What will we be like in the ever after? (By 'we' I mean true believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.) The Bible gives several tantalizing hints. It is worth exploring; remember Paul's encouragement---"our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18) So the descriptions of life after death are meant to encourage us to press on to the end. Also recall when Jesus was giving signs of the end times (Matthew 24: 9-14), he warned there would be persecution of Christians and false prophets deceiving them. This would cause many to turn away and denounce Christianity rather than suffer-- Christians only so far as it is comfortable.
"The love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." We must press on to run the race before us, keeping a heavenly perspective of the big picture. We know that this world and its suffering will not last. Our joy in heaven with Christ will be everlasting. So what will we be like?
First, what will happen...
Resurrection of the Body
A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. (John 5:28b-29)
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thes 4: 16-17)
After that we go to the 'wedding feast,' the great celebration to commemorate the union of Jesus Christ with his church. But I've wondered this, why do the dead in Christ need to be raised up? Weren't they already with Christ? Where have they been since they died? Were they 'asleep' in their graves? Did they fall out of space-time and fast forward to the Second Coming of Christ?
Remember the thief on the cross-- Jesus told him that "today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43b) This statement indicates that he would experience real space-time in heaven today! So why would the dead need to rise from the grave at the end times?
When we die our suffering ends as our spirits leave our bodies and go to heaven. Then at the trumpet call our spirits reunite with our bodies which are transformed into their permanent glorified state. Remember Christ's triumph over the grave and death? This will be proven again as we take part in the bodily resurrection after the trumpet sounds!
See a great article by Pastor Jared Webb of Lakeview Wesleyan Church of Indiana here: Bodies Rising from the Grave—Spooky, Kooky, or…Holy?
Glorified Spiritual Bodies
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul explains the triumph of the resurrection starting in verse 12. He says that without the truth of the resurrection we have no hope and then goes on--
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him....The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he “has put everything under his feet.” (1 Corin 15:20-27)
This is saying that Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected, then those who belong to him will be resurrected in the same way! Paul goes on to describe how this will come about, saying that to grow a plant, a seed must first die, and that the type of plant depends on the type of seed.
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 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. (vs. 42-44)
So our new bodies will not die, will be powerful and glorified and will be of the spirit. As a wheat seed grows a wheat plant, so our new bodies will have a 'type' according to our physical bodies, but will be quite different as well. (The most important seed differentiation is Christian vs. non-Christian, which impacts whether we raise to life or the second death of hell.) Remember that the disciples recognized Jesus after the resurrection, though they often didn't know him at first. Mary Magdalene thought he was the gardener until he said her name! (John 20:11-18) Doesn't that bring to mind that "sheep follow him because they know his voice"? (John 10:4b)
Since Jesus was the 'firstfruits' of the resurrected, we can look to him as an example of what to expect.
See also Our glorified bodies October 17, 2019 By Rob Phillips.
Jesus' Resurrected Body
So like Jesus, our new forms will probably look different, and yet still recognizable as human-shaped and as ourselves.
Of special note, Jesus twice appeared to his disciples while they were in a locked room; He disappeared after talking to the two disciples in Emmaus; Jesus rose up into the clouds and will return in the same way. This indicates that His glorified body was not limited as our physical bodies are by the laws of physics. Recall Paul promise of a future spiritual body. As resurrected beings, we won't necessarily be subject to gravity, acceleration, momentum, speed of sound and light, etc! Will we still be subject to the plodding progression of time? God already knows the future and is somehow outside the dominion of time. Perhaps we will be also as we thrive on in eternity at Christ's side.
While resurrected Jesus could appear and disappear at will, he also clearly had a physical presence. He showed his disciples that he was not an ephemeral ghost or spirit. To prove to Thomas that it was really Jesus, he had Thomas touch His scars. He also cooked a breakfast of bread and fish for the disciples on the beach and ate with them. (John 20:19-31, John 21, Luke 24:13-32, 36-43) Therefore, while we will not have to obey the laws of physics, we will still be able to affect the physical world and enjoy things. We will celebrate and enjoy food, drink, beauty, music and community. Revelation describes how beautiful the restored Earth and new Jerusalem will be. We will partake of the Tree and River of Life and sing, dance and play instruments to God without limitations!
See also Will we have physical bodies in Heaven?
More fun parts
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13: 12)
We will be face to face with God and Jesus and we will know the whole plan! We will understand it all!
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:17)
We are joint heirs with Christ, who rules over everything!
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Obviously our human bodies do get tired, so Isaiah is giving a promise of hope for the future. Our future bodies will not get tired! Imagine all the exhilaration of running with none of the pain or weariness! You can climb a mountain without shortness of breath! For me, I plan to swim around the whole world just for the fun of it!
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)
And I heard a loud voice
from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the
people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away....The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:3-4, 23-27)
It will be a whole new world, no night or darkness. Sin will not have a stronghold, so there will be no more sorrow. Isaiah prophesied that the predators would eat plants instead of meat; lambs, children and babies would not fear dangerous animals because "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord." (Isaiah 11: 6-9) With nothing to fear, we will continue in Christ's love forever!
Death Where is Your Sting?
Let's go back to the encouraging words of Paul. He spoke with such conviction by the Spirit!
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corin. 15: 51-58)
Come and receive the Free Gift!
The Spirit and the bride
say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is
thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water
of life. (Revelation 22:17)
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