13 But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, about those who’ve died so that you won’t mourn like others who don’t have any hope, 14 because if we believe that Yeshua died and came back to life, then we can also believe that when he returns, Yeshua will be bringing with him those who have died. 15 [ref]So this is what we’re saying in the message about the master: those who are still living when the master returns, we certainly won’t precede those who’ve already died 16 because there’ll be an announcement from the archangel and God’s trumpet will sound and then the master will come down from heaven with a loud shout. The dead believers in Messiah will come to life again first, 17 then we who are still alive will be pulled up into the clouds together with them to meet the master in the air, and from then will always remain with the master. 18 So when someone dies, comfort each other with those truths.

5 Concerning the times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you don’t need anything to be written 2 [ref]because you already know that the master’s return will come like a thief comes at night. 3 Just when they’re saying there’s peace and security, then they’ll suddenly recognise the imminent destruction, like a pregnant woman having birth pains. They certainly won’t be able to escape, 4 but you, brothers and sisters, aren’t in darkness and likely to get surprised by a thief in the night 5 because you’re all children of the light and of the day. No, we’re not part of the night or of the darkness 6 so as a result, we won’t be sleeping like the others, but we’ll be alert and sober. 7 Those who sleep do it at night, and those who get drunk do it at night, 8 [ref]but we belong to the day. We’ll be dressed in the armour of faith and love, and the helmet which is the hope of our salvation. 9 God hasn’t assigned us to his severe anger, but rather for obtaining salvation through our master Yeshua Messiah—10 the one who was executed on our behalf so that whether we might be alert and watching, or whether we’re dead and ‘sleeping’, either way we’ll all live together with him. 11 So comfort and encourage each other as you’ve all been doing already.