A Lot of 1 Corinthians 15

The last verse of this chapter is what has really resonated with me the most today. Chapter 15 in quite long, and I read it from two different versions today, the NKJV and the New Century Version (currently my two favorites).But before I get to the last verse, I want to talk about the bulk of the chapter— the resurrection. I did not know that Paul talked about the second coming of Jesus in 1 Corinthians! I felt like I was reading a long-lost chapter of Matthew today! Starting in verse 12, Paul starts getting on the Corinthians case:
   

    Now since we preached that Christ was raised from the dead, why do some of you say that people will not be raised from the dead? If no one is ever raised from the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is worth nothing, and your faith is worth nothing. And also, we are guilty of lying about God, because we testified of him that he raised Christ from the dead. But if people are not raised from the dead, then God never raised Christ. If the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith has nothing to it; you are still guilty of your sins. And those in Christ who have already died are lost. If our hope in Christ is for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone else in the world.

I know, it's a little long, but he makes a good point. If Jesus wasn't raised from the dead, that means no one can be raised from the dead, which means that life is pointless, because there is no second coming or eternal life. 

Skip down a bit to verses 23 ad 24:

      But everyone will be raised to life in the right order. Christ was first to be raised. When Christ comes again, those who belong to him will be raised to life, and then the end will come.

This is where I get confused with those who say that when you die you go straight to heaven. Not only here in Corinthians but in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, and John 14:3 among others, do Jesus and other apostles say how Jesus will come back to get all His children. They aren't just there in heaven as soon as they die. Those who die don't have to watch the earth while impatiently waiting for the end to come. I think that would be unfair. Either way, I'm going with the Bible on this one.

Alrighty, this is getting long, so I'm going to get ready for Project Impact! (a day off from classes to do community service with about 700-800 other people) end with the final verse of 1 Corinthians, which is strangely perfect for today:

     "So my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Do not let anything move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your work in the Lord is never wasted."