Hi Gerlinda,

The sting of death is gone for the believer but not for the unsaved. That being said please look at my explanantion below on 1Corinthians 15.

 

1Corinthians 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

As you can see above we have two births and two nature. We have an earthly "being" and if we are believers we have a heavenly "being". This is proven in many other scriptures written by the Apostle Paul.

 

The next verse tells us that the earthly being or the old nature will not inherit heaven.You see our flesh, the way it is today cannot inherit heaven or the Kingdom of God. Look at it.

1Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

 

Remember who Paul is talking to. The verse below will remind you. They did not all of a sudden become perfect or "mature". He is getting ready to give these carnal, sinful believers some great news.

1Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

 

 This is part of the mystery that is revealed to Paul.The GREAT NEWS.  Remember the mystery that was hid from previous ages and revealed to Paul first.The verse below should remind you and there are plenty more.

1Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

1Corinthians 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

 

Now back to chapter 15. This mystery is great news even to the carnal believer. Look below.

1Corinthians 15:52 In 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. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality

Wow! He gets right to the point. This old sinful body must be changed. The carnal believers who Paul chastised throughout his letter are going to be changed.We who are alive are going to be changed.Why? Because he told us in verse that flesh and blood can not inherit the Kingdom of God.We have to be changed.Now look at the verse you had in mind.

 

Now let us see that Paul is telling the carnal believers and us today that death has no sting for the believer. We know from several scriptures that for the non believer death has a very bad sting that will never go away. For the believer our sinful body whether we are dead or alive at this time will be changed to an everlasting incorruptible body.Now that is great news.

1Corinthians 15:54 So 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.55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

 

 

As for people in the tribulation who are saved that will be killed, they will be part of the "first resurrection". They will be priest and reign with Christ.They will inherit the "earthly" kingdom while we whom are part of the Body of Christ will inherit a "heavenly" kingdom.The ones who are saved during this time will have to have faith in Jesus and NOT take the mark of the beast. Look below who John by the direction of the Holy Spirit says will be a part of this resurrection.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

 

Anyway in closing, As you see above there is a "mystery" resurrection which include the dead AND "alive" believers. Then there is another resurrection called the "first" resurrection which includes the one from the tribulation who did not take the mark or worship the beast.Two different events for two different dispensations. The one Paul talks about is not the same one Jesus is talking about in the Gospels. Remember GOD said it was HID until HE showed it to Paul.

 

thanks and I hope this helps

Mike W