Scripture.
The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. First the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. We will be with the Lord forever.

Observation
We should make it our goal to live a peaceful life, working for a living. Then non-Christians will respect our way of life.

Just as Jesus was raised to life, so those who died in Christ will also be raised to life when Christ returns.

The Lord will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, the voice of an archangel, a blast from a trumpet. Then the Christians who have died will rise from their graves, and those who are still alive will be caught up on the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

Application
There is a lot of speculation about the so-called Rapture, based on this passage. In this reading of the end times, the church is basically snatched out of a world run by the Antichrist.

In reality, this passage is about a resurrection of all the saints, dead and alive. The language used by Paul suggests royal procession. As the king enters a town, people go out to welcome him and accompany him into the into the town which he already which he already reigns over.

Many Christians believe that Jesus will return to a world in which the church has faithfully completed its mission, in which the vast majority of the human race is saved and Jesus returns to take possession of His world.

Whether we are alive or dead at this time, it is an exciting time to look forward to.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for the assurance that you will reign over a new heaven and a new earth. Hallelujah! What a Saviour you are! Amen.