What does 'His coming' mean in 1 Corinthians 15?
In 1 Corinthians 15, 'His coming' refers to Christ's coming for the Body of Christ, the Church, not His Second Coming to establish the Kingdom. It is the resurrection and Rapture of believers, the Church, when Christ comes to receive them.
Les explains that in 1 Corinthians 15, the phrase 'they who are Christ's at His coming' is not a reference to His Second Coming. Because Paul is writing about the Body of Christ, it refers to the coming for the Church—the Church resurrection, which includes the Rapture. The Old Testament promises and prophecies never considered the outcalling of the Church; that was kept secret. They spoke of Christ coming as King after the tribulation, but Israel rejected the King, so the tribulation did not come and they did not get the Kingdom. Les teaches the resurrection of the just occurs in three distinct stages: Christ and those who came out of the grave in Matthew 27, the Church resurrection/Rapture, and the Old Testament saints shortly after the Kingdom is established. Thus 'His coming' is the Rapture of the Church, not the Second Coming to set up the Kingdom.
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
More Questions
What is the order of resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15?
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul gives the resurrection order: Christ the firstfruits (fulfilled in Matthew 27), then after almost 2,000 years, those who are Christ's at His coming.
Who are 'they that are Christ's at his coming' in 1 Corinthians 15:23?
The phrase 'they that are Christ's at his coming' in 1 Corinthians 15:23 refers to the church-age believer—those who are in Christ and are part of the bride and body of Christ.