By Jim Mettenbrink
Last week, we concluded that Hades (and death), the place where people’s spirits go when they die, will be destroyed on judgment day (Revelation 20:13-14). So what and where will be the existence of people’s spirits? The apostle Paul implied that a Christian will be alive and reside in a body – “may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). What will be the body for a person’s spirit?
The apostle Paul devoted an entire chapter to the eternal body fit for heaven (1 Corinthians 15). Paul always performed miracles to show that the good news of the resurrected Savior and His promise of life after this life was not mere opinion, but a Divine revelation to men. Even at that, some who became Christians had questions about their own resurrection – “But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” (vs35).
Paul answered this “body” question in several ways. It will not be a flesh and blood body fit for earth which is not fit for heaven (vs50). He contrasts the natural body (earthbound) with the spiritual body (for living in heaven) (vs44). Regarding the two radically different bodies, Paul stated “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (vs53). The spiritual body will never die. So what is the spiritual body?
Paul wrote it will be “the image of the heavenly Man,” i.e. Jesus (vs49). He also wrote, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body….(Philippians 3:20–21). The apostle John wrote, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him….” (1 Jn 3:2). To be certain, Jesus is the source of faithful Christians’ eternal body fit for heaven. But what will be the destiny and condition of those who do not go to heaven?