“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18

Paul has already mentioned the return of Jesus Christ several times in this letter. It is one of the main points of his writing, and is also the cornerstone of the gospel.


Paul has instructed this young church, and us, in the way we should practically live our lives from day to day with the hope of Christ’s return. This passage pauses for a moment to address an issue that had arisen at Thessalonica. Apparently, these brethren thought their loved ones who had died before the return of Jesus Christ we going to miss out on this blessed event.

We will discuss some other aspects of these verses later but the main point of this passage is that not only will our deceased loved ones not miss out on the return of Christ, they will go to meet Him in the air first! “Prevent” means to go before. It is certain that we will meet the Lord in the air, but we will not go first. We will see the glorious bodies of dear departed saints rise first and then we will follow on!