In his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul outlines the events that will occur at the “arrival” or ‘parousia’ of Jesus, one of several Greek terms applied by him to Christ’s return. But regardless of which term he employs, he always speaks of one “coming,” “revelation,” or “appearance” of the Lord at the end of the age.

In the New Testament, the resurrection of the righteous, the final judgment, and the New Creation are all linked to his return, and this is also the case in the Apostle’s first letter to the Corinthians:

• (1 Corinthians 15:20-25) – “But now has Christ been raised from among the dead, a first fruit of them who have fallen asleep… 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.”

THE RESURRECTION IS PIVOTAL

Paul does not provide a detailed roadmap of future events and end-time chronologies. His purpose is to present arguments that demonstrate the necessity for the future bodily resurrection of believers.

Apparently, some members of the church in Corinth were denying the reality of or necessity for the resurrection – (1 Corinthians 15:12).

Paul anchors the future resurrection of the righteous in the past resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. If there is no future resurrection, then “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.”

Thus, the future resurrection of believers is linked inextricably to the past raising of Jesus from the dead.

And his return will be preceded by the subjugation of “all his enemies.” When he does arrive, the dead will be raised, believers still alive will be transformed and receive immortality, death will cease, the kingdom of God will be consummated, and the present age will end.

IMMORTALITY

Additionally, Paul explains what kind of body the saints will inherit at the resurrection (“How are the dead raised and with what manner of body do they come?”).

We will be raised “incorruptible, in glory and power.” Thereafter, our bodies will be dominated by the Spirit of God. No longer will our bodies be subject to death and decay – “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit in-corruption.”

Paul concludes his discussion by demonstrating the necessity for the transformation of the human body before it can inherit everlasting life. The bodies of both living and dead saints must be transformed into bodies dominated by the “spirit,” as well as ones that are incorruptible and can no longer die:

• (1 Corinthians 15:49-57) – “And even as we have borne the image of the man of the 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…”

Thus, according to the Apostle to the Gentiles, the resurrection of the righteous will occur at the one parousia or “arrival” of Jesus, an event that also will terminate the jurisdiction of death, the “last enemy.”

Moreover, this means there will be no more enemies to defeat after that day. And Paul leaves us with no doubt that “resurrection” means we will live in an immortal “body,” not in a disembodied state.

And the receipt of our immortal bodies will mean the arrival of the “new creation” since reconstituting dead men and women as immortal beings is nothing less than an act of new creation.

Above all, Paul connects all these glorious events to the “arrival” of Jesus at the end of the present age.

[Download PDF copy from Google Drive]