Resurrection: What will your resurrection body be like?
If not sooner, the older you get the more you are going to look forward to a new and perfect body. Everyone eventually gets a type of resurrection body; it is mainly a question of where they will spend eternity in it.
John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good [a reference to believers, people of faith], unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil [a reference to unbelievers, people of unbelief], unto the resurrection of damnation. [Emphasis added]
In our case today, where we spend eternity will depend on whether or not we have accepted God’s provision for our salvation in this present time known as the Dispensation of the Grace of God. As for all God’s people, that provision is made possible through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This next passage provides a clear statement about what someone needs to believe today for salvation and entrance into heaven.
I Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
If you’ve accepted this provision God has made for your salvation, you have a lot to look forward to enjoying forever, including a new and perfect body.
Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our conversation [POLITEUMA—citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
He is speaking of the Rapture, the occasion when we’ll receive our resurrection body and be taken up to meet the Lord in the air.
21 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. [Emphasis added]
Other passages speak of this glorious event.
II Corinthians 4:14
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. [Emphasis added]
If you never accept this provision He’s made for your salvation, you have nothing good to look forward to enjoying. Only pain and suffering will be a part of your eternal future. However, if you have accepted God’s provision for your salvation, it is at this event called the Rapture that you will gain a perfect resurrection body in which you will spend all eternity.
I Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant [Please note his concern for ignorance about this.], brethren, concerning them which are asleep [He is speaking of passing away in death.], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope [as an unbeliever, having no confidence about what awaits you in eternity].
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again [That is speaking of OUR gospel.], even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him [We will all be brought together.].
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord [Paul was given new and special revelation about this.], that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
This is a reference to those believers of this present age of grace who have already died.
16 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:
Believers of what is called the Body of Christ who have died will get their resurrection body just before those who are still living on Earth at that time.
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air [Christ does not come to the earth in this event, as He does in what is called His Second Coming.]: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. [Emphasis added]
As I write this, the only person who is in a resurrection body is the Lord Jesus Christ. There have been a few resuscitations in history where people have been brought back to life, but only one resurrection. Christ now resides in heaven in the highest of all places of honor. Positionally, as members of His body, we as believers are already there with Him, but bodily, in a physical body obviously we are not. This body we have now is called a “tabernacle” or “tent” in Scripture, because it only serves as a temporary home for our soul and spirit.
II Corinthians 5:1-2
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house [our new body] which is from heaven: [Emphasis added]
This body we will have some day is said to be a spiritual body, in contrast to our present natural body.
I Corinthians 15:42-44
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. [Emphasis added]
But do not think for a second that it won’t be a real body as we tend to think of one. It surely will be! We see this illustrated by the resurrection body Christ had after His death on the cross. In the record of his appearances to the apostles, we can learn a lot about its features. Because we are told our body will be like His, we, too, will get to enjoy these wonderful features.
Luke 24:36-43
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit [a ghost].
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 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.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them. [Emphasis added]
Our new body will apparently be a bloodless body and somewhat different in composition and in abilities from the one we have now.
I Corinthians 15:50
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [Emphasis added]
All of I Corinthians chapter fifteen is about the subject of resurrection. The Corinthian church had been foolish enough to let someone come in and convince them that there is no such thing as resurrection. Paul writes this to correct them in that thinking. We will not only have a new body, but one that is incorruptible, glorious and powerful, as we noted above in I Corinthians 15:42-44.
Sometimes people ask if they will be able to recognize people in heaven that they have known here on earth. They certainly will!
John 21:12
12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. [Emphasis added]
Matthew 28:5-10
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
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.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. [Emphasis added]
This incident clearly shows that they all recognized Christ in His new body. The same will be the situation for us. The apostle John’s account tells us the same thing. When the apostles saw Him, they all recognized Him.
John 20:20
20 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. [Emphasis added]
Another wonderful feature of our resurrection body will be that our movement in that body will in no way be hindered.
John 20:19
19 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. [Emphasis added]
Here Christ suddenly appeared to the disciples in a closed room, just as we will be able to do. The resurrection body has wonderful abilities our present body does not have. Also, for instance, we will be able to eat in that body, but we will not need to eat.
John 21:12-13
12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. [Emphasis added]
Still another interesting point about this body is that it will be incapable of reproduction through sexual activity.
Matthew 22:30
30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. [Emphasis added]
Luke 20:34-36
34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. [Emphasis added]
This super body will also be capable of limitless travel, being unrestrained by such things as gravity.
Acts 1:9-11
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. [Emphasis added]
What wonderful blessings all these things will be! And just think, we, as believers in eternity will all enjoy these things.
Revelation 21:4
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away [Emphasis added].
You will be short on reward in eternity if you didn’t take the time to study and apply God’s Word in this life, but you will be able to enjoy all the blessings associated with a perfect resurrection body. All the pain and suffering of this life will be past and, additionally, there will be all these super capabilities to enjoy that we do not have now. Furthermore, it will all be by God’s grace. We will not have earned any of it. All this will be ours as a wonderful expression of God’s grace. Therefore, again, all the glory will go to God. Knowledge of these things should motivate us to want to serve Him every day of our lives. An important part of that service will be to lead others to salvation so that they, too, can someday enjoy all the blessings associated with having a resurrection body in which to live for all eternity.
I close this article with a simple story I’ve always cherished. My wife, Janet, once came and told me of a conversation she had just had with my son, Wade, who was at that time a little boy. It was her custom to put him and my daughter, Alicia, to bed every night. She told me that when she was tucking in my son, they had an interesting discussion about the resurrection body we’ll all someday have. She said that as she was telling him about it, his eyes got bigger and bigger with excitement. He was thrilled to hear of it all. The prospect of someday residing in a resurrection body like our Lord’s should excite all of us. But be sure this is something you’ll get to be a part of enjoying. It surely can be! The key to it all is faith in what Christ provided for us through His death, burial, and resurrection.
