For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Himself - in all the majesty of His personal presence, not by deputy.
Descend - even as He ascended (Acts 1:11).
With - Greek, 'in:' one concomitant circumstance attending His appearing.
Shout, х keleusmati (G2752)] - 'signal-shout.' Jesus, as a victorious king, will give the word of command to Shout, х keleusmati (G2752)] - 'signal-shout.' Jesus, as a victorious king, will give the word of command to the hosts of heaven in His train for the last onslaught, at His final triumph over sin, death, and Satan (Revelation 19:11-21), and will call the saints' bodies to life (John 5:28-29).
The voice of the archangel - distinct from the 'signal-shout:' Michael perhaps (Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7), to whom especially is committed the guardianship of the people of God (Daniel 10:13). The archangel's voice seconds that of the Lord (Matthew 25:6: cf. Hebrews 2:2 with Exodus 20:1).
Trump of God - which usually accompanied God's manifestation in glory (Exodus 19:16; Psalms 47:5); here the last of the three accompaniments of His appearing. As the trumpet was used to convene God's people to solemn convocations and to war (Numbers 10:2; Numbers 10:10; Numbers 31:6), so here it summons God's elect together, preparatory to their glorification with Christ (Psalms 50:1-5; Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52).
Shall rise first - previously to the living being "caught up." The "first" here does not directly express the first resurrection, as contrasted with that of "the rest of the dead" (Matthew 13:41-42; Matthew 13:50; 1 Corinthians 15:23-24; Revelation 20:5-6): it simply stands in opposition to "then," 1 Thessalonians 4:17. FIRST, "the dead in Christ" shall rise, THEN the living shall be caught up. The living shall not anticipate the dead saints. The Lord's people alone are spoken of.