What does 1 Thessalonians 4:14 mean?

Paul is reassuring the Thessalonian Christians about what happens to believers who die before the return of Jesus Christ. Unlike unbelievers, who have no hope of seeing their loved ones again, those who trust in Christ are only temporarily separated (1 Thessalonians 4:13). The hope of life beyond the grave rests upon the belief that Jesus conquered death by rising from the dead.

When certain Jews at the temple in Jerusalem asked Jesus for a sign, He predicted His resurrection by telling them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19). The Jews thought He was referring to the temple, where they worshiped, but John adds: "But he was speaking about the temple of his body" (John 2:21). Later, Jesus foretold His disciples that He would die and rise again. He said He would be delivered over to the religious authorities, who would condemn Him and turn Him over to the Gentiles. The Gentiles would mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him, and kill Him, but He added that after three days He would rise (Mark 10:33–34).

Christians can look forward to the event in which our risen Lord will return with the souls of Christians who have died. This future event is referred to in Titus 2:13 as "our blessed hope." Paul appeals to the Thessalonian Christians to lead a godly life, "waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."

The "sleep" Paul refers to here is a common expression implying death. At the same time, from a biblical perspective, this is meant to emphasize how temporary physical death is for the Christian believer. Other New Testament writings make it clear that we experience consciousness after death, not a "soul sleep" or some other form of unawareness (Philippians 1:20–24; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 16:19–31).