The Change from Glory to Glory
From AD 30 to AD 70 of the first century, a transitioning of the Old Testament Mosaic Law and the New Testament of Jesus Christ was taking place with God’s people. The word “transition” means a passage or development from one state or subject to another.
The glory of the Old Covenant was being changed by the Spirit of God into the more glorious glory of a New Covenant relationship. 2 Corinthians 3:7-9, 11, 13-14
Here, the Bible explains this “metamorphosis” that was taking place. It was like the illustration of the metamorphosis taking place in the life of a caterpillar.
The word “metamorphosis” means a change of form, structure, substance, or any complete change. 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that we are all changed into the same image from glory to glory.
The word “changed” used in this verse comes from the Greek word “metamorphoo” which means “to transfigure or transform”. (Strong’s G#3339) “Metamorphoo” is used three more times in the Bible. Two of these uses were at the Transfiguration of Jesus Matthew 17:2, Mark 9:2 and the other is found in Romans 12:2.
The new spiritual body was being renewed daily. 2 Corinthians 4:16,18 The present tense is used here to express that the change was in progress.
The context is dealing with the glory of the Mosaic Law as reflected from God and the contrast from Moses to Jesus who is the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His person. Hebrews 1:3 Those first century Christians were changed from one glory to another.
When you begin to examine the Scriptures, you can see that God had a plan from the beginning to “change” the form, the structure, and the substance of His covenant-connected people of the Nation of Israel.
He would change them from His physical people into His spiritual people. Romans 8:28-30 In 2 Corinthians 3:18, notice that it does NOT say “have been changed” or “will be changed” but “are” changed.
This was the “metamorphoo”, the transformation from the body of the Old Covenant Mosaic Law to the New Covenant Body of Jesus Christ. This was the change that was taking place in 2 Peter 1:19: “….until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
In the last days of a caterpillar’s life, it undergoes a metamorphosis and is gradually changed from a caterpillar into a butterfly. So, it is with the change of physical Israel.
The physical must completely change into the spiritual. During the forty-year generation period from AD 30 to AD 70 which was the last days, the glory of the Old Covenant was fading away. Hebrews 8:13 The glory of the new man was getting brighter. Ephesians 2:15, Colossians 3:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17
The New Covenant people would shine as the brightness of the firmament and the new glory would remain forever. Daniel 12:3, 2 Peter 3:18
In the parable of the Sower, Jesus said that the righteous shall shine in the Kingdom of their Father. Matthew 13:43
What has this metamorphosis have to do with us today?
Nothing, absolutely nothing.
This metamorphosis took place nearly 2,000 years ago.
When we become a Christian today and we are born again Acts 2:38-39 and become covenant connected by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we become part of the butterfly not the caterpillar.
From AD 30 to AD 70, the complete metamorphosis of the Church was emerging into the new spiritual body of Christ.
The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is not only the final spiritual body, the Church is the only spiritual body known in the Bible.
The Kingdom of God is singular. It always was and always will be.
In 1 Corinthians 15:44, Paul wrote that both bodies were in existence. Notice that he did not say that there is a natural body and that there will be a spiritual body.
There is no “will be” in verse 44. Transition was taking place in that generation. Between AD 30 to AD 70, Old Covenant physical Israel was still coexisting with the Church which was born on the Day of Pentecost. The Church is the new spiritual Israel.
Today, many Church people believe that 1 Corinthians Chapter 15 deals with the resurrection of the physical body. The Bible does not teach a physical resurrection for the Church.
This physical body will never be resurrected. Job 34:15, John 12:24-25, Genesis 3:19 Now when we lay down these physical bodies, we simply step out the physical into our new “house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Corinthians 5:1
These physical bodies will return to the dust.
We do not need them anymore. When a kernel of corn is planted in the ground, it is not the body that shall be. 1 Corinthians 15:32 The kernel of corn is only temporary.
It decays and stays in the ground.
Resurrection life through the Gospel by faith and obedience lives on forever.
In 1 Corinthians 15:35-57, we see the contrast between different types of glory.
Physical/Earthly Body
Spiritual/Heavenly Body
Verse 36 – Sown/dies
Quicken/made alive
Verse 37 – Bare grain
What shall be
Verse 40 – Terrestrial
Celestial
Verse 42 – Corruptible
Incorruptible
Verse 43 – Weak
Powerful
Verse 44 – Natural
Spiritual
Verse 47 – 1st Man earthy
2nd Man heavenly
Verse 47 – Image of the earthy
Image of the heavenly
Verse 53 – Mortal
Immortal
Spiritual Israel, the Church, was to be “called out” or “ecclesia” from the old body. Romans 11:1,5 New life was germinated out of the old body.
The Original Greek word for 'Church' is ecclesia and means: a calling out, meeting, congregation, synagogue, assembly.
The Greek word for “resurrection” is “anastasis” and is defined as “a raising up” or “rising up” and in some passages of Scriptures is defined as “resurrection from the dead”.
· The Old Covenant was physical Israel.
· The New Covenant is the Church/Assembly/Congregation of Jesus Christ which is a spiritual body and eternal or the New Jerusalem.
Jews were urged to get out of physical Israel and to get into the eternal spiritual Body through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:49, “….we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”
“Borne the image of the earthy is in the past tense. “We shall bear the image of the heavenly is in the future tense because when the Apostle Paul wrote this, it was the time of the metamorphosis of transformation.
Today, all born-again Christians are members of that one spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 12:27
There is no Scripture in the Bible that says that we are to be members of a physical body or members of a physical edifice, but rather we are a spiritual body built up in Christ who is the chief cornerstone. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, Ephesians 2:20-22
Conclusion
The resurrection happened on the Last Day of the Last Days of the creation which God called the New Heavens and the New Earth. Isaiah 65:17-19
The change from glory to glory was complete. The glory of the Old Covenant was changed into a more glorious New Everlasting Covenant.
The physical was replaced with the spiritual.
The question is asked, what about after AD 70? God’s new creation, the Church or Assembly of Jesus Christ, which is His spiritual body, is eternal. There are no more Last Days, Last Day, or last hour nor ever will be.
It is only through the Everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ can you gain eternal everlasting life. It is a never-changing message in an ever-changing world.
