Footnote

b The first-​century Christians to whom Paul wrote had the hope of a resurrection to heaven where they would serve as corulers with Christ. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; compare Luke 22:29, 30.) Paul thus encouraged them to comfort one another with the hope that at Christ’s presence faithful ones among them who had died would be resurrected and would be united with Christ and with one another. For the vast majority of those who die, however, the Bible holds out the hope of a resurrection into a restored earthly paradise.​—John 5:28, 29; Revelation 21:1-4.