Part One
"This Is the [Chief] Resurrection
of the [Special] Dead." 1 Cor. 15:42
The resurrection of the Church is designated the First
Resurrection, not in the sense of priority (though it will have priority), but in the
sense of being chief, best, superior. With what bodies will the New Creatures in
Christ come forth? What will be some of their qualities and powers?
"As is the earthy so are they also that are
earthy;
and as is the heavenly
so are they also that are heavenly."
1 Cor. 15:48
The world in general will experience
restitution to human perfection. They will be earthly–like the first Adam before he
sinned. The world has a grand prospect of again becoming full and complete earthly images
of the divine Creator.
But more precious are the promises made to the
Christian Church, "the called ones" according to the divine purpose. The
Christian’s hope is to be resurrected in the image of the heavenly Creator in a still
higher and more particular sense. They are not to be fleshly images, but spiritual images.
"We shall be like him
[the glorified "changed" Jesus],
for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2
Christ Jesus is a spirit being, "the express
image of the Father’s person." He is "far above angels,
principalities and powers, and every name that is named," and hence, far above
perfect manhood. If we shall be like Christ and share his glory and his nature, it means
that we too shall be images of the Father’s person, "whom no man
hath seen nor can see, dwelling in light which no man can approach
unto"; but to whom we can approach and whom we can see as he is, because we have been
"changed."1 Tim. 1:17; 6:16; Exod. 33:20
"As we [the Church] have borne the
image of the earthly [one],
we shall also bear the image of the heavenly [One]."
1 Cor. 15:49
It is not the Apostle’s thought that all shall
bear the image of the heavenly One. Such was not the Creator’s design. When God made
man he designed to have a fleshly, human, earthly being, in his own likeness
[mentally, morally], to be the lord and ruler of the earth, as the representative of his
heavenly Creator. (Gen. 1:26-28; Psalm 8:4-7)
The selection of the New Creation is wholly separate
and apart from the earthly creation. They are chosen out of the world. They
constitute a "little flock,"called to be the Lord’s Bride class, to bless
the world during the thousand years of the Millennial Kingdom.
"Now this I say, brethren,
that flesh and blood
cannot inherit the Kingdom of God."
1 Cor. 15:50
Apostle Paul distinguishes between our present
condition in the flesh and our future condition as spirit beings. He positively declares
that as long as we are in the flesh we cannot constitute the Lord’s Kingdom in any
actual sense, because that Kingdom is to be a spiritual one, composed of spirit beings.
Our Lord Jesus himself was the Head, the chief, the
leader, the example to his Church. He is the glorious spirit being, a glimpse of whom was
granted to the Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 15:8), and a vision of whom was granted to the Apostle
John in Apocalyptic vision.
"We shall be like him"
The Church will not be flesh and blood, like the
remainder of the race from which they were selected. The Apostle recognized the fact that
it would be difficult for us fully to grasp the thought of so thorough a change
of the Church from fleshly, earthly conditions to heavenly, spirit conditions. He
perceived that our difficulty would be less in respect to those who have fallen asleep in
death than in respect to those alive and remaining unto the presence of the Lord.
It is much easier for us to grasp the thought that
the sleeping ones will be resurrected in new spiritual bodies, such as the Lord has
promised to provide, than to grasp the thought of how those of the saints living at the
time of the Lord’s second presence, will be accepted of him into his spirit Kingdom.
"There is a mystery connected with this
matter, which I will explain: we shall not all sleep, though we must all be changed–in
a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump–the seventh trumpet." 1
Cor. 15:51,52
While the Lord, through the Apostle, did clear away a
mystery to some extent by these words, nevertheless a considerable measure of mystery has
since beclouded even this plain explanation. Many of the Lord’s dear people have
confounded the word "sleep" with the word "die." Many have supposed
that the saints remaining over until the presence of the Lord would be changed without
dying. But this is not what is stated.
For example, the apostles died, and from the moment
of death they were reckoned as being "asleep" until the moment of the
resurrection. Their dying was a momentary act, while their sleep, or unconsciousness,
continued for centuries.
The thought of the word "sleep" must be
attached to the Apostle’s words, in order that they may be understood. It will not be
necessary that the Lord’s people who remain over until his second presence shall sleep
in unconscious death even for a moment. They will die, however, as is
declared by the Lord, through the prophet, speaking of the Church in Psalms 82:6,7:
"I have said, Ye are gods, all of you sons of the Most High; yet ye shall all die
like men, and fall like one of the princes."
The world in general dies like Prince Adam, as his
children, sharers of his sentence. But the faithful in Christ Jesus die with Prince Jesus.
(Isa. 9:6; Acts 3:15; 5:31) Justified through his sacrifice, they become dead with
him, as joint-sacrificers. They "fall" under death sacrificially just
like the second Prince. "If we be dead with him we shall also live
with him." But, as the Apostle points out, the death of these will mean no sleep
of unconsciousness. The very moment of dying will be the very moment of
"change," or clothing upon with the house from heaven, the spiritual body.
The First Resurrection
The "change" to come to those of the Church
remaining until the presence of the Lord is thus set forth as being in every sense of the
word a part of the First Resurrection. In no particular does it differ from the
death experience which must be common to all the members of the one body. The only point
of difference between other members of the body and these will be that which the Apostle
specifies–they shall not "sleep."
The last members of the body of
Christ will not need to sleep. They will pass immediately from the activities of the
service on this side the veil in the flesh to the activities of service on the other side
the veil, as perfected New Creatures, members of the Christ.
"It Doth Not Yet Appear What We
Shall Be"
Respecting the powers and qualities
of the resurrected Christians, the Apostle tells us that they will not all have the same
degrees of glory, though they will all have the same kind of glory. They
will all be celestial or heavenly beings. There will be one glory common to all these
celestial beings, and another glory common to the human, or terrestrial, beings. Each in
its perfection will be glorious, but the glories of the celestial ones will be superior.
The Scriptures tell us that the Church and Christ
shall "shine forth as the sun." (Matt. 13:43) This description by our Lord
himself of the future glory is applied to all his Bride class. Yet the Apostle explains
(verse 41) that individually there will be differences in the positions and honors of the
church. All will be perfect, all will be supremely happy, but, as the Father is above all,
and as he has exalted the Son to be next to himself, and as this indicates differences of
glory, majesty and authority, so amongst the followers of the Lord, all of whom are
acceptable. There will be differences of station.
"As star differeth from star"
In Magnitude and Brilliancy
– 1 Cor. 15:41
Our Lord, in two of his parables, intimates the
same difference amongst his glorified followers. He who had been faithful with five
talents was to have special commendation at the Lord’s return; while the other
faithful ones who had a lesser number of talents, would be dealt with proportionately. He
who had been faithful in the use of his pound, so as to gain ten pounds, was to receive
rulership over ten cities; and he who was faithful over his pound to the gaining of five
pounds would have proportionately increased talents, blessings, opportunities and
authority. Matt. 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27
Looking back we see that while the Lord chose
twelve apostles and loved them all, there were three of them whom he specially loved.
Peter, James and John were on various occasions nearer to him and in still more
confidential relationship than the others. We may be sure, too, that when the "Book
of Life" is opened, and when positions closest to the Master in the throne are to be
apportioned, those on the right hand and those on the left hand (nearest to his person),
will be recognized by all as worthy of the honor and distinction accorded them. (Matt.
10:41) It would not surprise us at all to find the Apostle Paul next to the Master, with
possibly John on his other hand.
The thought is not that of location, or position,
on a bench-like throne–but closeness of relationship in power and majesty of the
Kingdom. We may be sure that all who will constitute the "little flock" will be
so filled with the Lord’s Spirit as in honor to prefer one another. Certainly that
there will be no jealousies. The divine judgment respecting worthiness will be fully
approved by all the New Creation. This is so in the present time, and much more may we
expect it in the future. In the present time we read that "God has set the various
members in the body as it hath pleased him." All who are in accord with the Lord are
continually seeking, not to change the divine arrangement, but to recognize it and to
cooperate therewith. So also it will surely be in the future.
"It is sown in corruption:
It is raised in incorruption."
1 Cor. 15:42
Describing the differences between present
conditions and those of the future, the Apostle says, "It is sown in
corruption: It is raised in incorruption." "It" is the New
Creature, whose existence began at the time of consecration and begetting of the Spirit.
The New Creature has been developing and seeking to control the flesh and to make it its
servant, in accord with the divine will. The New Creature is said to have lived in the
flesh, as in the tabernacle, while waiting for the new body. "It"
was sown in corruption, in a corruptible body: "It" went down into
death; and yet "It" is not represented as being dead, but as
merely sleeping, while its earthly tabernacle was dissolved. It is the same "It,"
the New Creature, that is to be clothed upon with the heavenly house, the spiritual body,
in the First Resurrection.
This spiritual body in which "It"
is raised, the Apostle declares, will be an incorruptible one–one which cannot
corrupt, which cannot die. The word here rendered incorruption is aphtharsia,
and signifies that which is death-proof, that which cannot corrupt or die or
pass away. It is the same word rendered "incorruption" in verses
50,53 and 54, of this chapter, and the same word which is rendered "immortality"
in Rom. 2:7, and again in 2 Tim. 1:10.
The declaration, that our spiritual bodies shall
be incorruptible, immortal, is a most momentous one. We are distinctly informed that this
quality of immortality belongs inherently to Jehovah alone. While it is declared of our
Lord Jesus, that because of his faithfulness, his high exaltation consisted in part in his
being granted life in himself, as the Father hath life in himself. The
thought is the same here–that the glorious Head of the Church experienced just such a
"change" to immortality, to incorruption, to participation in the divine nature.
It does not amaze us that the plan of God should be thus liberal toward our dear Redeemer;
but it surely does astonish us that this quality of the divine nature, given
to none other than our Master, should be promised to the members of his body, who walk in
his footsteps, and are seeking for glory, honor and immortality. 2 Pet. 1:4; Rom. 2:7
"It is sown in dishonor;
It is raised in glory."
1 Cor. 15:43
Here again the New Creature is referred to by the
word "It." During the present life the world knoweth us not. It realizes not
that we are begotten of the Father, to be his children on the spiritual plane. The world
sees not that we are only temporarily sojourning in the flesh, for the purposes of our
trial, for the testing of our faithfulness to our covenant of sacrifice.
"Now are we the sons of God."
Unrecognized, we are disesteemed by the world. Because of our consecration to the Lord we
may not occupy even as honorable positions amongst men as we might have the natural
talents to occupy were they devoted to worldly pursuits. Both individually and
collectively the Church in the flesh is now, as the Apostle declares, "in
dishonor," in disesteem. Elsewhere he declares, our body is at present a body of
humiliation. (Phil. 3:21) But what shall be the condition by and by? Will the dishonor all
be past? Will the Church (Head and "body") be such as both angels and men will
appreciate and honor? Will the New Creation thus be "in glory?" Oh yes! This is
the assurance.
"It is sown in weakness;
It is raised in power."
1 Cor. 15:43
The New Creature is still referred to. The
weakness mentioned is that of the present mortal bodies, their imperfections, which all
New Creatures deplore. God graciously counts these as not being the weaknesses of the New
Creature, whose purposes, or intentions toward the Lord are pure, perfect, loyal and
strong. That these weaknesses will not attach to the new resurrection bodies of the
"elect" is most specifically stated. "It is raised in
power." The power of perfection, the power of the new nature, the power of God.
"It is sown a natural body;
It is raised a spiritual body."
1 Cor. 15:44
The same It, the same New Creature.
It is a natural body now–the only tangible thing is the flesh. Only by the grace of
God are we permitted to reckon the new mind a New Creature, and to await the
time when this new mind will be granted a spirit body, suitable to it. The spirit body
will then be It, in the same sense that the natural body is now It.
What a glorious prospect this is! Truly, it is incomprehensible to us who have no
experiences except such as are common to the natural man–except as our minds have
grasped by faith the promises and revelations of the Lord, and have entered into the
spirit of "things not seen as yet."
But if the very thought of the
coming glories has lifted us up above the world and its cares, its trials, its follies and
its pleasures, how much more will the realities mean to us when we shall be perfect and
like our Lord and share his glory!
No wonder our Lord said to Nicodemus, "If I
have told you of earthly things, and ye believe not, how can ye believe if I tell you of
heavenly things?" No wonder it declares that we must first be begotten of the holy
Spirit before we can even begin to comprehend heavenly things.
Unquestionably, our ability to run the race set
before us, our striving to overcome the spirit of the world and the besetments of the
Adversary, will be in proportion as we shall be obedient to the divine counsel, and love
not the world. In proportion as we lay aside every weight and the easily besetting sin,
forgetting not the assembling of ourselves together, and searching the Scriptures daily.
In proportion as we make use of the privileges and mercies and blessings conferred upon us
as children of God. If we do these things we shall never fail, but so an entrance shall be
ministered unto us, abundantly, into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ." 1 John 3:2,3; Rom. 8:17; John 3:12; 1 Cor. 2:14; 1 John 2:15; Eph. 6:10-18;
Heb. 12:1,2; 10:25; John 5:29; Acts 17:11; 2 Pet. 1:4-11
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