In heaven, will we be disembodied spirits
floating in the clouds, or will we have bodies?

Eventually all believers will have resurrection bodies (Job 19:25-27; Is. 26:19; Dan. 12:2-3; 1 Cor. 15:12-58; Phil. 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6). Jesus had a physical resurrection body which allowed him to walk, talk, and eat (John 21:1-14). We're told his body is the prototype, and our bodies will be like his (1 Cor. 15:20, 48-49; Phil. 3:21; 1 John 3:2). After his resurrection, Jesus invited the disciples to touch him and said, "A ghost [disembodied spirit] does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have" (Luke 24:37-39). Jesus wasn't immediately recognized a few times (John 20:15; Luke 24:15-16), suggesting some change in appearance. After being with him awhile, his disciples suddenly recognized him (John 20:16; Luke 24:31). This suggests that despite any outer appearance change, the inner identity of the person may shine through, especially to eyes enlightened by heaven.

We will have real "spiritual" bodies with physical substance (1 Cor. 15:42-44). We will be capable of talking, walking, touching, and being touched (Luke 24; John 20-21). Christ's resurrection body had an ability to appear suddenly, apparently coming through a locked door to the apostles (John 20:19), and "disappearing" from the sight of the two at Emmaus (Luke 24:31). If our resurrection bodies have the same properties as his, this suggests an ability to transcend the present laws of physics and/or to move and travel in some way we are now incapable of.

Christ ate food in his resurrection body, and he and we will eat and drink in heaven (Luke 14:15; 22:18). Yet there will be no hunger or thirst in heaven (Rev. 7:16). It would seem the resurrection body does not need what is now essential—food, drink, oxygen, covering, etc.—but that it is nonetheless fully capable of enjoying some or all of these things (and no doubt many more).

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"As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; Whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another.  My heart faints within me!”  Job 19:25-27

“Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise you who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for your dew is as the dew of the dawn, and the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.” Isaiah 26:19

"Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.  Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:2-3

“He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.”

Philippians 3:21

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 

“Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.

Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6

“They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun.” Revelation 7:16

“But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.

Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man.  Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like^[a] the heavenly man.”

1 Corinthians 15:20, 48-49

“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.” 1 John 3:2

“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, ‘Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.’ John 20:15

“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means, Teacher).” John 20:16

“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said." John 20:19

“Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened.  Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.

Simon Peter said, “I am going fishing.”

“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.  At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”

“No,” they replied.

Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.  The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore.  When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.

 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said.  So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.

“Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.  Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.” John 21:1-14

“Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, ‘What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!’” Luke 14:15

“For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.” Luke 22:18

“While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.  But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.” Luke 24:15-16

“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.” Luke 24:31

“But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.

And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’" Luke 24:37-39 

“So also is the resurrection of the dead It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”  1 Corinthians 15:42-44 

“Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.

Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.

For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.

Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.

For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.

For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET But when He says, ‘All things are put in subjection,’ it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.

When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.

Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?

Why are we also in danger every hour?

I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE.

Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’

Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God I speak this to your shame.

But someone will say, ‘How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?’

You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else.

But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own.

All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish.

There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another.

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

So also is the resurrection of the dead.  It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

So also it is written, ‘The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.

The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.

As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.

Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.  O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?’

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:12-58

Luke 24

 1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing;

 5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead?

 6 "He is not here, but He has risen Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,

 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."

 8 And they remembered His words,

 9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

 10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.

 11 But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.

 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.

 13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.

 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.

 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.

 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.

 17 And He said to them, "What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?" And they stood still, looking sad.

 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, "Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?"

 19 And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to Him, "The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,

 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.

 21 "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.

 22 "But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning,

 23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.

 24 "Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see."

 25 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

 26 "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?"

 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

 28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther.

 29 But they urged Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over." So He went in to stay with them.

 30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them.

 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.

 32 They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?"

 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them,

 34 saying, "The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon."

 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

 36 While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be to you."

 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.

 38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

 39 "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."

 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"

 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish;

 43 and He took it and ⁽ate it before them.

 44 Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

 46 and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day,

 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

 48 "You are witnesses of these things.

 49 "And behold,⁾I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

 50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

 53 and were continually in the temple praising God.

John 20

The Empty Tomb

 1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.

 2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."

 3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb.

 4 The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first;

 5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in.

 6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there,

 7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.

 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.

 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

 10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

 11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;

 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.

 13 And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.

 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away."

 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher).

 17 Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'"

 18 Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her.

Jesus among His Disciples

 19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you."

 20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

 21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

 23 "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."

 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

 25 So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."

 26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."

 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing."

 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"

 29 Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."

Why This Gospel Was Written

 30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

John 21

Jesus Appears at the Sea of Galilee

 1 After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way.

 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

 3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will also come with you." They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

 4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

 5 So Jesus said to them, "Children, you do not have any fish, do you?" They answered Him, "No."

 6 And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch." So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.

 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.

 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.

 9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread.

 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have now caught."

 11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Jesus Provides

 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples ventured to question Him, "Who are You?" knowing that it was the Lord.

 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise.

 14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

The Love Motivation

 15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You " He said to him, "Tend My lambs."

 16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."

 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You " Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep.

Our Times Are in His Hand

 18 "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go."

 19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me!"

 20 Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"

 21 So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?"

 22 Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!"

 23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?"

 24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

 25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.

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By Randy Alcorn
Eternal Perspective Ministries
39085 Pioneer Blvd.   Suite 206
Sandy, OR 97055
(503) 668-5200
www.epm.org
www.randyalcorn.blogspot.com