1 Corinthians 15:42-55 (NKJV)
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.
A dead human body is changed to a spiritual body after death – corruption to incorruption
43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power).
Our natural body dies in a state of dishonor and weakness – it is transformed to glory and power.
44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Our body dies as a natural body and is transformed into a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
Adam was created as a living being – Christ was created as a life-giving spirit.
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.
God made us natural first, then spiritual afterward.
47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.
Adam’s body was made from the elements of the earth, Christ’s body was made from elements of heaven and earth.
48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.
The fallen descendents of Adam were bound by earthly bodies only, the spiritual descendants of Christ have the advantage of spiritual forces working in their bodies.
49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
Born-again Christians resemble the image of earthly Adam and spiritual Christ at the same time.
50 Now
this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;
nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
Our current physical bodies could not take their corruptible state into the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
Those of us who are alive at Christ’s return will go through an instant transformation.
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 incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
In a flash, those whose natural bodies had died, who are now living in their spiritual bodies only, will suddenly be changed into a combination of glorified natural (earthly) body and spiritual body combined.
The Christians who haven’t died yet will be transformed into the same glorified natural and spiritual body.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Our natural, earthly bodies must be transformed in order to handle the transition into heaven.
54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
So at Christ’s return, when the dead are glorified and the living are immortalized, Hosea’s prophecy in Hosea 13:14 will be fulfilled.
55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”