Incorruption

Concise Bible Dictionary:

The state which the bodies of the dead in Christ (now going to corruption in their graves) will have at the resurrection. When this takes place, and the mortal shall have put on immortality, death will be swallowed up in victory! (1 Cor. 15:42-54⁴²So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: ⁴³It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: ⁴⁴It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. ⁴⁵And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. ⁴⁶Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. ⁴⁷The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. ⁴⁸As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. ⁴⁹And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. ⁵⁰Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²In 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. ⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:42‑54)). In Romans 2:7⁷To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: (Romans 2:7) and 2 Timothy 1:10¹⁰But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2 Timothy 1:10) the word is the same as the above, and should be translated “incorruption” instead of “immortality.”

From Anstey’s Doctrinal Definitions:

This refers to the deathless state into which believers will be changed when they are glorified. For the New and Old Testament saints, this will occur at the time of the Rapture (1 Cor. 15:51-56⁵¹Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²In 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. ⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ⁵⁶The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑56); Heb. 11:40⁴⁰God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40)). For the martyred portion of the believing Jewish remnant, it will be at the end of the Great Tribulation (Rev. 14:13¹³And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. (Revelation 14:13)). Old Testament saints didn’t know much about life after death, but the truth concerning it has now been brought to light through the gospel. We now know that there is “life” for the soul, and “incorruptibility” for the body (2 Tim. 1:10¹⁰But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2 Timothy 1:10)).

As mentioned, at the moment of the Rapture, the Lord will effect a change in the saints who have died, which Paul states as: “this corruptible must put on incorruptibility” (1 Cor. 15:5⁵And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: (1 Corinthians 15:5)3a). The Lord will also effect a change to the living saints which Paul states as: “this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:5⁵And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: (1 Corinthians 15:5)3b). This change will be both moral and physical. Their souls and spirits will be rid of the fallen sin-natures, and thus they will be made like Christ morally (1 John 3:2²Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)). Also, their bodies will be made like Christ’s body physically (Phil. 3:21²¹Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21)).

The souls of all men are immortal—regardless of whether a person is saved or lost. Genesis 2:7⁷And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7) says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” This shows that the spirits and souls of men are “living,” not dying. All such will live on forever, either in the enjoyment of the blessing of God or under damnation. Even after a person dies and his body is buried, his spirit and his soul live on. In connection with this, the Lord said, “All [the dead] live unto Him” (Luke 20:38³⁸For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. (Luke 20:38)). While man’s soul is immortal, his body is “mortal”—subject to death (Job 4:17¹⁷Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? (Job 4:17); Rom. 6:12; 8:11¹²Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (Romans 6:12)
¹¹But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11); 1 Cor. 15:53-54⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:53‑54); 2 Cor. 4:11¹¹For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:11)). The good news is that there will come a time for the believer when “mortality” will be “swallowed up of life” (2 Cor. 5:4⁴For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (2 Corinthians 5:4)).