A Secret Revealed

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed– in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.

For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
　
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

"O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
　
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1Cor 15:50-58
This passage starts off with the bad news. We cannot make it to heaven in our current bodies. They are perishing, even as we consider these words. They are not suited to the eternal life Jesus has in store for us. So, what shall we do? Aren’t you glad Paul didn’t stop with those opening remarks? I know I am!

He continues with the good news. There is a solution for our problem. And, it’s something we have no way of knowing apart from special revelation.

God revealed it to Paul so he could share it with us. It’s been a secret from eternity past, but Paul has the privilege of telling us one of God’s secrets!

If you are one of those, "I wanna know" kinda people, you should love this passage.

When Paul says he is telling us a mystery, the root word in the Greek for mystery means "to shut the mouth." (I wonder if that’s where we get the common expression we use today?) I can see why he uses such a word. This revelation is truly stunning.

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed– in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.
Consider being changed from a mortal to an immortal in a nano second and never having to face death. This is something entirely new.

Enoch and Elijah were taken before death but no details were given about a bodily change. We don’t know if they became immortals or have been preserved in their flesh and bone bodies for a future assignment. Many scholars believe they may be the two witnesses in the Book of Revelation who will be killed and resurrected after three days.

And, Jesus, Himself, died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected on the third day with His immortal body.

So, Paul’s revelation about receiving a new body without having to die is a new thing! Well, shut my mouth!
　
Talk about victory. Now that’s something to shout about!

Thanks Be to God, Who Gives Us the Victory Through Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Maranatha! Be encouraged in the Lord!