"According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds" (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).

The resurrection of the believer is an essential doctrine of the Christian faith. At some unknown point in the future the dead in Christ will rise in glorified bodies, followed immediately by the glorification of those believers who are still alive.

The Old Testament teaches the resurrection of the saved and unsaved: "But at that time your people -- everyone whose name is found written in the book -- will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake; some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:1-2).

Jesus confirmed the resurrection: "In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:2-3).

When the saints are raised, the sanctification process will be complete. The glorified bodies will no longer have a sin nature, and will be capable of standing in the very presence of God. Many cults deny this essential doctrine though it is clearly taught in Scripture. It cannot be compromised.

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. or the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).