Do we have bodies after we die?

1. Introduction.

Now, as I started studying Mrs. Sylvia’s and Mrs. Anita’s question about the dead, more questions came to mind, and I believe that’s how God wants us to do as He leads us studying through His Word. I believe, no, I know, God teaches us through His Word, and He wants to guide us to what He wants us to know, and questioning each other on biblical issues is one of the ways God’s leads us through His Word.

Take these passages as examples.

Psalm 25:5 “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: For thou art the God of my salvation; On thee do I wait all the day.”

Dear friend, If we take the time, God wants to lead us through His Word, and you better believe if He leads us in our studies, you better believe His whole truth will open to us.

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

The God of the Bible wants to instruct us, and I believe, if we allow Him, the greatest way for Him to instruct us is through His Word, and you guys may think I am kidding, but I swear this is the truth. I love when you ask questions because God uses those questions for my instruction, and I believe God leads you to ask the questions that you ask. When you ask a question, it means you are wanting the Lord to teach you, and if it is something important enough for you to ask, it is even more important for me to allow God to lead me to the answer through His Word.

I just believe that is how Bible study is supposed to work in a church.

2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

This is the amazing part of God’s Word. Every single Word in the Bible can teach us doctrine, instruct us in righteousness, and reproof. Reproof means to correct a behavior. It is God’s Word that shows us how we are to behave in this World.

When I started researching Mrs. Sylvia’s and Mrs. Anita’s question, I came up with other questions concerning our bodies, so as we conclude our study into where are the dead, I want us to examine our bodies.

2. When we die, do we receive temporary bodies in our temporary destinations?

I cannot say with absolute certainty, but Scripture seems to indicate that we do receive temporary bodies.

Before I share the Scriptures, the most important thing is this.

2 Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

If I die before the Rapture, I am going to be present with the Lord.

Now, let me share some passages with you that seems to indicate that we receiver some kind of temporary bodies.

2 Corinthians 5:1–2 KJV 1900

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. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

2 Corinthians 5:3–4 KJV 1900

If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Paul says that when our bodies dissolve or die, we have a body awaiting us built by God. Paul even says that his desire was to be clothed with that body.

Let me ask you a question.

How many of you have a body that is groaning right now? That groaning body is going to be laid in a grave one of these days, but you and I will continue where the Lord is.

What form do these temporary bodies take? I do not know, but let’s see what Scripture says.

Luke 16:22 “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;”

Luke 16:24 “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”

It seems in these verses that Lazarus had a temporary body. A body that could rest, and a body capable of doing tasks because the rich man asks for him to bring him some water.

Luke 16:23–24 “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”

Luke 16:27–28 “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.”

The rich man in the place of torments displays many of the characteristics of a physical body. He can see. He can suffer. He can talk. He can thirst, He can beg, and He has needs, but he has no desire to repent because his destination has been settled.

Does it seem to you that he has some kind of physical body even though it is not the body that he will have as he goes through eternity? I will explain how I know this is not his eternal body shortly.

How about this passage?

Revelation 6:9–10 “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”

Revelation 6:11 “And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

This passage (Rev. 6:9-11) is referring to those martyred saints of the Great Tribulation for refusing to bow down to the Antichrist because they will have accepted Jesus Christ.

As a matter of fact the Bible even tells us how and they are martyred.

Revelation 20:4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

It is obvious by Rev. 6 that they receive some kind of temporary body because they are clothed in white robes, they are crying for justice, and they are commanded to rest until judgment is complete.

Did Moses have a body at the Mount of Transfiguration?

Matthew 17:3–4 “And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.”

Moses had such a body that Peter wanted to build a house for him. Now, I cannot swear to the idea of temporary bodies, but I do think it is logical. Study it for yourself, and let me know what you think.

3. When do we receive our eternal bodies?

The simple answer is that we receive our eternal bodies at the Resurrection.

Notice, I said that is the simple answer.

The real answer is slightly more complex because you must consider the different groups of people and the times of their Resurrection. The Bible does not teach a universal resurrection.

There are 4 groups of people to consider.

A. The Church.

The Church consists of all people saved from the Day of Pentecost until the Rapture. The Church is the body and bride of Christ.

The Church, even those who are dead, will receive their eternal, glorified bodies at the Rapture.

1 Thessalonians 4:14–15 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 “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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

At the very moment that Jesus calls the church to meet Him in the air, instantaneously, those that belong to the true church from Pentecost to Rapture will receive their eternal bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

At the Rapture, whether I am alive or dead, in less time than it takes to blink my eyes, I am going to receive body that is able to exists eternally with my Lord and Savior. AMEN!!!!

Romans 6:5 “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”

If you want to know what you eternal body will be like, study the body of Christ after His Resurrection. Our eternal bodies will be in His likeness meaning that our bodies will be like the body Jesus had after the Resurrection.

B. The Old Testament Saints (Those saved under the Old Covenant).

The Old Testament saints will not receive their eternal bodies at the same time that the church does.

The Old Testament saints (those saved under the Old Covenant) are resurrected just prior to the Millennium.

Here is the passage.

Daniel 12:1 KJV 1900

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Daniel 12:2–3 KJV 1900

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

I actually believe it happens immediately before Christ descends at Armageddon.

Revelation 19:11–12 KJV 1900

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

Revelation 19:13–14 KJV 1900

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

I believe the armies which were in “heaven” include the church, the Old Testament saints, and the Tribulation saints.

Think about the entirety of Scripture.

To what were the Old Testament saints looking? They were looking for the Earthly Kingdom of the Messiah. When does that happen? During the Millennium.

C. The Tribulation Saints.

Revelation 20:4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

This Scripture is simple.

It says those saved during the Tribulation who are martyred will live with Christ for 1,000 years, so when do they receive their resurrected bodies? They receive their resurrected bodies before the Millennium.

These are no less saints than you and I are. They are given the same authority that you and I are given, the authority to live and reign with Christ.

D. The Lost.

When do the lost receive their eternal bodies? They receive their eternal bodies after the Millennium and prior to the Great White Throne Judgment.

Revelation 20:5 “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”

The lost includes everyone from Cain to those lost who are killed during and at the end of the Millennium for rebelling against God.

You have to understand that when Christ returns at Armageddon all lost people will be killed, but there will be some saved people, at least 144,000 Jews, who go into the Millennium as mortals. They will marry and have children. Many of those children will rebel against God and will be judged immediately. As a matter of fact, Satan is able to gather an entire army at the end of the Millennium.

Revelation 20:7–8 KJV 1900

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Revelation 20:9 KJV 1900

And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

Those people will die and will be resurrected with all the lost to appear at the Great White Throne.

I want you to know this.

There is big difference between the eternal body of a saved person and the eternal body of a lost person.

A saved person receives a body that cannot sin. We will be made like Christ. If we are like Christ, can we sin? NO!!!!

The lost who receive their eternal bodies at the end of the Millennium prior to appearing at the Great White Throne are given bodies that never stop sinning because the Holy Spirit will never convict them of their sin.

Let me give you a verse that proves this.

Matthew 25:30 “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

We associate Matt. Chap. 25 verse 30 with the pain and suffering in Hell, but weeping and gnashing of teeth has not much to do with pain and suffering at all. Weeping and gnashing of teeth means those in Hell will for an eternity continue to curse God’s name with no desire to repent because they will not be convicted of their sin.

Their will continue even in Hell resulting in eternal torment. In eternity, a lost person will never be moved to repentance. They will curse God because that is their nature even in their eternal states. We even get a hint of it during the Great Tribulation.

Revelation 16:21 “And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.”

This happens right before Armageddon, and the lost have no desire to repent. Instead of repenting, they had rather blaspheme God. In their eternal bodies, they will do the same and will never stop being tormented.

That’s my answer to Mrs. Sylvia’s and Mrs. Anita’s question.

It was a rather complex question that required a complex answer and many hours of Bible study. I pray that you take this outline and study it for yourself and draw your own conclusions as you are led by the Holy Spirit.

The most important thing is to be saved. If you are saved, you will be with the Lord immediately upon your death.

2 Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

AMEN!!!!!