For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that is, that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anyone.

But we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord himself will descend 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.

Then we who are alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

While people are saying, "Peace and safety," then destruction will come upon them suddenly as labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with him.

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.