What happens to those who have died in Jesus when we believe the gospel?
Those who have died in Jesus are asleep in Christ, and when we believe the gospel—that Jesus died and rose again—God will bring them with Him. Believers need not sorrow as others who have no hope, for God will bring the dead in Jesus with Him.
Les explains that 1 Thessalonians 4:13 continues the revelation of the mystery that he calls being caught up. The text says, 'I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them who have died physically. They are asleep.' The purpose is that believers 'sorrow not, even as others who have no hope.' The condition is belief in the gospel: 'if we believe that Jesus died and rose again.' If we believe the gospel—truly believe it, so that God has imparted salvation—then 'even so them also who sleep in Christ, or in Jesus, who have died, God will bring with Him.' Les notes that in this portion Jesus and God are synonymous: it is the same God, the same Jesus. So the dead in Jesus are not forgotten or hopeless; when the gospel is believed and salvation is imparted, God will bring those who sleep in Jesus with Him. Les also mentions that the word 'rapture' is not in the English Bible, though there are two words that mean the same thing, referring to this being caught up.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.