The Problem With Particularism

If the Unjust are not redeemed, then what happens to them in the final Judgment? 

1 Corinthians 15:42–49 (ESV): So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 

Ephemeral bodies are dishonorable, corruptible/perishable, natural, earthly/terrestrial. Resurrection ontology is glorious, incorruptible, imperishable, spiritual, and heavenly, blessedly corporeal, not under the curse of sin and death, & neither incorporeal nor ghostly.  Moreover, these seals describe the physical and moral ontology of the body and the soul.   

1 Corinthians connects these signs & seals to the inheritance rights of the resurrected.

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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 imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” 

55 “O death, where is your victory? 

O death, where is your sting?” 

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:50–57, ESV)

The text is clear, flesh & blood (the PERISHABLE) cannot inherit the IMPERISHABLE. 

In addition the text says **the dead** will be raised IMPERISHABLE  — not the Just only.   Therefore the Just & Unjust are raised IMPERISHABLE. 

The Just as to their Moral Inheritance are raised IMPERISHABLE & IMMORTAL , as are their bodies & their environment. 

If Particularism obtains the Moral Inheritance of the Unjust is PERISHABLE & MORTAL yet their bodies — ****which are a product of union with Christ & therefore part of their inheritance **** — are IMPERISHABLE & IMMORTAL  according to the signs & seals.  

In other words, the Particularist view says that the Moral Inheritance of the Unjust is PERISHABLE & **CAN** inherit the IMPERISHABLE & IMMORTAL as to their Bodily Inheritance even thought the text says that flesh & blood (the PERISHABLE) ***CANNOT** inherit anything IMPERISHABLE & IMMORTAL.

According to 1 Corinthians 15…

                            JUST 

Moral Inheritance	IMPERISHABLE
Bodily Inheritance	IMPERISHABLE

                          UNJUST 

Moral Inheritance	IMPERISHABLE
Bodily Inheritance	IMPERISHABLE

If Particularism obtains…the chart looks like this: 

                            JUST 

Moral Inheritance	IMPERISHABLE
Bodily Inheritance	IMPERISHABLE

                          UNJUST 

Moral Inheritance	PERISHABLE
Bodily Inheritance	IMPERISHABLE

The problem with Particularism is that the signs & seals on the resurrection body are all indicative of life & honor, imperishability & immortality whereas the Moral Inheritance indicates exactly the opposite — yet 1 Corinthians 15 is as clear as can be:  The PERISHABLE CANNOT INHERIT THE IMPERISHABLE.   

In other words, it is impossible for someone’s Moral Inheritance to be incongruent with their Bodily Inheritance. 

The fact of the matter is that in Adam all are perishable & die.   In Christ, all are made alive & imperishable, &, since the resurrection of Christ underwrites the resurrection of both the Just & the Unjust, there is no resurrection without union with Christ, & the signs & seals for the resurrection of the Unjust & the signs & seals of the Just are identical.   

Therefore the only correct answer to the question “What happens to the Unjust in the Resurrection as to their Moral Inheritance is: “God will redeem them all & raise them from the dead!”