15. We are telling you what the Lord taught. We who are still alive when the Lord comes will not go ⌊into his kingdom⌋ ahead of those who have already died.
16. The Lord will come from heaven with a command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet ⌊call⌋ of God. First, the dead who believed in Christ will come back to life.
17. Then, together with them, we who are still alive will be taken in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. In this way we will always be with the Lord.
18. So then, comfort each other with these words!