“1 Corinthians 15:50-57”

Tuesday, May 08, 2018

“Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, 'DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

---End of Scripture Verses---

So, what’s going to happen when Christ finally does return? Well, since “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;” since our earthly bodies are “perishable” or “corruptible” and the realm of heaven is “imperishable” or “incorruptible” (verse 50), we must be “changed” (verse 51). “The dead will be raised imperishable” (verse 53). Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” And those who are alive at Christ’s coming “will be changed” (verse 50; 1 Thessalonians 4:17).

This change will happen “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (verse 52). The Greek word for “moment” is “atamos” which means an infinitely small thing or amount. The Greek word for “twinkling” means “rapid movement”. In just about the time it takes for a “rapid eye movement” this “mystery” will take place. The “last trumpet” will sound and the dead will rise and everyone will be changed. Jesus “will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God.” I’m not certain what all of that is going to sound and look like, but I know that Christ’s Second Coming will be LOUD and QUICK!

The Apostle Peter also has somewhat to say about Christ’s Second Coming. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). The dead will arise from the graves, all who are alive on the earth will be transformed, and the physical universe will be incinerated and obliterated in a moment’s time! What a powerful and awesome event this will be! For the people who belong to the Lord, it will be a great and glorious day! For those living outside of Christ it will be a great and terrible day! Read Paul’s words from 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10:

“For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.”

For those of us that love and serve and obey the Lord Jesus Christ, “death will be swallowed up in victory” (verse 55)! Death is literally mankind’s “mortal enemy”! Paul cites the prophet Hosea who depicted the grave as a scorpion that has lost its stinger. “Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? O Death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion will be hidden from My sight” (Hosea 13:14). When the Lord returns for His own, He will defeat our final and greatest enemy for us (verse 26)!

“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15). Please friends, make certain that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life before He comes back to reclaim His own! Repent of your sins, put Him on in baptism (if you haven’t yet) and serve and worship Him faithfully until either the day you die or the day He returns, whichever comes first! You will have sweet victory in Jesus!

Please read 1 Corinthians 15:58 for tomorrow.

Have a great day!

- Louie Taylor

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