The conjunction “and” is used to indicate the result accompanying the heaven-reverberating sounds, namely, the raising of the righteous dead. The “dead in Christ” are those who fell asleep in faith, including OT saints (see on Rom. 4:3; 1 Cor. 15:18; cf. Rev. 14:13). They are included among those whom Jesus described as “the children of the resurrection” (Luke 20:36). Paul elsewhere calls them “they that are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Cor. 15:23). Their being raised corresponds to the “first resurrection” (see on Rev. 20:5, 6). The phrase “the dead in Christ” is here used to distinguish the sleeping saints from two other classes of people:

 (1) the unrighteous dead, who, as a body, are not raised at Christ’s second coming;

 (2) the living Christians, who are being assured that their beloved dead will be at no disadvantage when Jesus returns, but will rather receive prior attention by being first raised and thus being placed on an equal footing with the living saints.

 Or, “a trump of God.” This does not necessarily refer to any particular trumpet as belonging exclusively to God, but rather to an instrument that is used in God’s service. The OT frequently refers to trumpets in connection with notable interventions by God, either actual or predicted (Ex. 19:13, 16, 19; Ps. 47:5; Isa. 27:13; Joel 2:1; Zeph. 1:16; Zech. 9:14). Trumpets were also used for assembling God’s people (Num. 10:2-4), for the sounding of war alarms (vs. 5-9), and for national occasions (v. 10). In the NT the sounding of a trumpet is associated with the gathering of the elect and the raising of the dead (Matt. 24:31; 1 Cor. 15:52).

 Gr. archaggelos, “chief angel,” “first angel,” compounded from archi, a prefix denoting “chief,” or “high,” and aggelos, “angel,” hence, “chief of the angels.” The word archaggelos appears in the NT only here and in Jude 9, where Michael is said to be the archangel. This commentary holds the view that Michael is none other than our Lord, Jesus Christ (see on Dan. 10:13; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7). This interpretation makes it possible to conceive of Christ’s own voice, as the voice of the archangel, being heard as He descends (see on Jude 9).

 Gr. keleusma, “a command,” “a shout of command.” The word occurs only here in the NT. In non-Biblical writings keleusma is used of an officer issuing orders to his troops or of a charioteer urging his horses. It is not clear from the Greek construction whether Christ utters the command or whether another being cries aloud as the Lord descends, but contextual evidence favors Christ as the speaker (see below on “archangel,” and “the trump of God”). No specific reason is here given for the “shout,” but the “shout,” “the voice of the archangel,” and “the trump of God” are immediately followed by the rising of the “dead in Christ”; hence the arousing sounds may be taken as preliminaries to the resurrection of the just (cf. John 5:25, 28, 29; 11:43). Christ comes from heaven proclaiming His victory. He has conquered death and the grave (Rev. 1:18). No longer can the enemy, death, hold any of the redeemed in his cold grasp. The righteous dead respond to their Lord’s command and rise from their graves.

 Gr. katabainō, “to go down,” “to come down,” “to descend,” used nowhere else in the NT for Christ’s second advent, but used of the Son of man’s coming down from heaven for the first advent (John 3:13; 6:33, 38; etc.). Christ’s descent at His second coming is implied in other scriptural accounts of His return (Matt. 16:27; 24:30; etc.).

 The personal, visible, bodily appearing of the Lord in great majesty is here clearly described. Christ does not send a deputy, nor does He come spiritually. He Himself comes in person. The same Jesus who ascended to heaven now descends from heaven. Just before He went to heaven He promised to return (John 14:3).

 The church was assured when He ascended in a cloud that “this same Jesus” would “come in like manner” (Acts 1:9-11). Paul reiterates these promises and records additional details concerning the manner of their fulfillment.

 Rather, “because.” Paul is stating the factual basis for his teaching in v. 15.

 That is, shall rise before the living are caught up to meet the Lord in the air (v. 17).