3099.—How Raised from the Dead?
By Editor
I think you teach that the resurrection will find us physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually where death leaves us. Am I correct? That depends on what is meant by the resurrection finding us. We understand in the very nature of the case that there can be no change in character during death. "The dead know not anything." There certainly can be no change of character in those who sleep; nor can there be change of mentality, because there is no progress. "Morally and spiritually" have to do with character. When the wicked are raised at the end of the thousand years, they come up physically mortal. Not so with the righteous, however. They are not raised, and then judged, and then changed from mortality to immortality. In the courts of heaven their cases have already been passed upon before they are raised from the dead. In other words, they are "accounted worthy" to obtain that world, and, literally, the resurrection out from among the dead. Luke 20:35. Therefore of that time the apostle declares, "Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we [those who are living in Christ] shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." 1 Cor. 15:51-53. Then when the child of God is changed in the resurrection, all the infirmities of mind and body are passed away forever. The physical being of the man will have been brought into such harmony with God that he will think the thoughts of God and be in perfect accord with his Maker. Divine illumination will flood his mind as he is endowed with the gift of immortality—God's stamp of a righteous character.