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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 7, 1869

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 34, No. 24.

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Questions.

WHAT is the “change” referred to in 1 Cor. xv, 51, 52? F. A. B.
This is easily determined by the connection. The apostle is contrasting the mortal and immortal states, the latter being obtained in the resurrection. But, as it is a truth that there will be some saints alive at the time of the resurrection of the just, and who of course cannot have a resurrection from the dead, the information is added that they will be changed—not sleep. So it is evident that the change is a change from a state of mortality to immortality, a change equal to the resurrection. And this is further evident from verse 53, where the statement that “this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality,” is a conclusion drawn from the previous statement of the two connected facts, “The dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
What is meant in 1 Cor. xv, 50, by the expression, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God?” F. A. B.
As far as possible, we should let the Scriptures be their own expositor, and in order to this, we should keep in view the harmony of their testimony. In Dan. ii, 44, it is said of the kingdom which the God of Heaven should set up, that it “shall not be left to other people,” and, “it shall stand forever.” This is by way of contrast with the kingdoms which precede it, for they pass from one people to another. Also Dan. vii, 18, says: “But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” The kingdom being an eternal kingdom, and never to pass out of the hands of those who take or possess it, of course they cannot take it until they are immortal. By reading 1 Cor. xv, 50, and the context, it plainly appears that “flesh and blood” is equivalent to “corruption,” and expresses the mortal condition in contrast with the immortal. So it amounts to this, that a mortal man cannot possess an immortal or eternal kingdom; a very reasonable statement. When the Lord Jesus comes, the saints are raised; 1 Thess. iv, 16; then they are immortalized; 1 Cor. xv, 42-52; and then they also “inherit the kingdom.” Matt. xxv, 31-34. From the very nature of the case, it is impossible that they should inherit it before that time.