1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Paul instructs us about the status of those who have died, or, as he puts it "who are asleep." He says we should not grieve for them as others who have no hope. Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then we can be sure that God, through Jesus, will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. Those who are alive at Christ's Second Coming will not precede those who have died to heaven. The Lord himself will descend from heaven at that time, "with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God." On that day, the dead shall rise first, then the people who are alive will be gathered up with them to meet the Lord and so shall always be with the Lord. Paul asks us to comfort each other with these words.

These words are very comforting!! We do not have to mourn for our dead, although we do have to pray for them. We don't know the status of those who have died, so we must assume that they need our prayers in order to gain heaven. But what a hopeful thing, that on the last day, God will raise the dead up first, so that we will see them, we will be reunited with them, and we will be gathered up together into heaven!