How are the dead raised up? | Westside Eagle Observer

"But someone will say, 'How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?'" 1 Cor. 15:35 (read 15:35-58)

Have you ever wondered what kind of body you will have in the resurrection -- what you will be like? It's hard to even begin to imagine what we will be like on that day when Jesus Christ returns and raises up those who have died trusting in His name and changes the living who look to Him for forgiveness and life.

What do the Scriptures say? Jesus had told the Sadducees that in the resurrection there is no marriage: "Jesus answered and said to them, 'The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection'" (Luke 20:34-36).

After pointing out that we will be made like Christ, when He was raised up (1 Cor. 15:35ff., St. Paul wrote: "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" (v. 50-53).

St. Paul also wrote to the Philippians: "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself" (Phil. 3:20-21).

So, what will we be like? The best answer I can give you is that we will be like Christ Jesus, who died our death for us and was raised up in glory never to die again. So also, after we die and our sin-corrupted bodies are laid in the grave, the bodies which are raised up will be changed from this corruptible flesh and blood to a glorified and perfect heavenly body made to live with our God and Savior forever. Our bodies which are raised up will be changed so that we are without sin, without aging, without disease, without weakness and without death.

It will be as God's Word describes it in the Book of Revelation (21:3-4): "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Even now, we are being changed by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit into the image of our Savior (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18). And though we do not long for death, we do long for the redemption of our sin-corrupted bodies that we might be fully conformed to the image of Christ Jesus, our Savior (cf. 2 Cor. 5:1ff.; Rom. 8:18-23, 28ff.).

With David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, we say, "As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness" (Psalm 17:15).

Dear Lord Jesus, grant us faith to believe that as You have been raised up in glory, so we will be raised up with glorified and heavenly bodies, like unto You, and live in Your presence and glorify You, the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Editorial on 04/06/2016