To this long expected hour the passage clearly refers, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain, shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” The first point to be here noticed is clearly _the resurrection_. Death has been already said to be but a sleep, for it is not permanent. “She is not dead but sleepeth,” may be applied to her whom we left in the grave on Friday. That grave shall shortly give up its tenant, and very body, that tendering beloved body, shall arise again in fresh life and beauty. As the springs from the acorn, and the butterfly from the chrysalis, so shall that animated form rise forth with a fresh and heavenly animation; that very hand shall hold the palm, and that very voice unite once more in the praises of her Lord. But though the same, it will be infinitely more glorious. You have seen lately a beautiful planet shedding its soft light over the ocean, and, evening after evening, it has appeared very lovely, but yet how far does it fall short in splendour of a summer’s sun in a cloudless sky! Just such we are taught in 1 Cor. xv, 41, is the wonderful difference between the dying and rising body. It was a bright and beautiful star that has been shedding forth its lovely light these many years in the midst of you; but, though beautiful, it is not to be compared to what we are about to behold in the resurrection. It was sown in corruption, little by little laying her low; but it shall be raised in incorruption, no more to be silenced by disease, or to give up through decay of strength. It was sown in dishonour and though dearly loved must be buried from the view; but it shall be raised in glory, to form a part of the triumphant retinue of the King of Kings. It was sown in weakness, and perhaps it was one of the most beautiful features of her character that that weakness was so meekly met, and so cheerfully submitted to; but it shall be raised in power, the power of undying strength, and everlasting life from God. It was sown a natural body, subject to the multiplied infirmities of a ruined, fallen, sin-stricken humanity: and none felt their hindrances more than she did; but it shall rise a spiritual body, fully fitted for spiritual work, without impediment and without decay. Can we wonder then that with such a prospect full in view, the Apostle should write to the bereaved Thessalonians, and remind them “concerning those which are asleep, that they sorrow not even as others which have no hope?” But this is not all. There is another blessing promised, and that is _reunion_.