with the Lord

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 4:16 because the Lord himself will descend from the sky with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Encourage one another with these words, then.

with the Lord

Lots of folk talk about going to be with the Lord, but they seem to think it will happen when they die. Paul could have said that the believing dead were with the Lord, and that would have settled it for the curious Thessalonians. But he didn’t say that. In fact, he said that the dead were asleep (verses 13 and 15), and that they would not rise until Jesus descended.

When we face our own death, or the death of loved ones, we need encouragement. But our encouragement should be in line with what the Bible actually says. The second coming is the blessed hope.

Lord, thank you for the promise of a resurrection and reunion at your return.