We Shall Not All Die
“Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51)
The Apostle Paul is speaking about the Rapture of the church in this verse and the following. The Lord, prior to His crucifixion, promised to return for those who love Him and are watching for His soon return. The church has longed for His return since the Lord’s first Advent. The Lord said the following to His Apostles at their last gathering prior to the crucifixion:
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).
The Lord will actually come twice. The first time will be the Rapture, or catching away, of the church. He will not actually touch down on the Earth, but we will be “caught up” to join Him in the air. And we will “ever be with the Lord.” This first coming is to take the church out prior to the judgment that will come on the world. The final coming, or Second Coming, is for judgment on a rebellious world that has rejected Him and the Salvation He graciously offers. Paul continues to reveal the mystery of the promise that those in the Body of Christ living at the time of the Rapture will not die.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trump will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52).
The Trump of God (1 Thessalonians 4:17) will sound and all those that have died in the Lord previously will rise to meet the Lord in the air. Those of us that are alive at the time of the Rapture will join them in the air and we will all be with the Lord. We are also told here that we will be raised incorruptible. This speaks of our Glorified Body. The Apostle Paul goes on to explain this in the following verse.
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53).
We are saved by the Precious Blood of Jesus, but we still have a sin nature as we seek to walk out our life. This verse speaks of receiving our Glorified Body which will have no sin nature. As well, we are mortal now meaning we are subject to death. When we receive our Glorified Body, we will never die.
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” (1 Corinthians 15:54).
Those who love the Lord have a great future. No more sin nature. No more death. We are changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye ” and we will be with the Lord forever. The Lord showed us this mystery to give us encouragement and to let us know what awaits us when He returns for us. Whether we pass this life before the Rapture or are alive at the time, we know the Lord will fulfill all He has promised. There is total victory coming for those who have come by faith to the Lord. His death on the Cross ensures our victory over the world, the flesh and the Devil. Isaiah foretold of this mystery some 700 years prior to the Lord’s first Advent. The Apostle Paul opened it up showing us exactly what is coming. We’ll close with what Isaiah gave us regarding this mystery and what the Lord promised those that love Him.
“He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 25:8).
Always Remember,
God Loves You!
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