In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like the angels. And since they are sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God.
Parallel translations
- WEB For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels, and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.
- KJV Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
- NKJV nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
- NASB for they cannot even die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
- NLT And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The resurrected cannot die again; like the angels, they are immortal children of God and children of the resurrection.
Overview
Because death is abolished, the earthly need for marriage to continue the human line is gone. Believers become 'like the angels' in their deathlessness, not in becoming sexless or losing identity. Their status as 'children of God' is confirmed and consummated in resurrection, secured by Christ who is the firstfruits of those who rise.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Rev 21:4‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
- Phil 3:21who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
- Matt 22:30In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.
- 1 Cor 15:42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable.
- Rev 20:6Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
- Rev 22:9But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
- Rom 8:17–23And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
- Mark 12:25When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.
- 1 Jn 3:1–2Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
- 1 Cor 15:26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
- Isa 25:8He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.
- Rev 7:9–12After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
- Rev 22:2–5down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
- Hos 13:14I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes.
- 1 Th 4:13–17Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.
- Rev 5:6–14Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
- Zech 3:7“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘If you walk in My ways and keep My instructions, then you will govern My house and will also have charge of My courts; and I will give you a place among these who are standing here.
- 1 Cor 15:49And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man.
- 1 Cor 15:52–54in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 20:36 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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