NAS - 1 Thessalonians 4: 13 But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep (were not vigilant) ; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope (hope of the first resurrection, which occurs during the believer’s earthly lifetime, and consists of the resurrection of a person who has been dead in sins and transgressions into a new life in Christ {Colossians 2:13 and 3:1}.
The word “vigilant” (Strong’s 1127 = awake) is used here to describe the opposite of the condition described as that of being asleep. “Vigilant” is the definition of one of the Greek words used to define the condition of being alert and sober or not being asleep, which is used in 1 Thessalonians 5:6.
14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep (were not vigilant) in Jesus will God bring (lead) with him (God will raise the sinner just as He did Jesus).
15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, (This a command from the Lord) that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming (in the presence) of the Lord, shall in no wise precede (come before or come unto- Strongs #5348) them that are fallen asleep (who were not vigilant).
The Lord Jesus commands the faithful not to come before the “sleepers”. Similar to the command from 1 Corinthians 5:11.
16. 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. (Jesus will deal with the “sleepers” not the believers who are awake and Jesus will revive or awaken them, when the dead in Christ hear the Lord they will be raised)
17. then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (after the sleepers arise they will join the believers who remained faithful in the Spirit. This will all happen in the Air where the devil is prince so as to say it will happen in this earthly lifetime).
1 Thessalonians 5 - 1. Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.
2. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord (time of discipline) will come just like a thief in the night (carried out by the devil in a time of darkness)
3. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction (discipline) will come upon them (those who were not vigilant) suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child. (The backslidden believer was in the process of having Christ formed within them, but they fell asleep (were not vigilant) and required the Lord’s judgment to wake them up) and they shall not escape (they will be corrected and brought into the resurrected life, 1Corinthians 11:32). This allusion to birth pains/pregnancy is to a type of pain caused by the chastening of the Lord being visited upon the individual, Isaiah 26:16 and 17. The sleeper waking or becoming alert as a result of this chastening suggests that their condition of inattention was corrected through the chastening of the Day of the Lord.
4. But you, brethren, are not in darkness (are vigilant), that the day (of discipline) should overtake you like a thief (carried out by the devil);
5. for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;
6. so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
7. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night (time of darkness), and those who get drunk get drunk at night (time of darkness).
8. But since we are of the day let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9. For God has not destined us for wrath (discipline), but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10. who died for us, that whether we are awake (vigilant) or asleep (not vigilant), we may live together with Him.
11. Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.