Commentaries:
At the second coming of Jesus Christ (I Thessalonians 4:13-16), all the dead in Christ will be raised with new spirit bodies; and those mortal Christians still alive at His return will be instantly changed into the same kind of spirit bodies—bodies which can inherit the Kingdom of God. Our present flesh is corruptible, subject to death and decay. But spirit beings are eternally new—immortal, incorruptible, never subject to death and decay!
Will You Go to Heaven?
This verse is parallel to I Thessalonians 4:15-17. The phrase "the kingdom of God" in I Corinthians parallels "the coming of the Lord" in I Thessalonians. Likewise, "the last trumpet" parallels "the trumpet of God." The last trumpet announces both the resurrection of the saints and Christ's triumphant return to earth to set up His Kingdom! Revelation 11:15-18 confirms when the last trumpet sounds.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Caught Up in the Rapture
Since the church is composed of flesh and blood mortals, it cannot be the Kingdom of God! God's children, begotten by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11, 14-17), will be born again—changed to spirit like God is (John 4:24)—at Christ's return (I Thessalonians 4:16-17), and then we will enter into God's Kingdom. Thus, only Jesus Christ and His Father comprise the Kingdom of God in its fullness at this time.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
The True Gospel
Related Topics:
Only the just, the righteous, will rise at Christ's second coming. God will raise the martyred saints to eternal life, but the unjust dead will not be resurrected until the end of this period. If we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us when we die, we will be resurrected through the power of that same Spirit at that time (Romans 8:9, 11, 14). In addition to the dead in Christ, those who are true Christians at His coming will rise in the first resurrection. The Feast of Trumpets celebrates the second coming of Jesus Christ to intervene in world affairs, resurrect the firstfruits, and establish God's Kingdom on earth (Matthew 24:30-31; Revelation 11:15).
Martin G. Collins
Basic Doctrines: The First Resurrection
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The Kingdom of God is something no human, born of flesh and blood, can enter or inherit. It is through the resurrection of those begotten by the Spirit of God during this mortal life, that this mortal will put on immortality and, like God, become immortal, incorruptible—literally born of God's Spirit into the very God Family! That is how we shall enter into the Kingdom of God.
Those thus born again, which will include all the Spirit-begotten saints of God through the centuries, will be organized into the executive branch of the government of God to rule this earth's mortals under Jesus Christ (Daniel 7:27; Revelation 2:26-27; 5:10)!
What Is the True Gospel?
Whatever is born of spirit IS spirit, said Jesus (John 3:6). But we have not yet been born of spirit; we are still flesh and blood! If you think you have already been "born again," then take the "pin test." Stick a pin in your finger. Do you feel pain? Does your finger bleed? Then you are still flesh and blood—you have not been "born again."
When Christ was resurrected—"born again"—He was able to pass through solid walls (John 20:19, 26). Do you think those who claim to have been "born again" can match this feat?
Obviously, any human beings who claim to be already born again are terribly mistaken, for they are still flesh and blood. Jesus said you must be "born of spirit"—you must become composed of spirit—to see or enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3, 5; I Corinthians 15:50). Thus, the new birth is something yet to occur at the resurrection!
What It Means to Be Born Again
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Genesis 1:26-27
Genesis 1:26-27
Genesis 3:4
Leviticus 2:11
Ezekiel 18:4
Matthew 22:13
Matthew 22:31-32
Luke 1:26-30
Luke 1:41-42
John 3:10
John 3:13
Romans 1:1-4
1 Corinthians 15:12-18
1 Corinthians 15:23
Galatians 4:5
1 Thessalonians 4:15-16
Revelation 7:3-8
Revelation 7:9-17
Revelation 14:1-5
Library resources that contain this verse:
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