HOW ARE THE DEAD RAISED UP AT THE RAPTURE?

Grace be to you all, and peace from God, our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. In continuation of our epistles on the rapture, we write to you today concerning the method of the resurrection of the dead in Christ at the rapture as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. Concerning this letter, we write to you all as unto spiritual people, not as unto babes in Christ. This we do, believing that you all understand spiritual things. To many believers, the method of the resurrection of the righteous dead that takes place at the rapture is a mystery that cannot be understood. Many even say “how can a dead body that has decayed in the grave over the years be resurrected? How can this be? Is this really possible? Or rather say what do the scriptures say?

Apostle Paul declared in 1 Corinth 15:35-37 and we quote” 35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain 38 but God gives it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.” Therefore, it is clear from this scripture that the manner of the resurrection of the dead is illustrated and proved by a grain of wheat and other grain. New bodies of grain are not reproduced without the death of the original grain (v 36 above), in fact grain must see corruption before reproducing new grains, proving that the dead in Christ will be raised at the rapture. Bodies of grain that dies are not same bodies as those produced, but LIKE THEM (v 37, John 12:24). Marred and wrinkled grains produce perfect bodies in normal reproduction. Parts of grain could be cut off and not sown and yet perfect bodies are produced. Also, all grains reproduce their own size, shape, and individual characteristics. So then, if the resurrection of the dead compares to a grain of wheat that dies as the scriptures has revealed, how then do you say you do not understand how the dead are raised up?

See brethren, at the rapture when the trumpet shall sound and we shall all be changed, every man will have his own body and not the body of another. He will have his own color, appearance, size, shape, features, and be exactly like himself as illustrated in the scripture above (1 Corinth 15:38). Men will be men and women will be women. Our bodies will be like Christ’s only in the sense of immortality (1 Corinth 15:39-54, Phil 3:21) but God will give every person his own body. All resurrected bodies will be immortal but will surely posses degrees of glory. If they are sown in corruption like a decayed body in the grave (1 Corinth 15:21-22), they are raised in incorruption (1 Corinth 15:51-54), If they are sown in dishonor like a lame man, blind man, etc (Gen 3:19), they are raised in glory, already perfected (Phil 3:21, Col 3:4). If they are sown in weakness (James 1:10-11), they are raised in power (1 Corinth 15:53-56, 2 Corinth 5:4). Surely, they are sown as natural bodies like you and I (John 5:28-29, Dan 12:2), but raised as spiritual bodies (1 Corinth 15:44, Phil 3:21).

You might ask “what is a spiritual body?” This is a body made of immortal substance. Unlike in this present world where we are flesh and blood, at the rapture when the trumpet shall sound, we shall cease to be flesh and blood, but instead flesh and bone. This is a body that can no longer die physically. It does not wear like the flesh we currently have. It cannot be killed by anyone. It can pass through closed doors, walls, or any barrier whatsoever. It can be here this moment, and is in China the next moment. Spirit bodies are very real as natural bodies but of a higher substance. God, our Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, the angels of heaven, all have spirit bodies and yet they are very tangible materialized bodies as proved by hundreds of passages in scripture describing them. Please study Luke 24:39-53 concerning our Lord Jesus Christ after his resurrection from the dead. This scripture will enlighten you all concerning what the true nature of our bodies shall be in the resurrection at the rapture.

Therefore beloved, having this hope of eternal life in the glory of a spirit body like our Lord Jesus Christ, let us cleanse ourselves from every filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. Let us remain watchful at all times, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ which is at the doors. Therefore, what our Lord said unto us we say unto you all again; Watch! For if the watchman of the house hath known the hour that the thief would come, he would have watched and prevent his house from being broken into. Likewise you also watch and be ready, for we are in the seasons of His coming. It is even at the doors. We pray our Lord to keep you all from falling away into sin and unrighteousness, as many of you that are willing to do His will, make you remain steadfast in holiness and perfect in obedience even unto His appearing. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.