This passage from 1 Thessalonians can be a little argumentative, because it is one of the foundations of end-time theologies. Without debating any of that, we do still have Paul assuring the believers that death would not separate them or other fellow believers who had already died from Christ, and that the resurrection of Jesus was a preview for all of us. That's a pretty hefty promise, and not a bad reason to follow a man who rose from the dead.