Brothers, we want you to know about those who have died. We do not want you to be sad as others who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and that He rose again. So, because of Jesus, God will bring together with Jesus those who have died. What we tell you now is the Lord's own message. We who are living now may still be living when the Lord comes again. We who are living at that time will be with the Lord, but not before those who have already died. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
   After that, those who are still alive at that time will be gathered up with them. We will be taken up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with the Lord forever. So comfort each other with these words.
   I tell you this, brothers: Flesh and blood cannot have a part in the kingdom of God. A thing that will ruin cannot have a part in something that never ruins. But listen, I tell you a secret: We will not all die, but we will all be changed. It will only take a second. We will be changed as quickly as an eye blinks. This will happen when the last trumpet blows. The trumpet will blow and those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we will all be changed.
   But God said this about His Son: "God, Your throne will last forever and ever. You will rule Your kingdom with fairness. You love what is right and hate evil. So God has chosen You to rule those with You. Your God has given You much joy." God also says, "Lord, in the beginning You made the earth. And Your hands made the skies. They will be destroyed, but You will remain. They will all wear out like clothes. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But You remain the same, and Your years will never end."
   Have you forgotten that when we were baptized into union with Christ Jesus we were baptized into His death? By baptism we were buried with Him, and lay dead, in order that, as Christ was raised from the dead in the splendor of the Father, so also we might set our feet upon the new path of life.

Taken from I Thes. 4, I Cor. 15, The Everyday Bible, The New International Version
and The New English Bible. For free Lifescope book, write to Box 1575,
Carlsbad, NM 88221. Please send $1.00 for postage and handling.