# the Lord himself will descend

"the Lord himself will come down"

# the archangel

"the chief angel"

# the dead in Christ will rise first

The "dead in Christ" are those believers who have passed away. AT: "those who believe in Jesus Christ, but who have already died, will rise first" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

# we who are alive

Here "we" refers to all believers who have not died. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-inclusive]])

# with them

The word "them" refers to the dead believers who were made alive again.

# caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air

"meet the Lord Jesus in the sky"