1 Corinthians 15 is a powerful testimony and study on the importance of Christ’s resurrection for our salvation! But not only does it add insight into His resurrection but it also provides us with some insights into the understanding of soul sleep, which is the belief that after a person dies they “sleep” in the ground ’till the second coming of Jesus.

I see several verses, but two very powerful ones to affirm this view:

Verse 53 states,

“For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

When must we put on the imperishable? Before we inherit (go to) the Kingdom of God (see verse 50).

Well when does the perishable become imperishable?

Verse 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.”

When will those who die be made “imperishable” and able to go to the Kingdom of God? At “the last trumpet.” That would mean that the righteous that die don’t go straight to heaven when they die because they have not yet been made imperishable, and they won’t be ’till the last trumpet.

And when does this last trumpet occur and when are the dead resurrected imperishable?

Verse 23 & 24a…

 “But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end…”

Y’all the Bible is clear the dead in Christ sleep ’till the END…the last trumpet…at which point they and those who are alive and have put their faith in Jesus will be made imperishable and be taken to the Kingdom of God in Heaven!

My one comment on chapter 16 is this…which believe me I don’t want to fault anyone…and I don’t have a problem with it…but this is just my opinion.

I don’t believe typical tithe &offering appeals in church are a Biblical practice…they aren’t wrong…but no one should defend them like they are their for Biblical reasons…

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.” -1 Corinthians 16:1 & 2

I know some have believed that this means that people are to go to church on Sunday. That is a far reaching extrapolation. What Paul is saying is at beginning of every week we should all plan how we are going to give to the work of God with our finances that week. Paul is saying our giving should be something done with forethought not something done in the spur of the moment.

There are special offerings special moments where an appeal is made. But the best Biblical practice is for each of us to prepare to give not to be reactionary in our giving, which an offering appeal in church lends itself to the latter and not the former.

Better than appeals would be personal testimonies of financial faithfulness!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Exodus 9-12