The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 15:51-58, “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will 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 imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.
55 “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

It was intended as a joke. Somewhere I had read that 51st verse and proceeded to tack it to the
door of the Church Nursery. I’m more careful now not to use the Word of God in any humorous manner.

The mystery is that that not everyone will understand. Yet, some will die before the LORD Jesus returns. “Sleep” is a euphonism for physical death. Thus, some will be alive to see the LORD coming for His own in what we know as the Rapture (the catching away) of the Church. It will all occur in a fraction of a second.

At the very moment the trumpet of God sounds, those true believers who had physically died, will be resurrected without corruption. It would not be pleasant to identify the various manners of death for loved ones; still, it is clearly stated here that however the believers died, they will be resurrected and caught up to meet the LORD Jesus coming in power and glory.

Death is the result of sin; and the LORD will manifest victory over death and the sin that has occasioned it. Victory will be the way of the believers who have died. Those believers will have
victory in and through the LORD Jesus Christ. For this, we ought to give thanks in praise to the LORD Himself!

For those who are living and believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation, the Apostle Paul encourages them and us to be steadfast – immovably firm in life and in the Biblical instruction of the LORD Jesus Christ. It may not appear that what you are currently doing for Him is very progressive. Yet, nothing that we do in His Name and for His Glory is without worth. Live in victory! Praise the LORD daily through your life! You will never be sorry.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom