Bodies of the Translated living
1 Corinthians 15:51-58
King James Version (KJV)
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all
be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put
on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave,
where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the
strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye
stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for asmuch as
ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
THE LORD’S RETURN AND THE END
OF TIME. This segment
among the others looks forward to the glorious end of human history with the
coming day of Jesus Christ the Lord.
15:51,52 God made know to Paul that the dead
will be raised up by instantaneous transformation at the last trump. Trumpets
were used to call God’s people together. (Num. 10:1-10) and at
royal coronations in presenting kings to Israel (1Kin. 1:34). The
Rapture of the church not only transforms us but welcomes Christ the coming King
on Earth, as we "meet the Lord in the air" at His returning (see 1 Thess. 4:16, 17).
15:56,57 Strength of sin is the law. The
analogy is not perfect, for here we died, not the law. But the point is clear.
Because a death has occurred, old obligations and powers are broken, and we are
no longer under a system of trying to obey in our own strength.
Without the law sin was dormant, but the Law aroused a desire to
do that which it forbade. The same is
true of every Christian.
We are dead to that system of law. An infinite variety of bodies adapted to
live in the different environments of land, sea, air, and the heavens already
exist. Is a resurrection body so
incredible then?
15:58 Never give up! Continue steadfastly in faith
and abound in service to God. Know that nothing done in Jesus’ name
is in vain.
Janet
Thomas
Founder/President/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
