The Final Resurrection

Pastor Jose V. Velasco

Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-26

   In the preceding reflection we understood that Christians spiritually resurrect with Christ now the moment they truly believe. This is not a physical resurrection of the body. In the state in which they are alive with Christ now they will still die physically. Everyone, whether Christians or not, will one day die physical.

   But according to the Scripture reading above there is going to be a final resurrection. This is how Paul further describes that resurrection, “For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality” (1 Cor. 15:52-53). While the rising up with Christ that we experience now is spiritual, meaning the emergence of a new Christ-like mind, heart and character, the final resurrection shall include a new imperishable body replacing the decaying body in the grave. This is so because the material body cannot last in God’s eternal kingdom (1 Cor. 15:50). This will happen when Christ will come again as he promised, “I am going there to prepare a place for you. - I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (Jn. 14:2-3). Thus His own shall be with Him in eternity. As to when that happens no human being knows (Mt. 24:36; Acts 1:7)

   Let us carefully note that the Holy Scriptures give two destinies for people in the final resurrection. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (Jn. 3:36). Eternal life here means life with Christ in heaven, and God’s wrath is hell. “They (means the wicked) will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Mt. 25:46). All the 3 parables in Matthew 25 mention these two destinies. So not all will go to heaven. There are some who claim that those who go to hell will still have a chance to repent and be transferred to heaven eventually. I would personally be happy about that because I have some relatives and friends who never really cared about Christ in their earthly lives. But I would not recommend it because it is uncertain. In a parable of Jesus a rich man who went to hell requested Abraham to send a poor beggar who went to heaven to bring him drinking water to relieve his sufferings. Abraham said that it is impossible because there was an impassable chasm or gap between heaven and hell (Lk. 16:26). We do not know what that chasm exactly is. But while we are still in this earthly life it is better to make sure we go to heaven by believing in Jesus Christ now and living according to His words (2 Cor. 6:2).

   How would you picture that eternal life in heaven? There may not be much we can say regarding that. But we have some glimpses in the Bible. One of them is in Revelation 21:3-4: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’. . .  He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”   What a great and wonderful life that shall be! Are you preparing for it?

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you for your grand plan for us in eternity. Guide and help us to truly believe in you and live by your will so we may be with you in your eternal home. In your Son’s holy name we pray. Amen