1 Corinthians 15:50-54 (WEL) Now, this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Look, I’ll tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed. 52 Instantly, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For what can decay must put on what cannot decay, and what can die will put on what cannot die. 54 So when this which can decay will have put on what cannot decay, and what will die will have put on what cannot die, then the saying will be brought to pass which is written, “Death is destroyed in victory.”
V50 Now, this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit incorruption.
The physical body we have now cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is where God reigns. The believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ has the kingdom in our heart. Heaven, where God presently has His throne, is the Kingdom of God. The Millennium will be the Kingdom of God when Jesus physically sits on His throne in Jerusalem. Eventually, everything will be the Kingdom of God except for the Lake of Fire.
Dr Andy Woods, via AskAndy AI: “The Kingdom of God is the sovereign, eternal rule of God over all creation, but more specifically, it refers to the future, earthly reign of Jesus Christ as King. This Kingdom is a literal, physical kingdom that will be established on the earth, with Jerusalem as its center of spiritual and political authority. It is a time when Christ will reign from David’s throne, bringing perfect justice, peace, and righteousness to the world. The Kingdom will be characterized by the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel, universal knowledge of the Lord, and the restoration of creation to its intended state—no war, no hunger, peace among animals, and abundant prosperity. While the Kingdom of God is a present spiritual reality in the hearts of believers through the Holy Spirit, the full manifestation of the Kingdom is yet future. Jesus offered the Kingdom to Israel during His earthly ministry, but because Israel rejected Him, the Kingdom’s physical establishment was postponed. The Church age is an interim period before the Kingdom comes in its fullness. At Christ’s second coming, He will establish this Kingdom on earth, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and bringing God’s perfect rule to all nations. In summary, the Kingdom of God is both the present spiritual reign of God in believers and the future, literal, earthly reign of Christ that will bring about universal peace, righteousness, and justice.”
Our body of flesh is contaminated by sin, is cursed, and will die. The resurrection body as the Lord had is the eternal body/tent for the soul and spirit. This body cannot be destroyed. The Kingdom of God is where God reigns eternally and has no contamination from sin.
V51 Look, I’ll tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.
A mystery in the Bible is not something hidden to be searched and found. It is a truth clouded as to the obvious truth, but it is now revealed by the Apostles and prophets. Sleep refers to physical death.
V52 Instantly, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
The creation of the new body is instantaneous. The last trump is the last trump for the church, the believers from Pentecost to the Rapture. The word “we” refers to Paul’s expectation of the Rapture.
Dr. Henry Morris writes: “Paul is not referring to the last of the seven trumpets in the Apocalypse (Revelation 8:2; Revelation 11:15), for the book of Revelation had not yet been written and Paul obviously intended for the Corinthians to understand what he meant. The sounding of an angelic trumpet at the resurrection day had also been mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Trumpets were traditionally associated with calls to action (e.g., 1 Corinthians 14:8; Judges 7:20), and this particular trumpet sounded in heaven will call all saints, living and dead, to ascend into heaven to meet the returning Christ. It is, therefore, “the last trump” of this present age of the church.”
V53 For what can decay must put on what cannot decay, and what can die will put on what cannot die.
This is the meaning of Paul’s illustration of the planted seed in verses 35-42. We cannot keep this old, decaying body forever. God wants people to have an eternal body. The believers live in their new body serving God forever. Unbelievers live in their new body tormented in the Lake of Fire forever.
V54 So when this which can decay will have put on what cannot decay, and what will die will have put on what cannot die, then the saying will be brought to pass which is written, “Death is destroyed in victory.”
The new body cannot be destroyed. Decay is part of the curse. The soul is eternal. The victory is the promise to believers of a new body that does not decay and an eternity in heaven with God serving Him in whatever He wishes in the New Heavens and Earth. See 1 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1. It was foretold by Isaiah in Isaiah 65:17.
We learn:
- The fleshly body we now have will be destroyed in death.
- The new, eternal body will happen in the Resurrection. There is a resurrection as written in Daniel 12:2, John 5:29, and Matthew 25:46.
Questions:
- What resurrection will experience? Will it be eternal life or eternal punishment?
- Do you rejoice in God’s promises?
John 11:25-27 (MEV) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, yet shall he live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”