a loud summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the trumpet-call of God, the Lord himself will come down from heaven. 17 Then those who died in union with Christ will rise first; and afterwards we who are still living will be caught up in the clouds, with them, to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be for ever with the Lord. 18 Therefore, comfort one another with what I have told you.

5 But as to the times and the moments, there is no need, friends, for anyone to write to you. 2 You yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come just as a thief comes in the night. 3 When people are saying “All is quiet and safe,” it is then that, like birth pains on a pregnant woman, ruin comes suddenly upon them, and there will be no escape! 4 You, however, friends, are not in darkness, that the daylight should take you by surprise as if you were thieves. 5 For you all are children of light and children of the day.

We have nothing to do with night, or darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep as others do. No, let us be watchful and self-controlled. 7 It is at night that people sleep, and at night that drunkards get drunk. 8 But let us, who belong to the day, control ourselves, and put on faith and love as a breast plate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God destined us, not for wrath, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, 10 that, whether we are still watching or have fallen asleep, we may live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another, and try to build up one another’s characters, as indeed you are doing.