“So also, is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power” (I Corinthians 15:42-43).

The resurrection of the dead is the great hope of all mankind. Raised to the glory and power of Christ, the Son of God is worthy of a shout of praise to our great God and King! This bringing of many sons to glory through the glorious resurrection of Christ is the pinnacle of victory over death, hell and the grave by the suffering of death through the Cross by our precious Savior and Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Hebrews 2:10).

The resurrection of the dead is glorious in part because of the contrast of the two-part living in man. The Apostle describes it this way:

“And so, it is written, the first man, Adam, was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a life-giving spirit. The first man is of the earth, earthy, the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (I Corinthians 15:45,47-49).

All who have lived on earth will experience this two-part living of mankind. As we have experienced living in the terrestrial, so we shall experience living in the celestial; and this is the promise we have received of God, that we shall bear the image of the heavenly and that image is Glory. Describing these various degrees of glory, the Apostle declares:

“There are celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars, for one star differs from another star in glory. So also, is the resurrection of the dead” (I Corinthians 15:40-42a).

The exact nature of our glorious resurrection is a mystery, as described by the Apostle John in his first Epistle:

“Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Sons of God. . .Beloved, now are we the Sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (I John 3:1-2).

The glorious resurrection is a resurrection into the Glory of Christ, and we shall forever be like Him.

Deuteronomy 29:29 tells us: “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever that we may do all the words of this Law”.

There are mysteries yet to be revealed to us. Our glorious resurrection will be revealed at the second coming of Christ. Then we shall know, even as we are known (cf. I Corinthians 13:12b). Until then:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fades not away; reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (I Peter 1:3-5).

Today we walk by faith and not by sight. Today we live in hope: indeed, a living hope in the Resurrection of the dead. Whatever the nature of it may be, we know this: It will be glorious!

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