At the resurrection of the Body of Christ, who is raised or changed first?
Paul writes that the dead are raised first, receiving their new bodies. Then those who are alive and living are changed, putting on incorruption and immortality. This resurrection applies only to Church Age believers, not Old Testament believers or tribulation saints.
Les explains that since Paul is writing to the Church, the resurrection in verses 52-53 is the resurrection of the Body of Christ, the Church Age believer only. It does not include Old Testament believers, and cannot include the tribulation because that hasn't happened yet. He notes the dead will be raised first, resurrected with their new body, and then those who are alive and living shall be changed. The corruptible, death-prone body must put on incorruption because we will live for eternity, and the mortal must put on immortality so we can never die. When this happens, death is finally swallowed up in victory, and we will never again face the prospect of death. This is the outcalling or resurrection of the Church Age believer, who comes in by believing the Gospel, not by works.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
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