We tell you this directly from the Lord:
We who are still living when the Lord returns
will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven
with a commanding shout,
with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trumpet call of God.
First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.
Then, together with them,
we who are still alive and remain on the earth
will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Then we will be with the Lord forever.
