Eschatology

26. What does Paul mean when he says: “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51 - NIV)?

He means that not all the disciples of Christ will see death in that at the coming of Christ there will be some saints still alive.

Both the saints who are dead and those who are still alive will undergo a physical change. For the dead in Christ will rise again with a glorious, incorruptible and immortal body; while the saints who are still alive will be changed by Christ, who will give them too a glorious, immortal and incorruptible body. Paul says this in the letter to the Corinthians: “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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:52-53 – NKJV), and he confirms this in his first epistle to the Thessalonians when he says: “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. 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” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – NKJV).

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