Will the type of
body that we receive (that is, resurrected, spiritual, heavenly bodies) be like
Jesus’ resurrection body in which he could talk, walk and eat here on
earth? Will we use our resurrection
bodies here on earth, in heaven or both?
That’s
a fantastic question. Go with me to 1
Corinthians 15 where our Apostle Paul deals with this issue of the physical,
bodily resurrection, particularly of our Lord Jesus Christ and they who are in Christ at his coming [1 Corinthians
15:23]. In verse 35 Paul deals with
the objections of some regarding the type our resurrection bodies will be.
1 Corinthians 15: 35-49
35But some man will say, How are the dead raised up?
and with what body do they come?
Paul is
talking about the physical, resurrection body and he is anticipating objections
from what he calls ‘thou fool.’
36Thou fool, that
which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
He is
telling them to look at nature. He will
show them from nature how the resurrection will happen exemplified by a seed
that is buried in the ground. The
symbolism of burying someone who dies is the anticipation of resurrection.
37And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body
that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
When you sow a seed in the ground,
the body of that seed is not the same as the body that comes from the
seed. For example, a cornel of corn or
wheat will produce a stalk.
38But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to
every seed his own body.
Although you plant a seed in the
ground it will grow with a different type of body as God chooses.
39All flesh is not the same flesh [here on earth]: but
there is one kind of flesh of men [our
physical bodies], another flesh of beasts, another
of fishes, and another of birds.
All these are living creatures on
earth with difference types of flesh.
40There are also celestial
[heavenly] bodies, and bodies terrestrial [terra firma – earthly]:
but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is
another.
Celestial bodies are in the heavens
and terrestrial bodies are on the earth.
But the glory of these bodies differ.
41There 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.
Even in the heavens there are
different types of glory.
42So also is the resurrection of the dead….
If you can understand all the
differences in the types of flesh on earth and the different glory associated
with each, and the differences in types of heavenly bodies and their glory,
then you will understand the difference in glory of resurrection bodies.
42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It [the dead body of a human] is sown in
corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43It is sown in dishonour [There is no honor
in a dead body. It is unclean.]; it is raised [resurrection
of the dead to life] in glory [It is glorious.]: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44It is sown a natural body;…
When a believer dies, his body is
corrupted, dishonourable, weak and natural—the body he was born with. But…
… it is raised a spiritual
body….
So at the
resurrection of the body of Christ (that is, the rapture - our blessed hope
Titus 2:13), even those of us who are alive and remain, will have
changed bodies that are spiritual. We
will all have spiritual resurrection bodies.
…There is a natural body,
and there is a spiritual body.
The natural body is the one we now
possess; the spiritual body is the one we will
possess.
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 bodies will be spiritual and
glorious like the Lord Jesus Christ’s.
1 Corinthians 15:45-47, 49
45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a
living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
He’s showing the difference between
Adam and our Lord Jesus Christ.
46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that
which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
First you have to have a natural
body; but then you will have a spiritual body.
First there was Adam (natural); then there was Christ (spiritual). Our bodies now bear Adam’s image; but one day
they will bear Christ’s image.
47The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is
the Lord from heaven. 48As is
the earthy, such are they also that are earthy
[Adam and all humans]: and as is the
heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
As the Lord is, one day we will be
also.
49And as we have borne the image of the earthy [Adam], we shall also
bear the image of the heavenly [Christ].
So yes, our resurrection bodies
will be exactly the same type as Christ’s and we will walk, talk and eat as He
did after he was resurrected. Paul shows
us that here in 1 Corinthians 15 and in Philippians 3.
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Regarding your second question about
whether we will use our spiritual resurrection bodies here on earth, in heaven
or both - our primary position and sphere of influence is in the heavenly
places.
Ephesians 2:6
And hath raised us
up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
But that doesn’t mean that we will
be confined or limited to heaven. If we
want to come down to this earth in our spare time to visit David, Abraham, or
any other saint in the earthly kingdom, we will be able to just as our Lord
will come down to earth. We will be
serving the Lord in his Kingdom in the heavenly places, but we will also be
permitted to come to earth to talk with people face to face.
Right now the Lord Jesus Christ is
in heaven in his spiritual resurrection body and he will come down to earth in
that body. Therefore, we will also be
able to go back and forth between heaven and earth, as do angels which are
ministering spirits.
Hebrews 1:14
Are they not all
ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of
salvation?
Hopefully
this helps!
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