Final Events

In explaining the resurrection, Paul lists key events that will precede or coincide with Christ’s arrival at the end of the age.

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

Nowhere does Paul use any Greek term for this event that equates to English terms like ‘rapture,’ ‘translate,’ ‘transport,’ or ‘remove.’ He speaks of the coming,” “revelation,” or “arrival” of Jesus on the “Day of the Lord” when he will raise the dead and gather his elect.

[Photo by Adityan Ramkumar on Unsplash]

Our resurrection, the final judgment, and the New Creation are linked to Christ’s return elsewhere in the New Testament, and this also is the case in 1 Corinthians:

• “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 shall 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. Afterward, the end, whensoever he delivers up the Kingdom to his God and Father, whensoever he shall bring to nothing all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he shall 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 did not provide a detailed roadmap of future events. His purpose was to demonstrate the necessity of bodily resurrection. Some believers in Corinth denied the resurrection of believers. However, he did present the key events that will occur on that Day - (1 Corinthians 15:12).

Paul anchored our future resurrection in Christ’s past Death and 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 yet in our sins.” Our coming resurrection is linked inextricably to his resurrection.

We will experience a resurrection of the same kind as Christ though at a different time, namely, when he returns. His resurrection was the “first fruits” of the general resurrection of the dead.

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 will receive immortality, the Kingdom will be consummated, and the present age will end.

Paul explained 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.” The Spirit will dominate our resurrection life. We will no longer be subject to death or decay - “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit in-corruption.”

• (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, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s Kingdom. Neither does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, a mystery do I declare to you: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, during the last trumpet; for it shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must clothe itself with incorruptibility, and this mortal clothe itself with immortality…”

We will be resurrected at Christ’s ‘Parousia’ or “arrival.” Since Death, the “Last Enemy,” will cease from then on, no enemies will remain for Jesus to defeat. Paul leaves us no doubt that “resurrection” will mean everlasting life in an immortal “body” rather than a disembodied state.

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SEE ALSO:

• The Death of Death - (The future arrival of Jesus will mean the end of the Last Enemy, namely, Death - 1 Corinthians 15:24-28)

• The Day of Christ - (Jesus will arrive on the Day of the Lord when the dead are raised, the wicked are judged, and death will cease forever)

• Disinformation - (Rumors about the Day of the Lord caused alarm and confusion in the Thessalonian congregation – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2)