We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. . . . 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, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
—1 THESSALONIANS 4:14–18
IF YOU’VE EVER wanted to know what will happen when Jesus comes again, you just found out as you read the previous passage. Those who die “in him” are guaranteed to be raised with Him, and those believers who are still alive when He returns will be “caught up” in the clouds with Him. You can believe it because Jesus died and rose again! You can stand on it, you can live by it, and you can look at your upcoming death with a smile. Your death is not the end—it is the beginning!
Prayer
Father, we thank You for the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. We have no fear of death because of Jesus and His resurrection. We praise and thank You for this assurance! Through Him, amen.
—Phil