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. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ^{I Corinthians 15:54-57}

The sting of death, the victory of the grave, is to usher man’s soul into the eternal torment of Hell, God’s just condemnation for the unrepentant and unredeemed soul. In the natural course of events, we all have this coming.

But thanks and gratitude to God, who gave us a way of escape, a provision for salvation from his wrath through faith in his son, Christ Jesus. On the cross, Jesus took the sting of death for us; he suffered and died as the perfect and final atonement for the sin of man. By faith and submission to him, his righteousness is credited to us, and we will not stand before God with unredeemed sinners to be judged unrighteous and condemned to the fire of hell. This is how death is defeated, its sting eliminated, and a horrific fate swallowed up in victory.

Thanks also to God for his promised provision to bring his children into heaven. A mortal, earthly body of flesh and blood, corrupt, weak, subject to defect and decay, cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. So, when we are raised at the appearance of Christ, we will be given a new body that is incorruptible and immortal, raised in glory and power, and designed to exist in the spiritual world. Moreover, if you happen to be alive when Jesus arrives to take His church off the earth, you will be instantly transformed into the new, glorified body and taken to be with Him, never to experience death. How great is that!

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. ^{Revelation 22:20}