For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming (1 Cor. 15:22, 23).
All sinned in Adam; all rise in Christ. "But every man in his own order." As Hugh Fausset reminds us, the Greek here uses the figure of troops, "each in his own regiment." All will rise, but all will not be saved. Each will have their proper place--Christ first (Col 1:18); after Him, those who are Christ's at His coming. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven...: and the dead in Christ shall rise first" (1 Thess. 4:16). This is the first resurrection, the resurrection unto life. "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection" (Rev. 20:6). "Then cometh the end" (1 Cor. 15:24), with the resurrection of "the rest of the dead," which live "not again until the thousand years [are] finished"--the wicked (Rev. 20:5).
It is those who are Christ's who obtain the resurrection from the dead in the highest sense. As surely as our Savior rose from the dead, so shall all those who are His. Jesus said, "Every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40).
An Army chaplain tells of having bivouacked with his brigade, each soldier wrapped in his blanket with nothing over him but the cold, cloud sky. During the night snow fell. Early in the morning the chaplain looked out over the field and saw long rows of little mounds of new graves all covered with snow. Suddenly reveille sounded. There was a stir and a shaking of snow as hundreds of men stood up in momentary amazement at the sight. So will it be at the last trump, when those in Christ arise.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?" (Ps. 6:4, 5).
All sinned in Adam; all rise in Christ. "But every man in his own order." As Hugh Fausset reminds us, the Greek here uses the figure of troops, "each in his own regiment." All will rise, but all will not be saved. Each will have their proper place--Christ first (Col 1:18); after Him, those who are Christ's at His coming. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven...: and the dead in Christ shall rise first" (1 Thess. 4:16). This is the first resurrection, the resurrection unto life. "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection" (Rev. 20:6). "Then cometh the end" (1 Cor. 15:24), with the resurrection of "the rest of the dead," which live "not again until the thousand years [are] finished"--the wicked (Rev. 20:5).
It is those who are Christ's who obtain the resurrection from the dead in the highest sense. As surely as our Savior rose from the dead, so shall all those who are His. Jesus said, "Every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40).
An Army chaplain tells of having bivouacked with his brigade, each soldier wrapped in his blanket with nothing over him but the cold, cloud sky. During the night snow fell. Early in the morning the chaplain looked out over the field and saw long rows of little mounds of new graves all covered with snow. Suddenly reveille sounded. There was a stir and a shaking of snow as hundreds of men stood up in momentary amazement at the sight. So will it be at the last trump, when those in Christ arise.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?" (Ps. 6:4, 5).
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