1 Corinthians 15:23 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Corinthians 15:23

Comments

The word ‘order’ is an interesting word. The Greek is tagma, and it refers for instance to troops assembled in their ranks. When the troops paraded in olden times, the officer commanding them was out in the front. He led the march, the parade, and the troops were all arranged according to rank and divisions in his wake; that is the word the apostle uses. First of all comes the great work of salvation, the reign of Christ, gathering out his people from every land and nation throughout the gospel age. Then when the gospel age is complete and the elect are fully gathered in, and the reign of Christ, gathering in souls, has accomplished its objective, then ‘afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming.’ He comes again, ‘then cometh the end.’ He has risen from the dead – the guarantor, the securer of resurrection.

Application

Am I a fair-weather Christian. I'm happy in the Lord when everything is going well, but when a crisis comes, I cannot cope with that, and down I go? We can all be guilty of that. How much it would help us to ever keep in view the resurrection, , fixing our eyes on things ahead: the great token of bodily resurrection, the eternal reward to which we go, the marvels of eternal glory with Christ and his people. Then the troubles of this present life – even things that are truly grievous – are so much easier to bear, and joy in the Lord is always present alongside them, because we keep our eye on the privileges which are ours, undeserved, by grace alone: the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Questions

When will this happen? When will all who are in Christ be made alive? If you believe in Christ and you know him, you will die and you will be with Christ, that very instance. You will be in the paradise of Christ. You will leave your body behind, but in your soul, you will be with Christ in paradise, waiting for the great event when Christ returns to this earth, and ends this present dispensation of time, bringing in the day of judgement at the beginning of the eternal era for God's people. At that time there will be the destruction of the world, the creation of a new heaven and a new earth, and the new earth will somehow be amalgamated with heaven, and probably be greatly enlarged. That will be the dwelling place of all who love Christ. It will be at Christ's return. ‘Afterward’ is now already over 2000 years after Christ was raised.

How will it happen? Will there be an extraordinary light in the sky? We read of light and of great disturbances. Will there be an audible warning throughout the entire world? We read of trumpets in the Scripture, and that may be a symbolic representation of some mighty warning sound, but possibly it is literal. How will we see Christ in our hemisphere and people also see him on his appearing in another hemisphere? I cannot tell you. I cannot explain those things, but somehow by mighty and God-given means it will be done. He will come again, and people will be divided. They will either be filled with astonishing gladness and joy and anticipation, or they will be filled with dismay and terror.

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Introduction

1 Corinthians 15:23 Commentary and Bible Study