But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (RSV)
The believers at Thessaloniki had been told that those who had already died before Jesus' return would not be raised. Someone had gotten it into his head that only those who were alive on the earth when the Lord returned would be taken into the Kingdom. Those who had died, who fell asleep in the Lord, were beyond any hope of the resurrection.
This seeking 'new things' about God rarely comforts or encourages anyone. Most of the time, it adds to the burdens we bear and does nothing to lift them. Because of this, the Thessalonians were in deep sorrow and grief over those who had died. How could God be so cruel not to allow those who had died to enter the Kingdom?
When we abandon the Apostolic witness for some new thing about God, we surrender hope. When we invent new things about God, we want to be the ones in control. Adam and Eve thought they would have equality or even superiority over God with their new 'wisdom.' All they gained was their loss of trust in God and fear of what God might do to them.
God committed them to hope in His promise to be fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. The death and resurrection of Jesus is the hope of all. St. Paul reminded the Thessalonians Christians that in Christ, death is but a sleep. When Jesus comes, the sleepers will awaken and join Him in His Kingdom.
We are called to be God's Church, alive and caring for His creation. We are called to bring the hope in our Lord Jesus to all who will hear. We are to proclaim that even the dead are not truly dead. In Christ, they are sleeping in the hope of the resurrection.
Let us continue to hope in the promises God has made, which are fulfilled in Jesus.