THE GREATEST MYSTERY EVER TOLD

1 CORINTHIANS 15:50-58

NASB

50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does [a]the perishable inherit [b]the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised [a]imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this [a]perishable must put on [b]the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this [a]perishable will have put on [b]the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

15:50 [a]Lit corruption [b]Lit incorruption 15:52 [a]Lit incorruptible 15:53 [a]Lit corruptible [b]Lit incorruption 15:54 [a]V 53, note 1 [b]V 53, note 2

NLT

50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die,[*] this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.[*]

55 O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?[*]”

56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

[15:54a] Some manuscripts add and our mortal bodies have been transformed into immortal bodies. [15:54b] Isa 25:8. [15:55] Hos 13:14 (Greek version).

Everybody loves a mystery, but nobody likes being left in the dark. Who among us would be content watching a Sherlock Holmes mystery that cuts off ten minutes before the ending, leaving us wondering how that great detective ingeniously pieced together the seemingly indecipherable clues? Or who could tolerate a clever riddle with no solution? Who relishes problems without answers? Or a locked room without a key? Or even jokes with no punch line? We all want to be “in on the secret,” kept in the loop, privy to insider information.

The Christian faith answers a lot of nagging questions about life: What is God like? Where did we come from? What’s wrong with us? Will it ever get fixed? What happens after death? What must I do to be saved? At the same time, the claims of the Christian faith can lead to deeper questions: How can I be sure of my salvation? How does prayer work with an all-knowing, sovereign God? How does God raise us up from the dead? Why would He do such a thing?

In the previous passage, Paul began answering some of the Corinthians’ questions regarding the doctrine of the believers’ future bodily resurrection (15:35-49). He describes the nature of the resurrection body, but another nagging question remains: If all the dead in Christ are to be raised upon His return, what about those believers in Christ who have not yet died? Will they miss out on this transformation and glorification? Will they get stuck in their mortal bodies, having to die before experiencing the glories of eternal life? To this last question, Paul responds with a resounding “No.” In 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 he addresses the destiny of those believers who are still living when Christ descends from heaven at His coming.

— 15:50 —

Paul begins addressing the question of the resurrection of believers who are still alive at the return of Christ by setting forth a principle: “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” This statement about flesh and blood might seem contrary to Paul’s teaching earlier in this chapter that we will inherit the kingdom of heaven in new bodies. But note that Paul doesn’t say, “A body cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” We know that a body can inherit the kingdom of God, because Jesus himself ascended to heaven in a body, having been raised in bodily form (Acts 1:9). It should be remembered that when Jesus was resurrected, he did, in fact, have “flesh and bones” (Luke 24:39), that is, a real physical body, though it had become perfect and immortal. So we would misread Paul’s words if we were to conclude that only immaterial spirits are fit for heaven. What then is the solution to this puzzle? Paul’s parallelism helps us understand.

Flesh and blood cannot	inherit	the kingdom of God
The perishable [cannot]	inherit	the imperishable

In his thinking, “the kingdom of God” and “the imperishable” stand in parallel to each other. The quality of the coming kingdom of God, in contrast with the present kingdom of earth, will be “imperishable.” Likewise, the bodies of believers dwelling in that kingdom of God will conform to this imperishable, incorruptible quality. Paul says that in the resurrection of the dead, the body that died was “perishable,” but it will be raised “imperishable” (1 Cor. 15:42). So, when Paul refers to “flesh and blood” that cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven, he is not referring to physical bodies per se, but to bodies that share the same fallen and physically corruptible nature of Adam.[97] By extension he is also referring to humanity’s fallen, mortal, perishable condition in this world, not unlike the way this idiom is used in Hebrews 2:14. All this stands in contrast to the existence in the spirit realm (Eph. 6:12).

So Paul assures his readers that the kind of bodies we have on earth —perishable and susceptible to pain, suffering, and death —cannot inherit the kingdom of God. That kingdom will be characterized by immortality and eternal life, excluding things that deteriorate and die. But will those who are alive in their mortal, “flesh and blood” bodies at the return of Christ be kept out of the kingdom of God? Will they have to die first and then be raised? Will they be part of a lower-quality kingdom, missing out on the infinite glories of heaven? Paul answers this question with what theologians call the doctrine of the Rapture.

— 15:51-53 —

Paul reveals the “mystery” that solves the problem of what will happen to living saints when Christ returns. Not all believers will “sleep,” that is, not everybody will die physically prior to entering the kingdom of God. Yet all believers will be “changed” (15:51) —transformed from their “flesh and blood” existence into an immortal form that can dwell throughout eternity in heaven. Not all believers will enter this new condition through resurrection; those who are still alive on earth when Christ returns to raise the church from the dead will simply be transformed without ever having died. So quick will be this transformation from mortal to immortality for the living believers that it will be like the scarcely noticeable blink of an eye (15:52).

This transformation will be heralded by the resonant sound of the “last trumpet” and immediately preceded by the resurrection of dead believers in the new, imperishable bodies that Paul describes (15:35-49). In the Bible, trumpets are used for various purposes. The trumpet blast gathered the people of Israel to meet their God (Exod. 19:16-19; Isa. 27:13). It also was to herald the coming of the Day of the Lord —a time of fierce wrath and judgment on the earth (Joel 2:1). By referring to the “last trumpet,” Paul looks forward to the end times, the final gathering of the rescued saints prior to the judgments of the Great Tribulation (Rev. 3:10).

This same event of the resurrection of dead saints and the transformation of the living is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.

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 not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

At that time, when those living in their perishable flesh and blood bodies will put on imperishable bodies, clothed in immortality instead of corruption (1 Cor. 15:53), then they will be caught up with the resurrected saints in the clouds. So, one way or another —either by resurrection or by transformation —the result will be the same. All believers in Christ will be changed and raptured —“caught up” in the sky to be with the Lord (1 Thes. 4:17). Then Christ will fulfill His promise recorded in John 14:2-3: “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

— 15:54-58 —

Having revealed the mystery of what will happen to living believers when Christ returns, Paul immediately sounds the signal of victory over the greatest enemies of humanity: sin and death. That damnable duo of destruction currently reigns over our mortal lives of “flesh and blood.” But on that day, when the trumpet sounds, God will deal a fatal blow to sin and death when our perishable, mortal bodies are transformed into imperishable, immortal bodies incapable of sin, suffering, or corruption (15:54).

Ever since the day when Adam and Eve abdicated their dominion over this world by succumbing to Satan’s temptation (Gen. 1:28-30; 3:17-19), death has reigned over all humanity. Yet on that day when death itself is reversed and God’s plan of cosmic redemption is put into motion (Rom. 8:18-23), death’s apparent victory will be undone. Paul says that on that day death itself will be conquered, its deadly stinger finally removed, its power forever crushed (1 Cor. 15:55).[98]

After the resurrection and rapture of believers, never again will we grieve the loss of a loved one. Never again will we worry about terminal diseases. Never again will we cope with the frailties of old age. Never again will we plan funerals, execute wills, and worry about the loved ones we leave behind. Never again will we need to nurse the lingering emptiness and grief we feel when a spouse, a child, or a parent is taken from us by the enemy. On that day, death’s sting will be permanently gone. What a magnificent promise!

Paul explains that death gains its authority over man through sin (1 Cor. 15:56). By the Law, sin is strengthened, as it condemns us before a holy and righteous God, reminding us that the “wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). When we are raised up from the grave or transformed and caught up from this earth, the impulse to sin will be eradicated. Never again will we suffer as victims of robberies or violent crimes. Never again will people devastate families through incurable addictions. Never again will marriages be broken, children abused, families abandoned. Never again will we watch helplessly as society deteriorates around us. Instead, sin itself will be vanquished by life, immortality, and eternal righteousness —a victory over sin and death that can come only “through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).

These profound promises are already enough to fuel our hope for a lifetime. That abiding hunger for a world set right will one day be satisfied with the resurrection and the world to come. But Paul concludes this discussion on our future hope not with another look forward but with a hard look inward and outward. In light of the hope of our resurrection —made sure by Christ’s resurrection —we are to be “steadfast, immovable,” abounding in God’s work with full assurance that there will be a reward for our labors (15:58). Because all Scripture is given by God “so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:17), it should come as no surprise that these prophetic truths would lead to practical applications. God didn’t reveal details of the end times so we could get our prophecy charts right. He gave them so we could get our lives right.

EXCURSUS: IS PAUL’S “LAST TRUMPET” THE SEVENTH TRUMPET OF REVELATION?

1 CORINTHIANS 15:53

At this point I need to clarify a common misunderstanding about the “last trumpet” described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. He writes, “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will 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 imperishable, and we will be changed.” Referring to the same event, Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”

Some scholars equate the “last trumpet” in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and “the trumpet of God” in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 announcing the rapture of the church with the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15. On the surface this may seem like a reasonable assumption, given that the seventh trumpet in Revelation appears to be the last trumpet of a series. A close examination, however, reveals that these two trumpets refer to separate prophetic events.

The seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15 clearly announces the final phase of the wrath of God during the future Tribulation, the beginning of Christ’s reign, and the praises of the heavenly chorus in response to this epochal change of power. In contrast, Paul’s end-times trumpet refers to the bodily resurrection and the “catching up” of believing saints from the earth. When we place all these accounts side by side, we observe that the only thing these passages have in common is the mention of a trumpet. So, is it still possible that Paul’s “last trumpet” and John’s seventh trumpet are the same?

To answer this question, we must keep in mind that Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians around AD 50 and 1 Corinthians around AD 55. Because John had his visions and wrote Revelation around AD 96, Paul would not have been aware of the series of seven trumpet judgments recorded in the book of Revelation. So, we can confidently conclude that Paul himself was not referring to the seventh trumpet of Revelation when he mentioned the “last trumpet.” But could John have been referring back to Paul’s final trumpet when he mentions the angel sounding the seventh trumpet in Revelation 11:15? Had it been John’s intention to make this connection, he probably would have used the term “last trumpet” to erase any doubt. Or he would have at least made a specific reference to the saints’ resurrection and rapture, or to the descent of Christ —events announced by Paul’s “last trumpet.”

In light of this, it appears that these two trumpet blasts refer to separate prophetic events. Paul’s “last trumpet” announces the resurrection, rapture, and rescue of the church from the earth prior to the beginning of the seven-year tribulation period. The seventh trumpet blast of Revelation 11 brings the series of trumpet judgments to a close, previews both the wrath and reign of Christ, and makes way for the visions leading up to the seven bowls of wrath (Rev. 12–16).

1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-52	1 THESSALONIANS 4:14-17	REVELATION 11:15-18
Last trumpet sounds	Christ descends from heaven	Seventh angel sounds
	Voice of archangel is heard
	Trumpet of God sounds
Dead saints raised	Dead saints raised
Living saints changed
	Living saints caught up
	Resurrected and raptured saints meet Christ in the air
		World kingdom becomes Christ’s kingdom
		God takes His power and begins to reign
		God’s wrath comes
		Dead judged
		Prophets and saints rewarded

APPLICATION: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:50-58

Our Response to the Mystery

Paul’s teaching about our resurrection and rapture, and its implications for the Christian’s victory over sin and death, leads to a practical response. It isn’t just “sweet by-and-by” truth to ponder during quiet moments when we have time to theorize about the ephemeral. This is life-changing truth meant to affect the decisions we make Monday through Sunday.

Paul doesn’t urge that believers set dates for the Rapture, quit their jobs, and sell their possessions to wait for the loud blast of the last trumpet. Indeed, Jesus told us that no one except the Father knows the season, day, or hour of His return (Matt. 24:36, 42; Acts 1:6-7). From the human perspective, Christ could return at any moment. Accordingly, Paul encourages believers to live in light of the Lord’s imminent return, to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).

Did you catch that? In response to the doctrine of our any-moment resurrection, transformation, and catching up to be with Christ, we should remain firm in our faith, immovable in our convictions, and abounding in our Christian lives. We should live with the Lord’s reward to us in view, fulfilling God’s unique calling in our lives.

We can’t wait until the trumpet sounds to give attention to our spiritual lives. By then it will be too late. We will have squandered countless opportunities in this life to render service to the Lord out of gratitude not only for what He has done for us, but for what He will do. Do we live as if today could be our last chance to invest time in life’s most significant things? What would our daily schedules look like if we knew Christ was returning at eleven o’clock tonight? Well, the secret’s out. He is coming back! We’ll be transformed into immortal bodies to spend eternity with Him wherever He goes. When He does come, will He find us abounding in His work? Standing steadfast? Unable to be swayed? In short, are we living today in light of His return?