1 Cor 15:20-28 • Perfection Through Resurrection Pt. 3

Anthony Albizu

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Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

We’re still dealing with the 6th Question that the Corinthians had for Paul: Resurrection of the Dead, chp.15:

In vs.1-11 Paul dealt with the Importance of the Gospel

In vs.12-19 he dealt with the Importance of the Resurrection:

We saw that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone of Christianity… without it, our Preaching is vain… our faith is Vain… we’re False Witnesses… and we’re still Dead in our Sins…

2. Current Study’s Overview

Now as we come vs.20-28 Paul talks about the Agenda for the Resurrection: Read.

The Agenda for the Resurrection involves many things, but in our text The Agenda for the Resurrection Involves:

The Two Representatives Vs. 21-22

The Two Resurrections Vs. 20 & 23-24

The Two Results Vs. 25-28

1. The Two Representatives Vs. 21-22

1.1 Adam Brought Ruin & Death Vs. 21a & 22a

Adam was created perfect, in the image of God… but he disobeyed God… & 2 things happened:

He forfeited the title deed of the earth to Satan

2 Corinthians 4:4 NKJV

4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Ephesians 2:2 NKJV

2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

He caused all of us to die why, because of sin…

Romans 5:12 NKJV

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

1.2 Jesus Brings Resurrection & Life Vs. 21b & 22

But through one Man, Jesus all shall be made alive… everyone will be resurrected from the dead…

turn John 5:24-29 we’re told everyone will be resurrected... believers & non-believers alike... but there is a huge difference between the two. Read.

John 5:24–29 NKJV

24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

While we’re still alive this is a decision we all have to make… because once we breath our last breath on earth our fate is sealed…

2. The Two Resurrections Vs. 20 & 23-24

Now, it’s important to understand that though there are only 2 resurrections.

John 5:29 NKJV

29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

However, there are 3 stages to the first resurrection, the resurrection of life.

2.1 Stage One: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ Vs. 20

Now notice there in the beginning, Paul begins this section by way of contrast…

The previous verse says if Christ is not risen we are the most pitiable people on the face of the earth.

And then verse 20 says, “But Christ is risen from the dead”… indicative…

The word risen is in the indicative mood which is a statement of fact.

So you can translate the beginning of this verse by saying, Since Christ is risen from the dead we are not pitiable… our preaching & our faith is not in vain…

And since Christ is resurrected He is the First Fruits of those who have died… because everyone else who died & was resurrected died again… Not Jesus…

So the first stage of this first resurrection is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

2.2 Stage Two: The Resurrection at the Rapture Vs. 23

So Jesus resurrects first, He is the first fruits of this first resurrection.

Then those at Christ’s coming will be resurrected. Now, this is not specifically speaking of His 2nd Coming, that happens at the end of the Tribulation.

Revelation 19:11–12 NKJV

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.

Revelation 19:13–14 NKJV

13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

Revelation 19:15–16 NKJV

15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

This is speaking of His Coming for His church, we call it the Rapture. Which could happen at any moment. Drop down and look at...

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 NKJV

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall 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 incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 NKJV

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

So when the Lord raptures His Church the dead in Christ will rise first and if we are alive we will be raptured, transformed in the twinkling of an eye.

That is the second stage of the first resurrection, the resurrection at the Rapture.

2.3 Stage Three: The Resurrection at the Millennial Kingdom Vs. 24

So Jesus resurrects, then at the rapture those who are dead in Christ will resurrect, and now:

Those who come to faith during the Great Tribulation will resurrect prior to the Millennial Kingdom.

Daniel 12:1–2 NKJV

1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Revelation 20:4–6 NKJV

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Notice that according to this verse that the first resurrection occurs after the tribulation and prior to the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ. but in..

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 NKJV

At the Rapture of Jesus the dead in Christ will rise first.

The way we reconcile this is by understanding that this first resurrection of believers happens in stages or phases.

2.4 The Second Resurrection: Unbelievers Vs. 24

Resurrection of the Non-Believer: will be at the end of the Millennial Kingdom…

In Rev.20:11 they will stand before the Great White Throne of Judgment… & according to Rev.20:14-15 they’ll be cast into the Lake of Fire which is the second death… or final death…

Revelation 20:11–12 NKJV

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

Revelation 20:13–15 NKJV

13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

3. The Two Results Vs. 25-28

3.1 The Destruction of Death Vs. 25-26

In the beginning of vs.24a says, then comes the end… in vs.23 the beginning of the end is when Jesus comes for His church, which is the rapture…

As we mentioned, the Rapture can happen any moment… 1 Thes.4:16

The moment the rapture happens that starts the 7 years of Tribulation, or the 70th week of Daniel in Dan.9:24 & Rev 6-18

You don’t want to be on earth during this tribulation period of time.

After the 7 yrs of tribulation Jesus Returns, with us, Rev.19:14 & Rev.20:2 Jesus binds Satan for 1000 years…

Revelation 19:11-14 - We just saw this...

Revelation 20:2 NKJV

2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

That is when the Millennial Kingdom or the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ begins.

After the 7 year tribulation and when Jesus binds satan and casts him into the abyss.

Revelation 20:4 NKJV

This is where Jesus will have victory over all power & all principality, and will put all enemies under His feet. which is found here in Vs. 24-25

As a side note: 1 Cor.6:2-3 you and I will rule & reign over men & angels with Him …

1 Corinthians 6:2–3 NKJV

2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

Isa.11: Isaiah Paints a beautiful picture of this millennial kingdom

Isaiah 11:6–9 NKJV

6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.

What a beautiful time this will be on earth - It will be so peaceful and the Lord will be ruler of this world. But it doesn’t stop there...

At the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ, Rev.20:7-8 Satan will be released for a while…

Revelation 20:7–8 NKJV

7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.

satan will deceive those who came out of the tribulation, there will be the 2nd Magog invasion…

Then Rev.20:9 fire will come from heaven Rev.20:14-15. death & Hades will be cast into the Lake of Fire.

Revelation 20:9 NKJV

9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.

Revelation 20:14–15 NKJV

14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Which is the last enemy that will be destroyed: Death.

APPLICATION: This should bless us so much! Don’t give up! Keep going!

ILLUSTRATION: When the Korean War ended, there were a group of American soldiers who found themselves cut off from their unit and behind enemy lines.

With their supplies running low and the North Korean army all around, the soldiers realized that they were in a fight for their lives, even though the war had ended.

For several days, they huddled together in a small cave, using their weapons to fend off waves of North Korean soldiers who were trying to capture them. They took turns keeping watch at night, listening for any sound that might signal the approach of the enemy.

As the days wore on, the soldiers began to feel hopeless. They were outnumbered and outgunned, and their chances of survival seemed slim.

But then the got wind that the war had ended, and they knew all they had to do is make it make to their own lines.

So the soldiers refused to give up. They continued to fight.

Finally, after several days, the soldiers were able to make a break for it. Under the cover of darkness, they fought their way through enemy lines, dodging bullets and artillery fire as they ran.

Though they were battered and bruised, they eventually made it back to their own lines, where they were greeted with cheers and tears of relief.

APPLICATION: I think this is a good illustration that look the war is already won! Jesus is our victor He has defeated the enemy. This is a powerful reminder that even in the face of overwhelming odds, we can find strength and hope in that God has won the war.

Just as these soldiers fought for their survival, we too need to press even though we are behind enemy lines.

Because one day we will be raptured and will make it home at the presence of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20 NKJV

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

3.2 The Dominion of God Vs. 27-28

15:27 God has declared that all things will be put under the feet of the Jesus. Of course, in putting all things under Him, God the Father excepted Himself.

Verse 27 is kinda hard to follow because it is not clear to whom each pronoun is referring to. And I think this is the way we should paraphrase it:

“For God has put all things under Jesus’ feet. But when God says, all things are put under Jesus Christ, it is obvious that God is excluded, who put all things under Christ.”

3.2 The Dominion of God Vs. 27-28

15:28 Even after all things have been put in subjection to the Son, He Himself will continue to be subject to God the father forever.

God the Father has made Christ ruler, administrator of all His plans and counsels. All authority and power is put in His hands.

There is a time coming when He will give His account of the administration committed to Him.

After Jesus brings everything into subjection, He will hand the kingdom back to the Father.

Creation will be brought back to God in a perfect condition. Having accomplished the work of redemption and restoration for which He became Man, He will retain the submissive place that He took in Incarnation.

If He should cease to be man after having brought to pass all that God purposed and designated, the very link that brings God and man together would be gone. (Selected)

Now while there is Equality in the Triunity of the God head… 1 John 5:7 these three are one…

There is also Hierarchy, God the Father… then God the Son… then God the Holy Spirit…

But I’m sure glad God is All in All… amen?

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