1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 The believer in Christ Jesus will not be left behind

But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like 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 tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore comfort one another with these words. The purpose for Paul writing these words is to give hope to those who have lost loved ones. The hope he brings them is to reveal to that that Christ will not leave them in their grave. Just as we hold to the fact that Jesus arose from the dead then all who believe in his finished work will join him where he is. Those that have not died, but are in Christ will by no way be left behind. But just like their ancestors before them, they will be caught up with Jesus and the resurrected saints. This will clear the way for that which must occur which is the 7 year period of the Great Tribulation. It can be aptly described as hell on earth where Satan will have his sway with the unregenerate before Jesus swiftly brushes him into Hell which his judgment and the judgment of his followers, both human and angelic. This is the word of the Lord.