Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Psalms 128-134
     New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 15

Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, 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 incorruptible, and we will be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

Paul was not talking about babies in the church nursery when he wrote, we will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed (v51).He had a greater mystery in mind!

In the 15th chapter, Paul is addressing the last question the Corinthians had, that of the resurrection. Paul answers their question in three parts.

First, Jesus Christ was indeed raised from the dead. For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (v3). Not only did He arise, but this is central to our faith. If Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. … And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins (v14&17).

Next, Paul explains that believers who have died will also be resurrected. But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive (v20-22).

Apparently, the Corinthians could not understand how a person who died could be resurrected for they also asked How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come? (v35). Paul used the illustration of a seed to explain the process. A seed must die when sowed to grow as a plant. And just as the plant is different than the seed, there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones (v40).

This must-have caused great concern to the Corinthians. If a body must die to be raised in a new heavenly body, does that mean those believers who are still alive when Christ returns will be left out?

Paul eased their concern by revealing the great mystery that we call the Rapture. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed (v52). Those believers who have died will be raised first, in their new incorruptible bodies. Then the living Saints will be changed. Whether living or dead we who believe will meet the Lord in the air in new heavenly bodies.

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:16-17).