THE FIRST
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The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead. And their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in Peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed because God tried them and found them worthy of Himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to Himself. In the time of the visitation they shall shine and the shall dart about as sparks through stubble; and the Lord shall be their king forever.
Those who trust in Him shall understand truth and the faithful shall abide with Him in love: Because grace and mercy are with His holy ones, and His care is with his elect.
The Word of God.
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SECOND
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We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus bring with him those who have fallen asleep. Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and 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. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with these words.
Thus is the Word of the Lord.