Saturday, August 22, 2015

ORDER OF THE RESURRECTIONS (4)

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