Where are believing loved ones after they die?
Believing loved ones who die are in His presence, already seated in the heavenlies with Christ. Paul brings out that believers are considered already seated with Him in the heavenlies, and they wait for Him to come and take them to Himself. This comforts because death cannot touch that heavenly citizenship.
Les explains that when Christ was on the cross, in the tomb, and risen from the dead, God saw believers there with Him. Paul brings out that believers have been raised out of deadness and made to sit together in the heavenlies. Les tells of a listener who lost a loved one and wanted comfort about where she was. Since she was a believer, the answer is that believing loved ones are in His presence, already seated in the heavenlies. It is not a big jump from here to there, and believers do not have to fear death, because death can kill the body but cannot kill that which is already a citizen of heaven. They wait for Him to come and take them to Himself.