In the last lesson we looked at the difference between the natural, physical, flesh and blood body and the supernatural, spiritual, flesh and bone, resurrection body. And we’re ready for 1 Corinthians 15:50, “Now I tell you this, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”
This is Paul’s final comparison – natural born, flesh and blood people cannot inherit the kingdom of God. We have to look at this. First of all, the “kingdom of God” is the rule of God over the universe throughout eternity after His enemies have been defeated (1 Corinthians 15:24). However, as we have alluded in previous lessons, the eternal earth will be populated by natural born, flesh and blood people.
This is not a contradiction. In Matthew 25:31-34 Jesus describes the judgment of the nations following the 7-year tribulation period, where He determines who is permitted to enter His 1,000-year millennial kingdom. The determining factor is not their belief in Him, but their attitude towards Israel (remember, the purpose of the tribulation is to defeat the enemies of Israel – those destined to be the spiritual leaders of the eternal earth). However, circumstances being what they are at this time, it’s hard to imagine anyone not believing in Him. On the other hand, evil is still present on the earth and the final battle to eradicate that evil will not be fought for another 1,000 years (Revelation 20:7-9).
Now, also remember the 1,000-year reign of Christ on the earth is to prepare it (both physically and spiritually) for eternity, when the Father comes to earth with the heavenly city, New Jerusalem, to make His abode with men on the earth forever (Revelation 21:1-5). As we will see in future lessons as we look at the tribulation, millennium and eternal state in detail; there will be natural born, flesh and blood people who will survive these times, enter eternity in those natural bodies and live forever on a renewed earth, where God is present and the curse has been removed (Revelation 22:2-3).
So, what is Paul saying here? We have only to look at it in context – the difference between a natural body and a supernatural one. What I will attempt to explain in the remainder of this lesson is that those who experience any part of what is called the first resurrection will enter eternity in a supernatural, incorruptible body like Christ’s resurrection body and enjoy the fullness of this eternal kingdom with Him.
And probably the best way to illustrate this is to look at Romans 8:17 that says, “And if we are His children, then we are also His heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; only we must share His sufferings so we can be glorified together.” There are two points here: the first is that we are “joint heirs” with Christ (sugkleronomos refers to a personal equality); and we will be “glorified together” (sundoxazo, literally, to be honored along with).
And before I’m accused (again) of saying glorified saints in eternity are “little gods” or “little Gods”, just let me say there is a vast difference between having all authority and being a representative of that authority. We will share His honor, but we’ll never have His authority. We will be like Him in many ways; but we will never be Him.
Let’s move on to verses 51-53, “Listen, this is a mystery, we will not all sleep (in death), but we will all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet call. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised to immortality, and we will be changed. For the perishable must become imperishable, and the mortal must become immortal.”
We’ve already looked at this in some detail in an earlier lesson in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, where Paul explains the order of the resurrection and rapture. These passages are essentially the same, except this one has more detail. At this time everyone who is in Christ (the living) or ever was in Christ in the past (the dead) will be changed from mortality to immortality. Then Paul explains the timing of the rapture and resurrection in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, telling us it coincides with a great falling away of those professing to be Christians and the rise of the Antichrist.
Since the chronology of end-time events is somewhat confusing and both the entertainment industry and religious groups tend to toss around terms associated with future events with reckless abandon, I want to give a complete explanation of what is considered the first and second resurrection. It is common to see terms like “end of days”, “last days”, “apocalypse”, “Armageddon” and others used in unrealistic settings involving survival after a nuclear holocaust or a zombie invasion; and religious leaders looking for their 15 minutes of fame, making ignorant, out-of-context predictions of impending doom for believers.
The Scriptures tell us there are two separate resurrections. Let’s look at the first resurrection. There are actually 5 raptures that make up the first resurrection, so bear with me here and hopefully this will all be clear when we’re finished.
The first rapture is connected to Matthew 27:52-53. These verses tell us that following Christ’s resurrection, tombs were opened and the bodies of many saints were resurrected. The language here is specific – their bodies were raised to life again, changed from mortality to immortality. These resurrected saints then went into Jerusalem and appeared to many. Now, if these immortal saints were still on the earth, I’m sure we would know about it. They probably ascended with Christ, though the Scriptures don’t tell us. However, one thing is clear, immortality does not coexist with mortality in this age.
The second rapture is the one described above when everyone in Christ, both the dead and those still living are changed from mortality to immortality and taken to the presence of God. Again, the timing is clear, the beginning of the tribulation period. Do not allow yourself to fall prey to the fear mongers, hucksters and survivalists trying to convince believers they should prepare for the coming end-times disasters. All believers in Christ, both past and present, will be resurrected and raptured before the tribulation begins.
The third rapture takes place at the middle of the 7-year tribulation. This rapture involves the 144,000 Jews who have come to Christ during this time (Revelation 7:3-8). This is the manchild of Revelation 12:5, that says they are destined to rule the nations. Then Revelation 14:1-5 tells us they are in heaven with the Lamb and they follow Him wherever He goes. I explain this in more detail in a future lesson – the 144,000 are raptured to begin their training to become the spiritual leaders of the earth both in the Millennium and through eternity.
The fourth rapture takes place at the end of the tribulation period and includes only two men, the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-11. I won’t go into great detail here except to identify these two men as the only ones translated (taken up alive) to heaven – Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). They return to earth to prophesy against the enemies of God for the last 3½ years of the tribulation. Their enemies are not able to kill them until God allows it at the end. Their dead bodies lay in the street in Jerusalem for 3½ days, then a voice from heaven says, “Come up here!” and they are resurrected and ascend up to heaven as their enemies watch them go.
The fifth rapture involves those who come to Christ during the tribulation period, but are martyred for their faith. When all true believers are raptured, there will be those who realize what has happened and a great revival will break out in the world (this is predicted in Joel 2:28-32). However, during this time of God’s judgment there will be extremes of God’s presence and blessing and extremes of evil and rebellion against God. The result will be that many believers will be killed.
We see the souls of some of these martyrs asking the Lord how long it will be before their murders will be avenged. They’re told to wait until the number of all those who will be killed during this time is complete (Revelation 6:9-11). Then in Revelation 20:4-6 we see those who were beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and the word of God are brought to life again (verse 4). This completes the first resurrection (verse 5), and they reign with Christ (with all other resurrected saints) for 1,000 years (verse 6).
Now, I mentioned somewhere in Lesson 202 that everyone who has ever lived will be resurrected at some point in time and spend eternity in a resurrected body, some to life and some to damnation (again, Jesus makes it clear in John 5:28-29, compare Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:22). The first resurrection has to do with those who are raised to life, the second resurrection involves those who are raised to damnation as described in Revelation 20:11-15.