5 Surprises You will Discover in Heaven: Surprise #2 The People of Heave
Surprise #2 The People of Heaven
Reveiw:
The Nature of Heaven: A Renewed, Recreated, Ressurected, Redeemed Earth! Heaven and Earth are One!
Exploring the Biblical Data:
1 Corinthians 15:35-49
The Resurrection Body
"But someone will ask, 'How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?' You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven."
1. Resurection Bodies are different and better, but there is continueity! Vs 35-41
2. Now-Perishable...Then-Imparishable! Vs 42
3. Now-Dishonor...Then-Glory Vs 43
4. Now-Weakness...Then-Power Vs 43
Greater capasity but not unlimited, we will not be God, we will not be Omni-anything!
5. Now-Natural...Then Spiritual Vs 44
More able to relate to God, Still having physical bodies, not just spirits.
6. Now-Like Adam...Then-Like Christ Vs 45-49
Earthly Heavenly
Philippians 3:17-21
"Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
We were created in God's Image (Genesis 1:26-27), but through the Curse (Genesis 3:14-19) we became Bent and Marred.
Luke 24:36-43
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
"As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, 'Peace to you!' But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw 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. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, 'Have you anything here to eat?' They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them."
John 20:24-29
Jesus and Thomas
"Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.' Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"
Acts 1:1-11
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
"In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.'
The Ascension
"So when they had come together, they asked him, 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.'"
Jesus has a Physical Body -- After His Ressurection! He was not just a Spirit! We are created in His image...if He had a physical body after His Ressurection...Why wont we?
Luke 20:34-36
"And Jesus said to them, 'The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.'"
Thought this was an interesting verse...there is no marriage in Heaven (we will discuss this in the next post), we wont be able to die anymore (the curse has been removed), we are equal to angels (this could be in power or position), and we are sons of God (angels are not referred to as sons of God!).
Brief Summary of the Biblical Data:
1. We will still be the same person in Heaven...having our own personality!
2. We will still be physical...having bodies...although perfected (free from sickness)
3. We will still be limited...having expanded capacities, but still limited.
4. We will still be made in the Image of God with out the curse! Having Creative Capasity!
5. We will be Freed Forever from Sin and the Curse!
More Surprises coming soon!
In Christ,
David
Reveiw:
The Nature of Heaven: A Renewed, Recreated, Ressurected, Redeemed Earth! Heaven and Earth are One!
Exploring the Biblical Data:
1 Corinthians 15:35-49
The Resurrection Body
"But someone will ask, 'How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?' You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven."
1. Resurection Bodies are different and better, but there is continueity! Vs 35-41
2. Now-Perishable...Then-Imparishable! Vs 42
3. Now-Dishonor...Then-Glory Vs 43
4. Now-Weakness...Then-Power Vs 43
Greater capasity but not unlimited, we will not be God, we will not be Omni-anything!
5. Now-Natural...Then Spiritual Vs 44
More able to relate to God, Still having physical bodies, not just spirits.
6. Now-Like Adam...Then-Like Christ Vs 45-49
Earthly Heavenly
Philippians 3:17-21
"Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
We were created in God's Image (Genesis 1:26-27), but through the Curse (Genesis 3:14-19) we became Bent and Marred.
Luke 24:36-43
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
"As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, 'Peace to you!' But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw 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. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, 'Have you anything here to eat?' They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them."
John 20:24-29
Jesus and Thomas
"Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.' Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"
Acts 1:1-11
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
"In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.'
The Ascension
"So when they had come together, they asked him, 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.'"
Jesus has a Physical Body -- After His Ressurection! He was not just a Spirit! We are created in His image...if He had a physical body after His Ressurection...Why wont we?
Luke 20:34-36
"And Jesus said to them, 'The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.'"
Thought this was an interesting verse...there is no marriage in Heaven (we will discuss this in the next post), we wont be able to die anymore (the curse has been removed), we are equal to angels (this could be in power or position), and we are sons of God (angels are not referred to as sons of God!).
Brief Summary of the Biblical Data:
1. We will still be the same person in Heaven...having our own personality!
2. We will still be physical...having bodies...although perfected (free from sickness)
3. We will still be limited...having expanded capacities, but still limited.
4. We will still be made in the Image of God with out the curse! Having Creative Capasity!
5. We will be Freed Forever from Sin and the Curse!
More Surprises coming soon!
In Christ,
David
posted by Mark 1:17 at 12:26 PM
6 Comments:
Maranatha,
It is as previously stated, beyond my comprehension the wonders that await us. It is one thing to have 'fire insurance'. It is another, exciting, motivating thing to know that we will be free from the 'curse of sin', 'perfected' physically, and dwelling with the Living God...
[That 'no more sickness' thing I'm REALLY looking forward to...]
If that is not enough to get one energized about sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ... I do not know what is... [Then again, there are three more 'surprises'...]
David
I've read we will obtain a new name, known only between God and ourselves, written on a white rock. Will we also have a new body, or do you think we will have a resurrected same body - just free of sickness and death?
Kelli b,
Wow, those are tough questions. I can't give you a deffinate answer on.
I don't know about that whole white rock name thing...I have never read that...is that in the Bible or something that you read from someone else?
Also the New body vs. Resurrected body.
The way I would answer this is, look to Christ for the answer...Did he receive a new body? Personally, I don't think He did! The Bible records that the Body was missing from the tomb! Did God just make it dissapear? Or, was it Ressurected and Perfected? I believe the latter of the 2, and assume that God would do the same for us...because that is what He promised to do!
Also, Jesus was recognizable after His ressurection...that leads me also to believe that it was the same body. Also the account with Thomas...and the holes in His hands and feet and side. If He was given a new body, why would the holes still be there?
But that also brings up another question...will we still have out battle wounds...so to speak? Scars and such, like Jesus did.
But in short, I think that our bodies now, will be ressurected and perfected rather than receiving new bodies.
But I do believe that for those who are in Heaven now...they have temporary bodies...given for a time while awaiting their ressurected bodies.
This I get from Elisha and Enoch...who have their bodies now, because they never died! But for those who died we can still dig up their bodies.
I hope this helps,
In Christ,
David
It's all so crazy!!! i just cant wait all the sudden! :)
I found that verse in Revelation 2:17. what do you make of it?
Thanks again for posting - I deeply enjoy learning and thinking about things I've never even considered. And I'd agree about our bodies, if only based on Jesus Christ. He clearly still had the holes in his hands and his side.
Interesting thoughts...
Thanks again!
Kelli b,
That is a very interesting verse. I have always skipped right over it.
On one hand I would like to just say that because it is in only the letter to the Church in Pergamum, that it would only pertain to them. However, Revelation is a book of Prophecy, so there could be global implications here.
I will have to research that and get back to you.
I guess I get more excited about God's name being written on my forehead, than recieving a new name! But it does make some sense. When a child is adopted, the parents are given the option of renaming the child (at the infant level of adoption). So, God adopts us...He deffinately has the right to do what He wants!
In Christ,
David
Kelli b,
I found 2 commentaries that I realy agree with.
1. Matthew Henry's says this: "The white stone is absolution from the guilt of sin, alluding to the ancient custom of giving a white stone to those acquitted on trial and a black stone to those condemned. The new name is the name of adoption. None can read the evidence of a man's adoption but himself."
2. Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary says: "The 'White Stone' is a puzzle and has received various interpretations. It seems best to link the stone to the thought of the manna and see it as an allusion to an invitation that entitled its bearer to attend one of the pagan banquets. The 'New name...known only to him who receives it" is either the name of Christ himself, now hidden from the world but to be revealed in the future as the most powerful of names (Rev 3:12; 14:1), or the believer's new name or changed character through redemption (Isa 62:2; 65:15). In an ancient Egyptian test, the goddess Isis plotted to learn the secret name of the supreme god Re to gain his hidden power for herself. The one who knwe the hidden name would receive the power and status of the god who revealed it. Hence the name was jealously guarded by the god. This background fits the context here: to Christians tempted to compromise their loyalty to Christ to gain the favor of the pagan gods, Christ generously offers himself and the power of his name so that those who have faith in him may overcome."
Now I have many issues with Zondervan and the NIV. I don't fully agree with their commentary, but it does have some points to ponder.
I do however, realy agree with Matthew Henry's commentary and feel that it is more accurate.
I hope this Helps!!
In Christ,
David
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