1 Thessalonians 4:16

14 For ^aif we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him ^bthose who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you ^aby the word of the Lord, that ^bwe who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are¹ asleep.

16 For ^athe Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with ^bthe trumpet of God. ^cAnd the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 ^aThen we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them ^bin the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus ^cwe shall always be with the Lord.

18 ^aTherefore comfort one another with these words.

Commentaries:

Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)

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With a shout (en keleusmati). Note this so-called instrumental use of en. Old word, here only in N.T., from keleuw, to order, command (military command). Christ will come as Conqueror.

With the voice of the archangel (en fwnh arxaggelou). Further explanation of keleusmati (command). The only archangel mentioned in N.T. is Michael in Judges 1:9. But note absence of article with both fwnh and arxaggelou. The reference may be thus indefinite.

With the trump of God (en salpiggi qeou). Trumpet. See same figure in I Corinthians 15:52.

The dead in Christ shall rise first (oi nekroi en Xristw anasthsontai prwton).

First here refers plainly to the fact that, so far from the dead in Christ having no share in the Parousia, they will rise before those still alive are changed.

**Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 1 Thessalonians 4:16:**

1 Corinthians 15:48
1 Corinthians 15:51
1 Corinthians 15:52
2 Thessalonians 2:1
2 Timothy 4:1
Jude 1:9
Revelation 8:2
Revelation 14:13
Revelation 20:5

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