The Thessalonians were concerned about what would be the destiny of those who have died in Christ. Paul reassured them that the destiny of the dead in Christ is the same as for those who are alive in Christ when He returns to earth. Paul gave us considerable detail about how the resurrection of the dead and living takes place at Christ's return:
1. Jesus died and rose again (vs. 14)
2. When He comes again, those who have died in Christ will come back with Him (vs 14) (The spirits or souls of Christians who have died will be with Christ at His second coming as He descends to earth.)
3. Those who are alive in Christ when He comes again will not precede those who have already died in Christ (vs 15).
4. When Jesus comes again, He will come down from heaven with a loud command from the archangel and the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first (vs 16), which means that at the moment of Christ’s return the spirits and bodies of the dead in Christ will be joined as they are caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
5. Then those who are alive in Christ will be caught up together with the resurrected dead in Christ to meet the Lord in the air (vs 17) and all will be with the Lord forever (vs 17).
