But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.

 No longer death or pain:

 

1 Corinthians 15:54

54     But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.

     

            Here is a further verse saying the same thing. How many do we need to persuade us that God is going to do this? Out of the mouths of two or three witnesses is a thing established. We, the perishable, will put on the imperishable, immortal body. There will no longer be any death. It will be swallowed up in victory. A lot of people live in fear of death. There is nothing to fear. Death is just one step away from eternity.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "There is nothing to fear, My children. There is nothing that can harm you in My glory. You need not fear death nor any thing created. There is nothing that can overshadow My glory. There is nothing that can bring fear again to you. As you walk in My Word and trust Me, you shall know My glory and no fear shall assail you again. I have established for My people that they shall walk in My glory in My Kingdom. They shall never taste of death in My glory; for they shall be as I am. I cannot be harmed by death any longer and neither shall they on that Day.”

 

            112. This perishable shall put on the imperishable and this mortal shall put on immortality. I will be among those who dwell with God Himself.

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

 He will dwell among us:

 

Revelation 21:3-4

3     And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,

     4     and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

     

 

Revelation 22:3-5

3     There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;

     4     they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.

     5     And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.

     

            Look at all the appalling things that no longer will be: death, mourning, crying, pain, and curse. These things are among the first things. We will no longer be made miserable by any of them. Many of us have mourned our loved ones going on before us; too many of them before their time. We’ve all cried. We’ve all felt pain inside and out. We were all under a curse before we came to Jesus. Those things will no longer harm us. Not only will the negative things be gone, there will be many positive ones to take their places. The throne of the Father and the Son will be in our midst. We will see the face of God. We will walk in the light of the Lord and won’t have need of sun or moon to light our way.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My children, sorrow no more. I have established My covenant with you in the earth that you may be victorious in life and in death. I have not desired that you suffer in pain and agony. I have desired that you walk in the glorious newness of My life. You shall know no pain in My glory. You shall not suffer nor be afflicted in any way. No evil thing can exist in My presence. I will be with you in My glory and nothing shall ever again harm you. You are precious in My sight, and I will let nothing afflict you ever again. You will walk with Me in white and know My glory. I will take away all pain and sorrow and harm that has come upon you when you meet Me in My glory. I will never again allow any harm to come upon you when you meet Me in My glory.”

 

            111. I shall behold the face of God, and He will wipe away all my tears. I will no longer cry or experience pain. I shall walk in the light of the Lord and will reign forever and ever.

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,

 Results:

 

            Will raise us up with Jesus:

 

1 Corinthians 15:22-23

22     For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

     23     But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,

     

2 Corinthians 4:14

14     knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.

     

            This supports the previous verse’s statement … we know that we will be raised from the dead just like Jesus. He was the first fruits (which for the people under the Old Covenant belonged to the Lord), but we will one day join Him. Before we made Jesus Lord of our lives, we were dead in Adam. When we were born again (or, from above), we were made alive in Christ. Those of us who are physically dead when He returns (actually the real person never dies) will come to life again physically. He was the first fruits, but He wasn’t the last.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You can have confidence in Me that I will complete what I have started in you. I will not leave you as orphans, but I will come to get you shortly. I will complete what I have started in you. You will be lacking nothing. Your body will be changed in an instant. The glory that is Mine shall be yours. Do not look at things as they are in the natural, but as they are in the spiritual. For you shall soon know My glory when I return to greet you in the clouds.”

 

            110. I am confident that He who raised the Lord Jesus from the grave, will raise me also and present me to the Father.

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

             All will be changed:

 

1 Corinthians 15:51-53

51     Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,

     52     in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

     53     For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

     

            The New Testament calls death sleeping. Even Jesus said that of Lazarus. When you go to sleep, you anticipate waking up in the morning. When we die, we can anticipate waking up “in the morning”. There are various beliefs along these lines, but we’re not going to look at them. Paul said at one point that he would rather go on to be with the Lord, but to stay would mean gain for others. What is important is that one day, when Jesus returns our (the believers’) bodies will all be changed into His likeness. If we have died, we will be raised up. If we’re still alive, we’ll also rise to meet Him in the sky. This frail tent will put on immortality. Ponce De Leon was searching for the fountain of youth. People today spend thousands of dollars to prolong life. But we shall live forever.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "The people of the world have sorrow and fear of dearth. It is not so for you. You are to rejoice in death; for that is your time of triumph. Those of you who await My coming and shall see Me coming shall see My glory in your body. What you have now will no longer be your home. The home that I have for you is glorious and will never wear out. It is not a time of regretting what is to come, but for rejoicing in My coming. For I will come in My power and My glory, and you shall join with Me in My glory. You shall see Me as I am, for you shall be just like Me in My glorious body. You are Mine. I have chosen you for this time, and I have not changed My mind. Await the sound of My trumpet. When you hear the sound of My trumpet, then you will become as I am. Look up, My children for the hour grows near. Do not worry about when it comes, only concern yourself about being ready to meet Me.”

 

            109. When the last trumpet sounds, I will be changed … whether I am awake or asleep in the grave. I will then be raised up with Him imperishable, having put on immortality.