O What A Glorious Body He Gives!

Resurrection Bodies

Q. As I understand it, when the rapture occurs, all believers will be ‘translated’ to heaven leaving their earthly bodies behind. Additionally as I understand it, we don’t get our new ‘perfect’ bodies until the ‘end of the age’/ judgment timeframe.

However all/most believers who will be raptured will be coming back with Jesus to ‘assist with ruling’ on the earth during the millennium, which would means we would need a suitable body.

If we get a body like Jesus had during his resurrected time on the earth we would be able to move through solid objects, perhaps move through time, etc.

In your opinion, is my ‘thinking’ biblically correct?

A. The way I read 1 Cor. 15:51-53 those of us alive at the rapture will receive perfected bodies immediately, just as those being resurrected receive theirs. The living don’t discard their earthly bodies at that time, they’re just changed. Think of it like a massive upgrade to your computer. Afterward it’s still the same computer, but it works a whole lot better. I’m not aware of any additional changes to our physical nature subsequent to that.

And my understanding of 1 John 3:2 is that our new bodies will be similar in capability to the Lord’s. “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Heavenly Relationships

Questions About Life In Heaven

Q. Hi! I have a few questions about life in Heaven…I’m wondering when we go to heaven will our new lives carry out - not so much the same as our earthly lives - but more with the same tendencies and emotions (but without sin of course) as on earth? Do you think we will have ‘relationships’ with fellow believers (i.e. best friends, lovers, parents, children) as we do on earth?

I guess the reason I’m wondering is that we were made in God’s image with similar emotions (love,joy,sadness etc) and there must be a reason that we are drawn to certain people in life more so than others…will we recognize family and friends, husbands and wives in heaven and still have stronger feelings for those people than others, or will it be every ‘believer’ for themselves - our earthly relationships diminished and a new ‘family’ developed with our fellow believers?

Sorry if I’m getting a bit carried away…I hope I’m not being too confusing - I’ve just been wondering about it that’s all! I don’t expect that you’ll have all the answers but any perspective you have on this would be much appreciated Thanks - keep up the good work…you’ve been a great inspiration!

A. The Bible doesn’t speak about these things except to say that we neither marry nor are we given in marriage, but will be like the angels. (Matt 22:29-30) I think this means that our capacity for relational love will be primarily directed toward and filled by the Lord.

Paul wrote that we will know as we are known (1 Cor 13:12) and to me that means that among other things we’ll recognize and know not only our earthly friends and family, but everyone in the family of God. While these relationships will be different I don’t think there’s any way in which they’ll be diminished. On the contrary our awareness and capacity for feeling will be heightened in our new bodies, not only by the removal of the contamination and distortion caused by sin, but also by the increased abilities our new bodies will have.

Paul also wrote that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. (1 Cor. 2:9) It’s beyond our comprehension.

Generally I believe our new lives will be similar to our old ones in the way a 3-D color picture is comparable to a 2-D black and white. The objects are recognizable as being the same, but that’s about it. No one will miss “the good old days.” In fact, according to Isaiah 65:17 the former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com