The Apostle Paul wrote this to the Christians in Corinth:

“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 trumpet. 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. 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.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:50-57

Paul made a few things perfectly clear toward the end of his letter to the Corinthians:

  • flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God
  • nor does corruption inherit incorruption
  • we shall all be changed
  • this corruptible must put on incorruption
  • this mortal must put on immortality
  • Death is swallowed up in victory

If you are a human being reading this article right now, I can make a basic assumption – you are flesh and blood and cannot inherit the kingdom of God unless you experience a change. That change includes ‘corruption’ putting on ‘incorruption,’ and ‘mortal’ putting on ‘immortality.’ What does that mean and how can it happen to you?

According to what we read in the Bible humans are made up of flesh and blood. Based on what Paul wrote humans cannot ‘inherit’ the kingdom of God. What does that mean – ‘inherit?’

The word ‘inherit’ means ‘receive (money, property, or a title) as an heir at the death of the previous holder’ (Oxford Languages). The Greek word that Paul used is κληρονομέω and means ‘to be an heir to.’ It comes from the noun κληρονόμος which means ‘getting by apportionment.’ According to the Apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit claimed that ‘flesh and blood’ cannot be an heir to the ‘Kingdom of God.’

Paul went on to claim that ‘corruption’ cannot inherit ‘incorruption.’ The word ‘corruption’ in the Greek is φθορά (decay, destruction, perishable). The word ‘incorruption’ is ἄφθαρτος (undecaying, incorruptible, not perishable, immortal).

Think about what Paul just wrote: human beings (flesh and blood) cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. That’s not good news. So, is there any good news that Paul has for us? Absolutely.

Change Is Coming!

“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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

The Apostle Paul used the word ‘mystery’ (μυστήριον) more than any other New Testament writer. We find the reason for that in 2 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians chapters 1 and 3. God ‘revealed’ mysteries (secrets) to Paul that He had withheld until the time was right for the special revelation. God showed Paul things that are to come and told Him what He could and could not reveal. What you just read above is one of the secrets God allowed Paul to reveal.

Even though ‘flesh and blood’ cannot inherit the Kingdom of God because of human corruption and mortality, God can change that so some humans will inherit the Kingdom of God. How so? By being a ‘faith follower’ of Jesus Christ – which is another way of saying ‘being saved.’ Being ‘saved’ means that Christians (true faith followers of Christ) will be ‘changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.’ Now that’s a quick change indeed!

The word ‘changed’ is ἀλλάσσω and means ‘transformed, exchanged.’ This ‘change’ will happen in ‘an instant.’ That the meaning of the word ἄτομος. Paul wrote that the change will happen in ‘an atom of time.’ That’s the idea of ἄτομος (atomos). It’s an ‘uncut, indivisible’ amount of time. It’s so fast that it can’t be divided into something faster. Paul also wrote that this ‘instant of time’ would be like the ‘twinkling of an eye’ (ῥιπή ὀφθαλμός). The word ῥιπή (rhipé) is another way of saying ‘instant of time.’ The Corinthians would have understood clearly how fast this ‘change’ would happen – instantaneously.

What happens at this ‘change?’

“…the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

If the Corinthians were familiar with the first letter Paul had written to the Christians in Thessalonica, they would have probably remember this:

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Paul was making the same truth claim to the Corinthians that he made to the Thessalonians. It’s consistent because it’s the truth. It’s what the Holy Spirit showed Paul was going to happen to God’s children. God is going to raise the dead (‘those who sleep in Jesus) and they would be ‘caught up’ ( ἁρπάζω – snatch away, seize, take by force) together to meet the Lord Jesus ‘in the clouds’ (ἐν νεφέλη) and be with Him ‘always’ (πάντοτε – ever more, at all times). How quickly would this ‘snatching up’ take place? Instantly – in the twinkling of an eye.

The Change

Just what is this ‘change?’

“… 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.” 1 Corinthians 15:52-53

  • The dead will be ‘raised’ ( ἐγείρω – awakened, roused from sleep/death)
  • The dead will be raised ‘incorruptible’ (ἄφθαρτος – imperishable, immortal, not liable to corruption or decay)
  • We shall be changed (ἀλλαγησόμεθα. – will be altered, changed, exchanged, made different, transformed)
  • This ‘corruptible’ (φθαρτός) must put on ‘incorruption’ (ἀφθαρσία)
  • This ‘mortal’ (θνητός) must put on ‘immortality’ (ἀθανασία)

So, what happens when this future ‘mystery’ occurs?

“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.” 1 Corinthians 15:54-57

The ‘instant’ God’s children are caught up to meet with Christ in the clouds, death is ‘swallowed up in victory’ (καταπίνω ὁ θάνατος εἰς νῖκος). Physical death that affects all ‘flesh and blood,’ will be swallowed up (devoured, overwhelmed, gulped entirely) in victory that is the result of ‘conquest.’ Our eternal future is based upon the victorious conquest of Jesus Christ! He wants us with Him forever and He will soon return to ‘seize us up’ to Himself. However, in order for us to be with Him forever we ‘must be changed.’ That’s why ‘corruptible’ will put on ‘incorruption,’ and ‘mortal’ will put on ‘immortality.

What Will Change Look Like?

If ‘flesh and blood’ cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, what does that mean we will be like after ‘the change?’ Paul addressed the question of our physical change:

“For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?” Romans 8:22-24

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-15

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30

“… how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 9:14-16

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:11-14

The Apostle John wrote this:

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2

Becoming ‘incorruptible’ and ‘immortal’ will be a huge change for us. Why? Because what we know in this world is corruption and mortality. As Paul wrote

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Our physical bodies are decaying and we will eventually die unless Jesus returns for us first. The Bible often speaks of human life as being very short (e.g. Job 14:1; Psalm 90:10; 103:15-16; James 4:14). Billions of people have died on earth since Cain killed his brother. God warned Adam that he would ‘die’ if he disobeyed the Lord. Adam disobeyed and God told him what life would be like for humans – “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19)

What God revealed through Paul is that those who are ‘saved’ will be ‘changed.’ Corruption will put on incorruption and mortal will put on immortality. That is a wonderful promise that we can look forward to as God’s children.

Paul wrote this as his own earthly life was coming to an end. He was writing to Timothy who would carry on Paul’s ministry after the apostle died.

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called uswith a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Timothy 1:8-12

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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