1 Corinthians 15:51-55 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
I have been pondering our glorified bodies lately. I have a question, though it may sound stupid it is really something I wish to know more about.
When do we get our glorified bodies? At the rapture? Or is it when we die, if it is before the rapture?
These verses seem to indicate it won't happen until after wards.
If it doesn't happen until after the rapture, then what kind of body so those in Heaven have now?
Gary
Brother, that is not at all a stupid question; it is however, a topic about which there is much confusion and disagreement. Our understanding of this is not perfect, since it has yet to happen and no one living has experience in this area.
Personally, I hold that the glorified bodies will be given at the rapture. 1 Thess 4 speaks of the dead in Christ rising first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds.
This seems to indicate that the dead in Christ are in a place in which they will rise up. The only conclusion is that they are in paradise in the heart of the earth, awaiting the resurrection. As to what their form is, I can only imagine it is the soul without the body. But that is not what is commonly taught.
Matt 27:52,53 is often used to teach that paradise was shut down at the resurrection of Christ, but the verse clearly says many not most and not all.
Anyway, I'm not dogmatic about these things and my understand is not perfect, I still have many unanswered questions.
Thank you Brother. I was afraid to ask, because I feared it might be heretical. You responses make sense to me. Thank you again.
I agree with Daniel, Brother Gary. And I also agree that it wasn't a stupid question.
What's going to happen at the Rapture? We know that all believers on earth, plus children still in a state of innocence (Rom. 5:13: no knowledge of the law, no imputed sin) will be gathered together with Jesus in the clouds. This includes the dead saints; in fact, they go first, as Daniel emphasized.
The question is, in what state or condition do we rise? When a newborn baby meets Jesus in the clouds, is it still a newborn baby? My Mother is 94 years old, weighs perhaps 75 pounds, and is near death. Is that what she'll be like when she meets Jesus in the clouds? What of the martyrs that were burned at the stake, or the saved sailors who have lain at the bottom of the sea for hundreds of years?
Obviously, Jesus is not going to be surrounded, at the Rapture, by little clouds of ashes, or squalling babies, or senile, wheelchair-bound old sisters. This leads me to believe that we'll receive our new bodies, our glorified bodies, at that time.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).
(08-19-2010 01:27 PM)Gary Wrote: [ -> ]Thank you Brother. I was afraid to ask, because I feared it might be heretical. You responses make sense to me. Thank you again.
OH, I stopped fearing being heretical long ago. I just accept that I am and pray God will have mercy at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Like I said, my views are not orthodox, and I am sure that some one can give scripture and say that I'm wrong. But the truth is we won't know for sure until it happens.
I believe that we'll get our glorified bodies at the rapture, as William showed using Scripture.
Of course, however the Lord does it will be fine by me. The sooner, the better... 
(08-19-2010 01:53 PM)William Wrote: [ -> ]I agree with Daniel, Brother Gary. And I also agree that it wasn't a stupid question.
What's going to happen at the Rapture? We know that all believers on earth, plus children still in a state of innocence (Rom. 5:13: no knowledge of the law, no imputed sin) will be gathered together with Jesus in the clouds. This includes the dead saints; in fact, they go first, as Daniel emphasized.
The question is, in what state or condition do we rise? When a newborn baby meets Jesus in the clouds, is it still a newborn baby? My Mother is 94 years old, weighs perhaps 75 pounds, and is near death. Is that what she'll be like when she meets Jesus in the clouds? What of the martyrs that were burned at the stake, or the saved sailors who have lain at the bottom of the sea for hundreds of years?
Obviously, Jesus is not going to be surrounded, at the Rapture, by little clouds of ashes, or squalling babies, or senile, wheelchair-bound old sisters. This leads me to believe that we'll receive our new bodies, our glorified bodies, at that time.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).
Amen!
I've always believed it'd be at the Rapture too. I've always been mystified by what form departed believers currently take up in Heaven, too. Or down in Hell, for that matter.
Here's a thought I just had:
If Christ has the marks of the nails in His hands and feet, and the mark of the spear in His side in His glorified body, then since we will be given a glorified body, and will be like Him, could it be that our glorified bodies will also have the nail and spear marks?
Just wondering... 
(08-19-2010 06:03 PM)Here Am I Wrote: [ -> ]Here's a thought I just had:
If Christ has the marks of the nails in His hands and feet, and the mark of the spear in His side in His glorified body, then since we will be given a glorified body, and will be like Him, could it be that our glorified bodies will also have the nail and spear marks?
Just wondering...
That is a very interesting question and one to which I have given much thought. However, it is one of those questions to which I can find no answer. It is possible and would serve to distinguish the "body of Christ" from other saints. But I don't know, somehow I believe that only Christ can display those scars. Now I have wondered if Christians who suffered for Christ, who were beaten and tortured, and those who died for the faith, if they will show forth their scars received for the cause of Christ, as evidence of what they endured.