Epistles - End Times - Commentary

The promises of the Messiah to sit on the throne of David was one reason the Jewish people rejected Jesus. These is an apparent reality as we read the Gospels. Yet, the New Testament writers dealt with the Second Coming of Christ a great deal. Here I would like to spend some time dealing with these passages even though they may not be in the forefront of eschatology. My interpretation method relies primarily on what the New Testament has plainly revealed to understand this important Messianic fulfillment in the Old.

1 Corinthians 15:20–28“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since through a man came death, also through a man came the resurrection of the dead. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own group: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s at his coming, then the end, when he hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when he has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For it is necessary for him to reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death. For “he subjected all things under his feet.” But when it says “all things” are subjected, it is clear that the one who subjected all things to him is not included. But whenever all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected all things to him, in order that God may be all in all.”

The beginning of chapter, 1 Cor 15:1-19 deals primarily with what the Gospel is. That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised up on the third day according to the scriptures. Appearing to many confirming the bodily resurrection. Paul continues with this fundamental truth of the Gospel. That if we deny, he shows how pitiable, we as Christians truly are. Our hope is to be raised with Christ. Christ is the firstfruits who has been raised from the dead. Just as all men die and subject to death in Adam. All men in Christ will be raised in Him to life. And that order and when it occurs is found in these scriptures of our focus. The order being Christ and then those who are Christ’s at His coming (v23). This is the “παρουσίᾳ” or parousia, mentioned in other eschatological explanations (I will cover these in detail later in this section). This is when it occurs, at His coming, yet he continues to distinguish a timeline. In verse 24, “then the end, when he hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when he has abolished all rule and all authority and power.” 1 Co 15:24. This idea is not foreign to the rest of Scripture. But as we will see. A well documented reality of Christ fulfilling the throne of David prophecy. Let continue on in verse 25-26, “For it is necessary for him to reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death” 1 Co 15:25–26. Death is clearly still an active part of humanity. I hope no one would argue against this. Death may have lost it’s sting. Because as Paul mentions elsewhere.