Final Events

In explaining the resurrection, Paul lists key events that will precede or coincide with the arrival of Jesus at the close of the present age.

Paul outlined the events that will occur at or shortly before the “arrival” of Jesus in 1 Corinthians. The Greek noun ‘Parousia’ or “arrival” is one of several terms Paul applies to the future coming of the Lord in his letters. Regardless of which term is used, the Apostle always refers to one “coming,” one “appearance,” one “revelation” and one “appearance” of the Son of God, not two or more.

[Sundown - Photo by Jenna Beekhuis on Unsplash]

Nowhere does Paul use any Greek word for this event that equates to English terms such as ‘rapture,’ ‘translate,’ ‘transport,’ or ‘remove.’ He speaks of the coming,” “revelation,” or “arrival” of Jesus on the “Day of the Lord” when he will descend to Earth, raise the dead, and gather his elect to be with him “forevermore.” Paul’s view reflects the teachings of Jesus:

• “And then will appear the sign of the Son of man in Heaven<…> and he will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” – (Matthew 24:30-31).

• “Now, we beseech you, brothers, concerning the arrival (‘Parousia’) of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him<…>” - (2 Thessalonians 2:1).

Our resurrection, the final judgment, and the New Creation are linked to Christ’s return elsewhere in the New Testament, and this is the case also in 1 Corinthians with a special emphasis on the resurrection of the saints:

• “But now has Christ been raised from among the dead, a first fruit of them who have fallen asleep; for since, indeed, through a man came death, through a man also comes the raising of the dead<…> For, just as in Adam all die, so also, in Christ will all be made alive. But each in his own rank: Christ, a first fruit, after that, they who are the Christ’s at his arrival (‘Parousia’). Afterward, the end, when he delivers up the Kingdom to his God and Father, whenever he will bring to nothing all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he will put all his enemies under his feet: As a last enemy, death is to be destroyed, for He put all things in subjection under his feet” - (1 Corinthians 15:20-28).

Paul does not provide a detailed roadmap of all future events in this letter. His purpose in 1 Corinthians is to demonstrate the necessity for our future bodily resurrection. Some believers in Corinth were denying the resurrection of believers - (1 Corinthians 15:12).

Paul anchors our future resurrection in Christ’s past resurrection. If there is no resurrection for us, “not even Christ has been raised, and if Christ has not been raised<…> to no purpose is our faith, we are still in our sins.” Our coming resurrection is linked inextricably to the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. If there is no resurrection, we are of all men most miserable, and our faith has been in vain.

We will experience a resurrection of the same kind as Christ did though at a different time, namely, when he returns (“each in his own order”). His resurrection was the “first fruits” of the general resurrection of the dead, the first of a great many yet to come.

Christ’s “arrival” or ‘Parousia’ (παρουσια) will be preceded by the subjugation of “all his enemies.” When that day comes, the dead will be raised and believers who remain alive will be transformed bodily. We, the dead and the living, will receive immortality, the Kingdom will be consummated, and the present age will end (“then comes the end”).

ENDING DEATH

When Jesus appears, the “Last Enemy, Death,” will cease, death will no longer occur and the sentence of death on us will be reversed forever when Christ raises us from the dead.

Paul explains further what kind of body we will inherit (“How are the dead raised and with what manner of body do they come?”). It will be “incorruptible and glorious,” like Christ’s glorified resurrection body.

The Spirit will dominate our resurrection life. Our immortal bodies will be equipped for life in the Spirit. The old struggles between flesh and spirit will be a thing of the past. Consequently, we will no longer be subject to death or decay:

• (1 Corinthians 15:49-57) – “And even as we have borne the image of the man of earth, let us also bear the image of the man of heaven. And this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s Kingdom. Neither does corruption inherit incorruptibility. Behold, I declare a mystery to you. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, during the last trumpet; for it will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must clothe itself with incorruptibility, and this mortal clothe itself with immortality.”

We will be resurrected at Christ’s “arrival.” Since death will cease, there will be no more enemies left for Jesus to defeat. Paul leaves us no doubt that “resurrection” will mean everlasting life in an immortal “body” rather than a disembodied state.

All this is why Paul concluded his defense of the resurrection on a high note of victory:

• “But when this corruptible puts on incorruptibility, and this mortal has put on immortality, then the saying will come to pass, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But God be thanked who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” – (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

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SEE ALSO:

• The Great Day - (The arrival of Jesus will mark the end of the present order, the resurrection of the dead, and the start of the New Creation)

• Terminating Death - (The arrival of Jesus at the end of the age will mean the resurrection and the end of the Last Enemy, namely, Death - 1 Corinthians 15:24-28)

• Resurrection and Salvation - (Central to the hope of the Apostolic Faith is the bodily resurrection of the dead at the end of the age)

• Eventos Finales - (Al explicar la resurrección, Pablo enumera eventos clave que precederán o coincidirán con la llegada de Jesús al final de la era presente)