¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

Jesus Christ is coming back, and He is bringing with Him those who have “fallen asleep in Jesus” (believers who have died). The first of these great truths is woven inseparably into the gospel message; the second tags along as a great addendum to the first, the promise of hope for all believers. While we may grieve at the loss of loved ones from our present earthly experience, we do not grieve like the unbelievers who have no hope (see 1 Thess. 4:13). We will see our loved ones again.

Too much has been made of this idea of “seeing our loved ones again.” The story is told of a twice-widowed man saying at both funerals that he looked forward to seeing his wife again. We humorously ask, “Which one will he be looking forward to the most?” The problem with such thinking is that Jesus was very clear about our relationships changing after death: “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven” (Matt. 22:30). The anticipation that allays our grief at the loss of loved ones is not that we will see them again and resume our earthly relationship. No, we rejoice that they will not miss out on anything promised to believers who are still alive! What we look forward to seeing is not our loved ones, but our beloved Lord Jesus Christ:

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. (1 John 3:2)

Our desire and the Lord’s also is that we would be with Him (2 Cor. 5:8, John 17:24).

Regardless of where we fall in the theological debates about the rapture and eschatology in general (end-time events), we must not miss Paul’s point. All believers will experience the return of Christ in that great event, whether they are alive at His coming or not. All theological persuasions agree on this. And this is rooted in the historical, physical resurrection of our Lord. Our departed ones are already with the resurrected Christ; they are ahead of us who are still living; they have been promoted to the Lord’s presence already. They have arrived! Though their physical bodies await the resurrection in the last day, they are very much in glory now! And when the last days begin, Jesus will bring them back for the grand reunion of all believers with Himself!

Lord, what a great day that will be, when we will all be united with You forever!