What Will Happen to Believers Who Are Still Alive When Jesus Returns

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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 shall be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52

What about believers who are living when Christ returns? Like believers who have already died, believers who are still alive will also receive the gift of the resurrection body when He comes.

Some Christians will still be living when Christ returns. They will not die. That’s the meaning of “We shall not all sleep” (15:51). Notice, Paul says, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” Paul included himself here, because he lived with a profound awareness that Jesus could return during his lifetime, and we should do the same.

When will this change take place? “At the last trumpet.” That’s a clear reference to the glorious return of Christ. When the trumpet sounds, two things will happen. First, “the dead will be raised imperishable.” And second, “we [those who are living at the time] shall be changed” (15:52).

So those who have died and those who live will receive the gift of the resurrection body at the same time. And the apostle tells us that this change in which our perishable bodies will be transformed into bodies that are glorious, powerful, spiritual, and imperishable will happen “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (15:52).

This will be an instantaneous and miraculous change. Your sanctification is a long, slow process with many setbacks, but your glorification will be an immediate, complete, and irreversible transformation.

Reflect on the hope of one day having your earthly body instantaneously transformed into a glorious, powerful, spiritual, and imperishable body.