What Happens After Death? (14)

Two groups resurrected at Christ's return:

In both passages Paul distinguishes between two groups of Christ's followers—those who have died and those who are still alive when Jesus returns—both of whom will be in this resurrection. Although “it is appointed for men to die once” (Hebrews 9:27), some will remain alive when Jesus returns. So what will happen to these faithful followers who are still alive then?

At that time, these people's physical lives will be over, because they will be miraculously and instantaneously changed to incorruptible spirit, inheriting the gift of eternal life.

Paul describes this wonderful change a little earlier in the same chapter. “So also is the resurrection of the dead,” he wrote. “The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body [flesh and blood], it is raised a spiritual body [no longer physical, but composed of spirit]. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

Paul then explains that while “the first man Adam became a living being,” a physical creature of the dust of the earth, “the last Adam [Jesus Christ] became a life-giving spirit” (verse 45)—that is, He was resurrected as a spirit being with a body composed of spirit. And so it will be with us, as Paul explains.

The apostle continues: “And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man [Christ]. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption” (verses 49-50).

At the end of our physical lives—the conclusion of this temporary and mortal existence—comes death. After that comes a resurrection in which we must be changed because, as Paul wrote, mortal “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” Those who are “in Christ”—who have been called, repented, been baptized and been led by God—will be transformed in that resurrection to eternal, spiritual life, glorified as spirit beings like the resurrected Jesus Christ (Romans 8:16-17).

What happens after the resurrection?

The words quoted earlier from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 describe Jesus' triumphant return to earth. Heralded by the shout of an archangel and the sounding of a trumpet, God will resurrect the dead in Christ to eternal life; the living who are Christ's will be changed from mortal to immortal and will ascend to meet and greet Him.

Scriptures show that those in this resurrection will not stay in “heaven” (in this case the earth's atmosphere—“the air,” as it states) with Christ, but will descend with Him as He takes control of and begins to reign over the nations (see Daniel 2:44; 7:13-18; Zechariah 14:1-4; Acts 15:15-17; Revelation 11:15; 19:15).

The resurrected saints (this term meaning those sanctified or set apart, applying to all of Christ's followers) will reign with Christ on earth in His Kingdom. As Revelation 5:10 states, Jesus will make them “a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (New International Version).

To be cont'd. 

God bless you all.