1 Corinthians 15:52, commentary and pictures

At Christ's personal, visible return in glory with angels, the last trumpet sounds and in an instant the righteous dead are raised imperishable and the righteous living are made immortal without dying. Until then the righteous dead sleep unconscious in the grave, kept in safety with time to them as only a moment, for immortality is not possessed now but given only at His appearing. Their vile, mortal, diseased bodies are then changed to be like Christ's most glorious body, made whole, healthy and strong with every deformity removed, to inherit the everlasting kingdom. That change of body does not change character, so defects of disposition must be overcome beforehand by faith, obedience and purity, for as one goes down so one comes up. Then living and risen saints are caught up together to meet the Lord, reunited with loved ones nevermore to part, which is the comfort and hope of the bereaved.

Moment and Trumpet

The change comes suddenly, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when the living are glorified and made immortal in an instant. At the last trumpet the dead are raised incorruptible and the living are changed, when mortality puts on immortality and corruption puts on incorruption and death is swallowed up in victory and defeated. The righteous dead rise to immortal life with immortal, vigorous bodies, redeemed from the grave, to live forever with their Lord, while the living are caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air and remain with Him forever, never again to be separated. At the voice of God those alive are glorified and then made immortal, and with the risen saints are caught up to meet the Lord in the air, gathered by angels from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other, while little children are carried by angels to their mothers' arms and friends long separated by death are united nevermore to part and ascend together with songs of gladness to the city of God.

The signal is the last trump, the trump of God sounded at Christ's personal return. It is God's trumpet sounding in the morning, the trumpet marking the resurrection when Christ calls the sleeping saints from their graves to awaken them incorruptible and immortal. At that same moment the righteous living are changed in an instant, clothed with glorious immortality, and caught up with the resurrected saints to meet the Lord in the air in reunion with loved ones. This change makes mortal people immortal and prepares them to inherit God's everlasting kingdom, which people in their mortal, corruptible state cannot inherit and cannot receive until thus transformed.

The we who are changed are Christians alive on earth at Christ's return, not only Paul and the Corinthians then living. Paul died, the last trumpet did not sound in his day, and immortality was not then given, so the promise applies especially to those alive at the second coming who will be changed in an instant without seeing death.

Time and Setting

The change takes place at the personal, visible second coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, when the last trumpet sounds and the righteous dead are raised incorruptible while the righteous living are changed in an instant to immortality. He appears a second time in glory and splendor to raise the dead and change the living, attended by a multitude of shining angels and by thousands of thousands, illuminating the earth like lightning from east to west and from north to south. He comes to honor those who have loved Him and kept His commandments and to take them to Himself, and the word for those changed means Christians alive on earth at His return, not only those then living, since the trumpet did not sound and immortality was not given in that day. The transformation makes mortal people immortal and prepares them to inherit the everlasting, incorruptible kingdom, which mortal corruptible people cannot inherit, and those alive and transformed are represented by Elijah on the mount of transfiguration. A little longer and the changed saints will see the King in His beauty, have all tears wiped away, and be presented faultless with exceeding joy, so the nearness of redemption calls for looking up and lifting up the head, and the promise means a re-linking of the family chain and comfort when looking upon the dead.

It is still future: the trumpet has not yet sounded and the righteous dead are still in the grave, and any claim that the dead are already raised is delusion. That coming will be public and unmistakable with a terrible earthquake, with the trump of God sounding and resounding through earth's remotest bounds, with the voice of Jesus calling the dead from their graves to immortal life, and with visible glory illuminating the earth like lightning's flash, and because these signs have not been seen the resurrection has not yet happened. When it sounds the dead will be raised and will triumph over death and the grave, and the righteous dead will be caught up with the living saints to meet the Lord in the air to be ever with Him.

The change comes after Jesus has left the sanctuary and after the plagues are poured out, after God's voice shakes the heavens and the earth with a mighty earthquake that throws buildings down. Then the captivity of the faithful, tried company is turned and a glorious light shines and rests upon the delivered holy ones, taking away all marks of care and weariness and sickness and giving health and beauty to every face, remaining upon them until Jesus is seen in the clouds of heaven, while their enemies fall like dead men unable to endure the light. In despair and trouble such as never was since there was a nation, with clashing clouds and darkness, a voice comes from heaven and the clouds roll back like a scroll to reveal the bright, clear sign of the Son of man encircled by thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand angels, music is heard as the graves are opened, and at that same moment in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the living are changed from glory to glory and the dead saints come forth clothed with immortality crying victory over death and the grave. Living and risen saints together are then caught up to meet their Lord in the air with rich, musical shouts of glory and victory on every immortal tongue, receiving harps and crowns and entering the city, and only then sitting in judgment with the books opened through the 1,000 years, so the change does not authorize them to then execute the judgment written. Even those who acted the most prominent part in the rejection and crucifixion, who put on Him the purple robe and the crown of thorns and drove the nails through His hands and feet, come forth to see Him as He is and to see the saints glorified, and look upon Him and bewail.

One position held by those who held it places the resurrection and change after the seven last plagues have been poured out upon the earth, prior to the second advent.

Those waiting for the Lord once believed without doubt that He would then come to raise the dead and change the living saints and take the kingdom and possess it forever. Those who anxiously waited with fasting, watching, almost constant and solemn earnest prayer and holy solemnity, with full sacrifice and entire consecration and affections placed on heaven, were accepted and reflected the image of Jesus, who looked upon them with pleasure, and in sweet anticipation tasted immortal deliverance beforehand. When the time passed without deliverance they were sadly disappointed like the disciples who had lost their Lord, remaining still upon the earth under the fully visible effects of the curse with hope unrealized and deliverance and the expected change to immortality not yet received.

Sleep Until Resurrection

The righteous do not go to their reward at death but sleep unconscious in the grave until the last trumpet sounds and the dead are raised incorruptible while the living are changed. They rest as precious dust kept in safety as jewels known by name, held until Christ the Lifegiver comes to break the fetters of the tomb and call them forth incorruptible and immortal. Death is a silent, blessed rest in which thoughts perish, and however long the interval, whether long or short, it passes for them as only a moment. When they awaken they resume thinking just where it ceased at death, and their first glad thought is triumph over the sting of death and the victory of the grave, with corruption made incorruptible and mortal made immortal so that death is defeated.

That sleep is a short sleep in Jesus until the morning, a rest in hope until mortality is swallowed up of life when the Lifegiver breaks the tomb's hold and releases them to glorious, immortal life. Even a baby and a child in the cemetery, an aged believer, a faithful worker who exhausted strength and died in the cause, and one who died calling for forgiveness lie resting there until that call raises them. This hope sustains Christians through sickness and distress, because those raised will never again suffer pain, sorrow, or death. Not all believers die in the same way, for some become food for worms and sleep in the grave, some are subjects for the seven last plagues, and some live to be translated without seeing death.

Immortality is not now possessed as an inherent present possession. All the immortality now held is by faith in the hope of receiving immortality at the appearing of Christ, when the change to incorruption takes place and corruption puts on incorruption.

Raised and Changed

The righteous dead are raised incorruptible and the righteous living are changed without seeing death and translated to heaven, in a sudden instant when mortality puts on immortality and corruption puts on incorruption, bringing death's defeat and redemption from the grave. The change applies especially to believers alive on earth at the return, for the promise was not fulfilled in the first generation, and it breaks the grave's hold so those who sleep wake in full immortal bloom to live again in heaven. Some believers die and sleep, some face the plagues, and some live to be translated, including some present at an early conference.

The resurrection does not require the same particles of matter that made up the mortal body to form the immortal body, for identity between mortal and immortal rests in organization rather than identical matter. Yet the very same bodies sown in corruption, dishonor and weakness as natural bodies are raised in incorruption, glory and power as spiritual bodies. Mortal bodies are quickened by the indwelling Spirit that binds every believing soul to Christ because they partook of the divine nature and their life is hid with Christ in God, and until that triumphant hour every sleeping saint is kept in safety and guarded as a precious jewel known by name.

Vile, mortal, disease-prone bodies are changed to be like the most glorious body with the finishing touch of immortality, and bodies that went into the grave sick and weak rise in immortal health and strength. All pain of being changed while living can be easily endured because it lasts only a moment, and those who live nearest to the Lord most earnestly long for the appearing when sin will have an end. In the great day all who are faithful and true receive the healing touch of the divine Restorer, with every deformity removed, minds ruined for life by injury made whole, and those who never grew in understanding given eternal life.

Holy flesh, incorruption and immortality are given only at the second coming with the trumpet call when the dead are called from their graves, not in this life. While sin is forgiven now its bodily results are not wholly removed until then, when the mortal puts on immortality and the corruptible puts on incorruption and the vile body is fashioned like the glorious body. Those so changed do not remain on earth but are taken to heaven, where Christ is admired in all who believe and sees the travail of His soul and is satisfied, and immortal beings break forth in triumph.

The general resurrection of the righteous gathers all faithful dead from Abel to the last saint, who hear His voice in their graves and rise to glorious immortal life to meet their Lord. At the same time those who pierced, scourged, rejected and crucified Christ are also raised to see Him coming in glory with the heavenly host and to see the saints glorified, with the trumpet and voice of God heard throughout the earth. After mighty earthquake and trouble such as never was since there was a nation, amid clashing clouds and darkness and music as graves open, the clouds roll back to reveal the bright sign encircled by thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand angels, the living are instantly changed and caught up, and those who put on the purple robe and crown of thorns and drove the nails look upon Him and bewail.

A special application is to those who died in faith under the third angel's message while keeping the Sabbath, whose graves open so they rise glorified to hear God's covenant of peace with those who kept His law. At the appearing in splendor and glory the commandment-keepers who honored the law are glorified with countenances lighted with glory, and the living are translated without seeing death to enter through the gates into the city, into the land of Eden. William Miller will come forth then from the grave at the last trump to enter the heavenly Canaan, though he erred as he was soon to enter it by suffering his influence to go against the truth through the leading of others, as Moses erred just as he was about to enter the promised land. God suffered him to come under Satan's power and death to have dominion over him and hid him in the grave away from those constantly drawing him from God, but his dust remains precious with angels watching over it until the trumpet sounds.

Gift and Gathering

At the last trumpet the dead are raised imperishable and the living are changed suddenly in a moment, and in that instant the corruptible puts on incorruption and the mortal puts on immortality. Then death is swallowed up in victory and defeated, its sting and the power of the grave taken away, and the triumph of the adversary ends. Christ triumphs as the resurrection and the life who broke the tomb, and He clothes all who come forth with immortality and crowns them with everlasting victory over death and the grave. Those raised resume thought where it ceased at death, with triumph over death as the first glad thought.

That change makes mortal people immortal in order to prepare them to receive and inherit God's everlasting kingdom. Mortal, corruptible people cannot inherit an incorruptible kingdom, so immortality is given when Jesus comes and calls them to inherit it. Then the righteous are crowned with glory, honor and immortality to an endless life of unalloyed happiness, rejoicing together in the unfading glories of the earth made new. What moves forward is from rulers that die to the King eternal, from glories that fade to glories everlasting and fadeless, and from a mortal people who sin and perish to a people righteous in God and immortal forever.

Personal identity is kept in the change, for being made like Christ does not destroy the image but transforms it into His glorious image. Saints meet loved ones, recognize faces, and know each other by family ties formed on earth. The veil between mortality and immortality is rent away, Scripture is understood in a higher, broader, clearer sense, and the redeemed see His face in glorious companionship with heavenly angels.

At the same moment the living changed and the dead raised are caught up together to meet the Lord in the air and remain with Him forever, gathered by angels from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other. His voice calls forth the sleeping saints clothed with glorious immortality, the living are changed in the twinkling of an eye, and together they are taken by angels from the earth into the cloudy chariot with wings and wheels and holy angels amid cries of Holy and Alleluia. Led by Jesus through opened gates into the golden holy city to the mansions He prepared, they receive harps and crowns and the crown of life, see the King in His beauty, sit with Him on His throne, and then cast their crowns at Jesus' feet.

The change re-links the family chain, reuniting faithful people with loved ones parted by death so separation ends forever. Friends long separated by death are united nevermore to part with songs of gladness as they ascend together to the city of God, and all tears are wiped away as they are presented faultless with exceeding joy. Little children are carried by angels to their mothers' arms, and bodies that went into the grave sick and weak rise in immortal health and strength victorious over death and the grave.

After being changed and entering the city the saints receive harps and crowns, but they do not then execute the judgment written. They sit with Jesus in judgment through the 1000 years with the books opened, the book of life with good deeds and the book of death with evil deeds compared with the statute book, the Bible, passing judgment upon the wicked dead and meting out to each according to deeds done in the body. Only after that work are the wicked dead raised at the close of the 1000 years.

At that change from mortality to immortality the words and deeds of goodness done in this life are made manifest and preserved through the eternal ages. Love, courtesy, amiability, self-sacrifice and every act of unselfish service, however small or simple, are never lost but keep their fragrance through the merits of Christ's imputed righteousness. The thoughts, purposes and acts of God's workers appear at the great day of final retribution and reward as witnesses either to approve or to condemn.

Types and Pledges

The living righteous at the end are changed instantly from mortal to immortal at the last trumpet, putting on immortality and incorruption without experiencing death, when the Lord Himself descends with a shout and the dead are raised incorruptible and then the living changed are caught up together with them to meet the Lord. Enoch was translated to heaven without dying just before the world was destroyed by water, and in the same way God's loyal last-day people who separate from unrighteousness, seek purity of thought and holy conformity until the divine image is reflected in them, warn the world and condemn ungodliness by holy life without conforming to unbelievers, will be translated from the earth before it is destroyed by fire and glorified in the presence of those who hated them for obedience. Elijah, borne to heaven without seeing death, represents those who will be alive and transformed and taken to heaven at Christ's second appearing. Moses, raised from the dead, represents those raised incorruptible, and Elijah and Moses appearing together with Christ at the transfiguration preview the kingdom come with power, fulfilling the promise that some would see it. Enoch's holy life in close connection with God shows the character required for translation: purity of heart, conformity to God's will, likeness of Christ, and warning of the second coming and judgment on transgression.

Christ's own resurrection is the sample of the great resurrection when at the last trumpet He as Life-giver and King of Glory attended by all angels calls the righteous dead from their graves to glorious immortal life to ascend to the city and see the King in His beauty. He broke the power of the tomb and brought captives out of the grave as trophies of His victory over death, presented as the wave sheaf to the Father as assurance and earnest of conquest and of the coming resurrection of all the righteous dead from every nation, people and language. The voice that summoned those risen with Jesus foreshadows and pledges the future resurrection, when God's voice will penetrate graves and open tombs and summon the righteous dead while shaking the heavens and the earth with a mighty earthquake causing the world to reel to and fro like a drunkard. The redeemed then rejoice in His presence and see the marks of Calvary in His glorified body.

The raising of Lazarus represents and pledges the resurrection of all the righteous dead and gives assurance it will be accomplished by the Saviour's power at the second coming, when the righteous dead are raised incorruptible and the living righteous are translated without seeing death. Jesus fixed Martha's thoughts past the present miracle upon that final resurrection of the just, showing the verse means more than Lazarus's present restoration. Lazarus stands for the suffering believing poor whose faith is not mere theory but reality, tested by patient suffering, and who will then hear Christ's voice, come forth and receive their reward. Christ is the Author of the resurrection, having in Himself life original, unborrowed, underived, and though Himself soon to die He stood with the keys of death as conqueror of the grave, asserting His right and power to give eternal life, which is the believer's assurance.

Character Preparation Now

Christ at His coming changes corruptible bodies to incorruptible and immortal but does not change, purify, refine, fit, or transform character, disposition, or moral fitness for heaven. Moral fitness is gained in this life through redemption from sin's condemnation and practice, by hewing, fitting, polishing, repenting, and overcoming every defect, even in one particular, during probation on earth, for only a symmetrical, perfect, saintly character will entitle men to that change. As one goes down into the grave stained and polluted so one comes up, with the same disposition manifested in home and society and traits as formed in probationary time, and neglect or failure through negligence or any cause is felt through eternity, so defects must be overcome now through the grace of Christ or heaven is lost, and even if barely overcome at the last extremity the character is fixed for eternity. Both the resurrected saints and those alive at His coming will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air, each fitted for the great change and taking his proper place in the temple of God, coming together in perfect fit as the stones of Solomon's temple came together without ax or hammer, and daily life determines destiny for the mansions above.

Readiness for that final change must be secured during life while probation lasts, for those who die unprepared cannot make themselves ready after probation closes and they are laid in the grave, and no one knows how long life will be spared. Receiving immortality is the finishing touch to following Christ earnestly and faithfully in this life as guide to the higher and better life, with present help in every time of need, cultivation of moral and intellectual powers, diligent study and obedience of the Word, and faith in Christ's redeeming grace as the way of salvation. The change to incorruption requires present transformation of heart and character by living the Word, eating it, digesting it and making it part of being, with forgiven sins, a clean heart, and the righteousness of Jesus Christ by faith. This renewing is the only safety for the coming storm and last great battle after the holding of the four winds until the servants of God are sealed, calling for vigilance, earnest self-examination, oneness with Christ as He is one with the Father, and working in co-partnership with Him in the little remaining probation, with perfection of character, sanctified speech, and purified thoughts pursued before earthly work is finished, since those translated will be translated as they are. All people no matter who or what they are, including ministers and presidents of conferences, are under the eye of Jehovah and must find out whether their ways please the Lord in preparation for that last change, and those who die faithful rest till the morning of the resurrection when the change comes.

Those who share in the change have Enoch's godly character of purity of heart and thought, conformity to God's will, likeness of Christ, and divine image reflected in them, shown by a holy life lived in close connection with God. Like Enoch they walk with the Lord Jesus in continual communion with the power of earth over mind and character broken and the abiding presence of the heavenly Guest, and while endeavoring to instruct and warn the world of the second coming and of judgment on transgression they do not conform to the spirit and customs of unbelievers but separate from the world and unrighteous practices and condemn ungodliness by holy conversation and godly example. As Enoch was translated before the destruction of the world by water, so God's loyal people in the last days, when unrighteousness prevails to a dreadful extent, will be fitted for translation and glorified in the presence of those who hated them for loyal obedience, and be translated before the destruction of the world by fire. The commandment-keepers who have honored God's law are then glorified with countenances lighted with glory, and the living are translated without seeing death, rising with songs of triumph to enter through the gates into the city, into the land of Eden, to dwell with Christ in the heavenly courts through eternal ages. Those changed are people who have purified their souls by obeying the truth and have believed in Christ, with mortal disease-prone bodies made immortal and glorified unto a higher nature and a life shaped by Christ's example, and those who lay treasure above by aiding suffering humanity and advancing God's cause will be changed and enter the pearly gates.

Readiness for this bodily change to immortality requires moral preparation now through hygienic reform, Christian temperance, and purity of soul, body, and spirit. Those who look for translation profess to be fitting themselves for it now by advancing in the divine life and growing in grace and knowledge of the truth, with the higher spiritual powers ruling the lower animal propensities. A business unfriendly to that advance, that lowers and debases man, makes him more animal, and lets the brutish part govern the spiritual, such as becoming butchers, is unfit for those preparing for translation. Families who cherish criticism and unkindness are unready to unite with the heavenly family at that coming, so parents must live generous, gracious, Christlike lives in word and deed, making the home the first school where parents and children learn lessons that work for salvation and not neglecting children as the first care, since children closely follow parental example. Wise, patient care by parents prepares children to grow up noble men and women who can face death with assurance of rising to newness of life in the morning of the resurrection.

Spiritual knowledge and spiritual experience put a person in position for that final transfer to the future immortal life, whether by being changed if alive or brought up from the grave if dead, to face the future and meet opposition. The translation of the last generation to heaven without tasting death is the ultimate design of the gifts remaining in the church for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ, till all come in unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That state was not reached in Paul's lifetime, nor during the apostasy, nor during the flight into the wilderness, nor since the labors of Martin Luther, and the church today is still far below it. It will be reached only when the last warning message and all the means God employs prepare the last generation for translation.

Comfort Hope and Warning

The trumpet sounding and the dead coming forth to live in the kingdom gives hope in sickness and death, for whether living or dying the faithful belong to the Lord and will live with Him, and the awakening of those who sleep to glorious immortal life comforts the bereaved. The same sounding is the pledge of Him who is the resurrection and the life, bringing the eternal morning when there is no night in the city of God, while even now ministering angels surround dying believers in the closing scenes to refresh their souls with the water of life. This hope sustains through sickness and distress because those brought from the grave by the Life-giver breaking the tomb's hold will never again suffer pain, sorrow or death. It marks the end of the conflict, when overcomers receive crowns of immortal glory and enter heaven, ending noise, confusion and misery. The living are therefore to leave the dead with God, avoid lingering in sentimental mourning, and work faithfully and cheerfully with hope set on reunion, healing and entering heaven at the end of conflict.

Though now only a little flock compared with the teeming millions, poor in this world's goods and in the minority, those who stand for revealed truth and obey the commandments from the heart have God for refuge under the broad shield of Omnipotence, and God is a majority. When the last trump penetrates the prison house they will come forth with triumph over death's sting and the grave's victory, to stand with God, with Jesus Christ, with the heavenly angels, and with the loyal and true raised from their graves, and then be with the majority. Paul stressed this resurrection to produce diligence, obedience and cheerfulness, and its comfort must not be displaced by the belief that the righteous receive full blessedness at death. In contrast to pagan hopelessness that death brings no future life, it promises the righteous dead rising to a holy, happy, immortal life and the living reunited happily with loved ones.

The nearness of redemption calls for looking up and lifting up the head, for a little longer and the changed saints will see the King in His beauty, have all tears wiped away, and be presented faultless with exceeding joy as the family chain is re-linked. All the pain of being changed while living can be easily and gladly endured because it lasts only a moment, when vile bodies are fashioned like Christ's most glorious body. Those who live nearest the Lord most earnestly long for His appearing, for time's wheels to roll swiftly to bring it, willing either to live to be changed or to die as God wills, when sin ends and sanctification is enjoyed forever with no tempter. Holding to heaven as a must makes the believer willing to share Christ's sufferings and live a life measuring with the life of God as an overcomer, going home together when the dead are brought up and the living changed and caught up to meet the Lord in the air, to enter the gates, receive the crown of life, see the King in beauty and sit with Him on His throne before casting every crown at Jesus' feet. Because only a very little time remains and some alive at the end will be translated without tasting death to life measuring with God's life, this calls for denying self in every way to send truth where it will be received, with every penny invested returning large interest. Until that transformation no schooling in God's Word is finished, but one must remain a learner to be a teacher, continually finding rich truth as priceless treasure, presenting things new and old, keeping the heart open to the Spirit and learning on through eternity.

The final trumpet also sounds the day of reckoning and judgment with triumph, when Christ comes in glory to triumph and execute judgment. The change comes suddenly with shaking, shouts of triumph and awful brightness, and the happy saints who came to the mangled bleeding Lamb, confessed sins, received pardon and waited in glad expectation disappear with the brightness, leaving the unready alone in intense darkness and silent horror. Its sound is louder, far louder than any human cry, rising above the wail of despair and agony sent heavenward by unprepared inhabitants who know what to expect and for whom no ransom can be paid. Far above the trumpet is heard the voice of Omnipotence pronouncing final rejection, Depart from Me ye that work iniquity. That wail comes from poor deluded professed Christians content to let ministers do their searching and receiving according to works, and from those who wrested Scripture and taught human commandments for doctrine and must answer for souls led into error and apostasy.