The kind of body that we will have in heaven (although we don't get them right away...I'll explain later), is described by our Apostle Paul as a "glorious" body.
Philippians 3:20-21
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Our Apostle Paul calls our new bodies "glorious" because they will both bear and reflect the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, himself! He refers to this also in the book of Colossians.
Colossians 3:1-4
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Notice that in the above verse from Philippians, Paul, while referencing heaven, says, "from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." Notice also that in Colossians, Paul mentions "above.” In both cases Paul is referring to the resurrection of the present day church, the body of Christ (i.e., that is, the rapture, the catching away). This event is how the present age in which we all live, the dispensation of the Grace of God, will end. At this corporate resurrection event, the entire church, the body of Christ, will be re-united with our Lord Jesus Christ, and each other, including our saved loved ones who died in Christ, in the air!
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Paul gives even more light about our resurrection in 1 Corinthians chapter 15...
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
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.
So we see that when Paul says in Philippians 3 that the Lord "shall change our vile bodies," he is talking about these earthly bodies, those we now have. He will also give those who already died in Christ their new glorious bodies at this resurrection/rapture, although a quick, instant "moment" before those of us who are alive and remain. Here are more details of that resurrection event...
1 Corinthians 15:40-49; 53-55
There are also celestial [not of this world] bodies, and bodies terrestrial [made of the "Terra firma," or the dust of this earth]: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption [vile earthly bodies subject to decay]; it is raised in incorruption [glorious bodies that do not corrupt]: 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 so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [the Lord Jesus Christ] was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy [Adam], we shall also bear the image of the heavenly [Christ].
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [vile bodies subject to death] must put on immortality [will never die]. So when this corruptible [subject to decay] shall have put on incorruption [will never decay], 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?
Those members of the church, the body of Christ, who already died in Christ, do not get their new bodies until the resurrection/rapture like we do. Paul uses the terms "naked" and "unclothed" to describe the state that their souls are in right now as they wait for this event.
2 Corinthians 5:1-4
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle [our earthly bodies] were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands [our new glorious bodies], eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
You see, once a believer dies, although his/her earthly body is buried/cremated, etc., down here, their souls and spirits go back to God!
Every human being has a spirit, and soul, and a body (1 Thessalonians 5:22). And our spirits were given to mankind by God for our human lives. It is how we connect to the spirit world and each other. Once we die, all of our human spirits go back to the "Father of Spirits" (Hebrews 12:9), God.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
Then shall the dust [earthly bodies] return to the earth as it was: and the spirit [human spirits] shall return unto God who gave it.
So once the souls and spirits of believers depart their bodies, they go instantly and consciously into the 3rd heaven to be with God!
Philippians 1:21-23
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be [a state of existence] with Christ; which is far better:
2 Corinthians 5:6-8
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present [exist] with the Lord.
So although dead physically (the body), a believer's spirit and soul will be ushered (by the Holy Spirit that lives in us now) into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven, who is eagerly waiting for our new bodies and our rapture/resurrection/reunion with our loved ones.
Sadly, the souls of those who do not trust Christ as the payment for their sins against God, will end up in the torment of hell (Luke 16:23-24).
So the bodies that we will get at the rapture will be glorious, incorruptible, immortal, and powerful. God will take all the pain, hurt, sickness, disease, extremes like being overweight, underweight, very young, or very old, etc., away, and we will have bodies that look and operate like our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here are some verses that give us a glimpse at those bodies...
Matthew 28:9
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
He could be handled by earthly humans in his resurrected body. We will also. (All spiritual beings can in scripture).
Mark 16:9-14
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
He could transform his appearance in his resurrected body. We will also. (All spiritual beings can in scripture).
Luke 24:36-40
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
He could just appear out of thin air. We will also. Even though he has a spiritual body, he is not a spirit, but he has a body made of "flesh and bone," but no blood. Blood is only needed for earthly humans for life of the flesh. Again, they could handle him. He also still has the marks of Calvary in his nail-pierced hands and feet (and side, as we'll see later).
John 20:19-20; 24-29
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
All of John chapter 21 is him communing with his 11 apostles and we also will be able to fellowship with those in the earth.
Luke 24:41-46
And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
He ate food in his new body, and we will also. (The angels eat food as well...Psalm 78:25). He also went over the scriptures with them. We also will study the bible in heaven.
Luke 24:51
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
He could go back and forth between earth and the heavens. We will also.
Acts 9:3-5
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
He could both cloak and magnify his great glorious light, but we will have our glory "fixed" based on how faithful we are to his message of grace today!
The "weight" of glory that we bear for the Lord will be in direct proportion to our faithfulness to his message for us today through his Apostle to us, Paul!
2 Corinthians 4:14-18; 5:10
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Based on our willingness to be found as "faithful stewards" of our Lord's message of Grace, called the "mystery of Christ," given to Paul, it is to that proportion of his glory that we will share in. That glory will be reflected in our new bodies. Therefore, different believers will bear different glories (like uniforms in the military reflect rank), based on their faithfulness.
Romans 8:17-23
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
2 Timothy 2:12-13
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us [not loss of salvation, but loss of the reward of reigning with Him]: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
How do we deny him? In our works after salvation. Any work that goes against his word through Paul!
Titus 1:9-16
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught [by Paul], that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision [legalistic]: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Hopefully this helps!
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