St. Paul gave an intriguing view of Ascension in 1 Corinthians. I want to single it out for comment. First let me give the passage and then interpret it, using more modern language.
Paul in 1 Corinthians 15: 42-55.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. …
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
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.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
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?
Excerpts only
“So also is the resurrection of the dead.”
The resurrection of the dead = In Paul’s terms, the Ascension of those who were dead to Christ and now live in him. We today would simply say the Ascension of those who can maintain a vibration high enough to tolerate the refined environment of the higher dimensions.
“It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.”
The physical body is corruptible. It will break down into its constituent elements after the soul departs. Nonetheless we learn how to ascend from the Third Dimension from our experiences in it.
When we ascend, the body we ascend in and to, unlike the physical body, is incorruptible. There’s no corruption in the Fifth or higher dimensions.
“It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory.”
Along the way to perfection, we’ve probably done a few dishonorable things but our Ascension is itself glorious and wipes out our remaining karma.
“It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.”
We’ve deluded ourselves thinking physical strength is powerful when, really, spiritual strength – primarily love – is powerful.
“It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
Our physical bodies are born of nature but our spiritual bodies – our souls – are born of God.
“As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”
We have lived many, many lifetimes as a Third-Dimensional being and, with our gathered wisdom, we now enter into a new and higher life in the Fifth or higher dimension.
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
“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.”
This is a description of Ascension. In the twinkling of the eye, accompanied by the sound of Aum, the Mother’s trumpet, the music of the spheres, we all shall ascend to a realm of incorruptibility.
That is, the vibratory level of our consciousness will rise causing us to lose sight of this world (unless we focus on it) and bringing another into view.
“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?”
When we have ascended to incorruptible realms, when we need no longer be born and die, where then will be the sting of Death? We’ll have vanquished Death. At last we’re victorious over needing to die and be reborn.
We’ve taken Paul’s word and envisioned mouldering bodies rising from the ground when Gabrielle blows her horn. I imagine Paul phrased it this way so that only genuine teachers could sort out the metaphors and reveal the truth of what he’s saying.