It is intriguing to know which word from the Lord Jesus Paul points to here. We do not find this statement to the letter in the four Gospels. Should we perhaps think of a revelation which the apostle may have had? It is clear from Scripture that God will one day gather all his people—no one excluded (Deuteronomy 30:4, Psalm 106:47, Psalm 147:2, Isaiah 11:12). In this regard, Jesus’ words in Mark 13:27 is telling: And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
This concerns the living as well as the deceased. Again, we note that those who have died are mentioned in this particular way (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13). Truly, they will not be forgotten on that great day. They do not stay behind, and we certainly (Greek: ou me) do not go ahead of them.
15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.