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Friday October 21
How will the dead be raised? Yes, what kind of body will they come with? (1 Cor. 15:35).
Many people have their own ideas about what happens after death. Now, what does the Bible teach? When someone dies, their body decomposes. But Jehovah, who created the universe out of nothing, can resurrect that person and give him the body he needs (Gen. 1:1; 2:7). The apostle Paul used an example to explain that God does not give him the same body, but that he can give each one "the body he wants." He spoke of "a mere grain" or a "seed" that is planted in the ground and grows into a new plant. That plant is very different from that little seed. Paul also said that "there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies." What did he mean? Those of us who live on Earth have physical bodies, but those who live in heaven have spiritual bodies, such as angels (1 Cor. 15:36-41). w20.12 9, 10 paras. 7-9.
What kind of body will those who are resurrected in heaven have?
Paul continued his explanation by saying: “It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. He is sown in corruption and is raised in incorruption.” Of course, when someone dies, his body decomposes and returns to dust (Gen. 3:19). So how is it possible for a body to be resurrected “incorruption”? Paul was not referring to a human being who is resurrected on earth, like the people who were resurrected by Elijah, Elisha, and Jesus. Rather, he was referring to those who are resurrected with a heavenly body, that is, “a spiritual one” (1 Cor. 15:42-44).
What change did Jesus undergo when he was resurrected, and what can be said about the anointed ones?
When Jesus was on earth, he had a physical body. But, upon being resurrected, he "became a spirit that gives life" and returned to heaven. Similarly, the anointed would be resurrected as spirit beings. Paul explained, “Just as we are the image of him that was made from dust, so we will also be the image of him that is heavenly” (1 Cor. 15:45-49).
It is important to remember that Jesus did not rise with a human body. When Paul was getting to the most important point of his analysis, he explained why: "Flesh and bone cannot inherit the Kingdom of God" in heaven (1 Cor. 15:50). The apostles and the other anointed ones would not go to heaven with bodies of flesh and blood, which are corrupted. Now, when would they be resurrected? Paul made it clear that this resurrection would take place in the future; they would not experience it right after they died. By the time Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, some disciples—such as the apostle James—had already “fallen asleep in death,” and the other apostles and other anointed ones would do so later (1 Cor. 15:6; Acts 12:1, two).
What would happen during the presence of Jesus?
Both Jesus and Paul spoke prophetically of the presence of Christ, a very important period characterized by wars, earthquakes, epidemics and other world events. This prophecy, which we have been seeing fulfilled since 1914, has another important part. Jesus said that the good news of the Kingdom would be preached “in all the inhabited earth for a testimony to all nations,” and then the end would come (Matt. 24:3, 7-14). Paul indicated that during “the presence of the Lord” anointed Christians who had “fallen asleep in death” would be resurrected in heaven (1 Thess. 4:14-16; 1 Cor. 15:23).
What happens to the anointed who die during the presence of Christ?
Today, anointed Christians who complete their lives on earth are immediately resurrected in heaven. How do we know? From Paul's words at 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52: “We will not all fall asleep in death, but we will all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, during the last trumpet blast.” These words are now being fulfilled. Once they are resurrected, these brothers of Christ will have complete happiness; they will always be “with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17).
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