What will we look like in Heaven?  Will we have bodies with substance? Will we look similar to how we look now, only “better”?

As humans, we are naturally curious about this topic. We want to know how young (and how thin) we will look.  We want to know if babies and children who die get to grow up in heaven.  Though the Bible does not specifically answer every question, we must remember that it is the only resource that will give us the truth.  We must trust that its Author, our all-wise God, knows how much information we need.

What will we look like in Heaven?  The Bible does not give us details about how young or thin we will look, or whether children will grow up.  It does tell us, however, that someday Christ will return and our bodies will be changed to become like His resurrection body.

Philippians 3:20-21
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”

1 John 3:2
“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

What was Christ’s resurrection body like?  Bible passages that describe Christ’s appearances to His disciples after His death and resurrection show us that in some ways, His new body was similar to His earthly body.  It was also very different.

Luke 24:36-43
“While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be to you.” 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.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them.”

John 20:19-29
“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.” And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord… But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 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.”

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.” 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.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

Christ’s resurrection body looked and felt similar to his previous human body.  It had both form and substance.  His disciples could recognize Him. They could both see and touch the wounds in His hands and feet.  Christ ate food before them.

What was different?  Christ’s new body was not subject to limitations of time and space. He could pass through walls and appear and disappear at will.

After Christ’s return, we will have new bodies like Christ’s.  But what about the believers who have died and are in Heaven right now?  Do they have bodies?  Apparently they have some sort of body.  When Moses and Elijah appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples could recognize them.  In his vision of Heaven, the apostle John could clearly see the forms of angels, living creatures, and people.

We’ll discover more about our new bodies in our next blog.

Do you have a personal relationship with God?  Do you have assurance that you will go to Heaven? Read  “How Can I Know God?” today.

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