Or, “it is necessary that this corruptible.” It is essential that a change take place in the bodies of the saints. And this will take place either by their dying and being raised from the dead in immortal, incorruptible bodies (v. 42), or by their being changed to that state without seeing death; for they cannot enter heaven as they now are (v. 50).

 Gr. enduō, “to put on oneself,” as a garment, etc. This points clearly to the maintenance of individual, personal identity when this change of body takes place. Each one of the redeemed will retain his own individual character (see COL 332, 361; 2T 266, 267; 5T 215, 216; EGW Supplementary Material on 1 Cor. 15:42-52).

 That is, subject to death. The gift of immortality will be received only by those who accept God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, and this gift will be theirs when Jesus comes again (see John 3:16; Rom. 2:7; 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:4).