THE MYSTERY OF THE GLORIOUS TRANSLATION
MINISTER: PASTOR W. F. KUMUYI
TEXT: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58.
Here, Apostle Paul by the Spirit of God brings the word to the church at Corinth, and to the church of the 1st century, to the church militant, triumphant and glorious from that time, till this time and to the end of time.
He says he shows us a mystery. What is a mystery? Something unknown and hidden from past generations but revealed to the present generation. A new revelation which the people of the Old Testament were ignorant of, which became a mystery to them.
“We shall not all sleep…” This reveals to us that the pronouncement of death on all the offsprings of Adam will not affect everyone. There is going to be a generation of believers which will not die, but will be changed in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye.
Point 1. THE TRANSLATION OF THE GODLY TO GLORY.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53; John 14:1-3; Titus 2:13-14; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; Hebrews 11:5-6; 2 Kings 2:11; Acts 1:9-11; Ephesians 5:26-27;Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:1-3; Colossians 3:1-4; Luke 21:34-36.
This is talking about the Rapture which is the glorious translation of believers to heaven. Who are the people who will partake of this? The ones whom the gospel has saved from sin. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jews, the Greek and everyone else.
- GOSPEL TRANSLATION:
After the gospel comes into your life, there is a translation from sin to salvation. - GRACIOUS TRANSLATION.
The grace of God appeared and manifested in sinners, transformed and translated them out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son. By grace are we all saved through faith, and if any man is in Christ, he becomes a new creature, old things pass away, and all things become new. - GREAT TRANSLATION.
It is a mystery by itself. Look at the case of Apostle Paul, he used to be a persecutor of believers until he became saved when Jesus met him on the way to Damascus and he became a great servant of God.
Apostle Paul says he shows us a mystery. We shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. Jesus said we should believe in His Father and in Himself, and He has gone to prepare a place for us: - . Heaven is a Prepared Place for a Prepared Person• A Pure Place for Pure Person• A Holy place for Holy People
- Jesus gave Himself for us so that we might be saved and redeemed from all iniquities and be zealous of all good works, hence, we were not saved to be cold, sleepy, lethargic and lazy.
When a believer dies, the body is buried while the Spirit goes to God the Father. But at Rapture, the dead in Christ shall rise first, after which those who are alive will rise up to join them in Rapture.
After resurrection, Jesus was taken up to heaven in the presence of the disciples. So, we have Enoch, Elijah and our Lord Jesus Christ all taken up into heaven alive, this is the Rapture. Our expectation is in heaven, where we look for the Saviour who shall change our vile, mortal, and corruptible bodies into His own type of body. And when He comes, we shall see Him.
Point 2: THE TRIUMPH OF THE GLORIFIED OVER THE GRAVE
1 Corinthians 15:54-56; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; Romans 8:11,22-23;Isaiah 25:8; Hosea 13:14; Hebrews 2:14-15; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:4-8;1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:37,34-39; 1 John 5:4-5,18.
Everything which has been written about Christ, the church and translatable believer will be fulfilled. Isaiah was a student and master of the Old Testament. At the time of the Rapture, death shall be swallowed up in victory because the Lord has spoken it.
Christ died that we might have power over the devil who put humanity under bondage.
Because He lives, you will not die a premature death because you still have a lot of work to do for Him.
You will not also die a permanent death, that is, total separation from God. It will not be your portion in Jesus name.
Remember:
• First, the Resurrection,
• Then the Rapture,
• Great tribulation for 7 years,
• Christ will literally come to the earth and the great tribulation saints will rise up from the dead,
• The devil will be put in the bottomless pit and we will reign with Christ for 1,000 years.
• There will be the Battle of Armageddon when the devil will try but he will be destroyed,
• Then the Great White Throne Judgment,
• After this, death has no more work to do, so death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire so that there will be no more death. Therefore, those in hell fire will be there forever and those in heaven will be there forever. No sickness, curse, pain, tears, etc.
While you are sleeping or going on the way, you are secured and safe and the wicked one will not be able to touch you. You will be victorious until you leave this world after completing your assignment in Jesus name. (Amen).
Point 3. OUR TOILING FOR THE GROWTH OF THE GOSPEL
1 Corinthians 15:58; Acts 2:40-42; Hebrews 3:14; 1 Peter 5:8-9;2 Peter 3:17-18; Psalm 16:8-9,11; Daniel 1:8; Colossians 1:21-23;2 Corinthians 9:8; Col 4:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; Mark 13:34-37.
The resurrection will happen so you must not sorrow like unbelievers who have no hope. When the trumpet shall sound, and Christ shall appear, we shall be taken out of this world to be with our Lord in heaven. Therefore, you must be steadfast, unmovable, and always abound in the work of the Lord. The kind of reward you want to have at the end will determine the commitment you will have towards God’s work. You must commit yourself to the Lord and His work.
STEADFAST to the point that nothing will change your commitment Acts 2:40-42; Hebrews 3:14; 2 Peter 3:17; 1 Peter 5:8-9.
The devil cannot devour everyone but the lazy, and distracted ones. He could not overcome our Lord, so, you must hold your ground.
BE UNMOVABLE and ensure that you don’t allow anything worldly and fleshly to come between you and Christ (Psalm 16:8-11) You must always look up to the coming of the Lord.
Daniel 1:8, Colossians 1:21-23.
Point 3: ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD.
Many years ago, to do the work of evangelism was difficult. It took more time and there was limited time to do the work, but now, on phone, you can preach the gospel and win souls by calling them, sending messages on Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, etc. You can send good life changing songs to them, you can share with them what you gained from the study of tonight and others. Always think of what you can send which will bless lives and the Lord will reward you when you get to heaven, Jesus will welcome you home. All your work will be rewarded. You will not labour in vain.