What happens to my body when I die? What about the resurrection - how are our bodies changed? Can a person who is cremated or disintegrated in war be resurrected?
I Thessalonians 5:23 I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are made up of three components: we are a spirit being, we have a soul, and we live in a body.
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead...
When God created Adam's body it was not alive until God breathed life into that body. God placed Adam's soul into that body. Our body is just the physical suit that we live in. It is a physical suit made to function in a temporary earth environment. When a human body leaves the environment of earth and travels into space it must put on a space suit in order to function in the environment of space. When your spirit leaves your body it will need a new spiritual eternal body to dwell in. How does that happen?
I Corinthians 15:35-57 But some will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? Fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; 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. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 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? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
When an acorn is planted, it dies and an oak tree grows. You cannot find the acorn seed after it dies and gives rise to an oak tree. In the same way your body is sown into the ground as a seed. It dies, decomposes, and is resurrected a spiritual body. All bodies decompose. If your body is buried it will decompose over time. If your body is burned it will decompose quickly by fire. If your body is disintegrated it will decompose immediately. The amount of time it takes is not a factor. Once your spirit leaves your body your body dies. At that moment your body is sown. At the moment of resurrection your body is raised a new spiritual body to fit a spiritual eternal environment.
II Corinthians 5:1-4 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: 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.
John 6:39,40 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (and vs.44) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Jesus’ Resurrected Body
Luke 24:34-45 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.
Jesus said touch me and see a spirit does not have flesh and bone! He did not say flesh and blood! This is because in the physical body the life is in the blood, but not so in a spiritual body. After Jesus was resurrected He had a new spiritual body. His disciples recognized him as Jesus (he looked the same), they could touch his new body and yet Jesus seems to have the ability to appear and disappear at will. And notice he also ate!
Philippians 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
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.
We that are resurrected to eternal life will have a body like Jesus’ resurrected body.
Two Different Resurrections
John 5:21-29 for as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Daniel 12:2 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.
Rev 20:4-6 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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:7,11-15 And when the thousand years are expired...I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hades delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Jesus said, “this is the work of God that you believe in him whom he has sent.” You will not be judged according to your good works, you will be judged according to doing the work of God, which is believing in Jesus. Those who have believed and received Jesus into their hearts are resurrected and transformed when Jesus returns. Jesus and his saints rule the earth for a thousand years, then at the end of that time the rest of the dead will be resurrected. The rest of the dead includes all unbelievers since the beginning and those believers who died during the millennium.
Conclusion:
You are a spirit being living in a temporary physical body designed for earth.
When your spirit leaves your body, then your body dies and is sown.
Everyone will be resurrected. When you are resurrected you will be reunited with your new spiritual eternal body.
There are two different resurrections - some to eternal life some to eternal damnation - occurring at two different times.
After your resurrection comes the judgment. There are two different judgments. One to receive rewards the other to receive sentencing.
You can avoid the judgment to come by believing in Jesus with your whole heart and surrender to him as Lord.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
I Thessalonians 5:23 I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are made up of three components: we are a spirit being, we have a soul, and we live in a body.
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead...
When God created Adam's body it was not alive until God breathed life into that body. God placed Adam's soul into that body. Our body is just the physical suit that we live in. It is a physical suit made to function in a temporary earth environment. When a human body leaves the environment of earth and travels into space it must put on a space suit in order to function in the environment of space. When your spirit leaves your body it will need a new spiritual eternal body to dwell in. How does that happen?
I Corinthians 15:35-57 But some will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? Fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; 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. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 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? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
When an acorn is planted, it dies and an oak tree grows. You cannot find the acorn seed after it dies and gives rise to an oak tree. In the same way your body is sown into the ground as a seed. It dies, decomposes, and is resurrected a spiritual body. All bodies decompose. If your body is buried it will decompose over time. If your body is burned it will decompose quickly by fire. If your body is disintegrated it will decompose immediately. The amount of time it takes is not a factor. Once your spirit leaves your body your body dies. At that moment your body is sown. At the moment of resurrection your body is raised a new spiritual body to fit a spiritual eternal environment.
II Corinthians 5:1-4 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: 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.
John 6:39,40 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (and vs.44) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Jesus’ Resurrected Body
Luke 24:34-45 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.
Jesus said touch me and see a spirit does not have flesh and bone! He did not say flesh and blood! This is because in the physical body the life is in the blood, but not so in a spiritual body. After Jesus was resurrected He had a new spiritual body. His disciples recognized him as Jesus (he looked the same), they could touch his new body and yet Jesus seems to have the ability to appear and disappear at will. And notice he also ate!
Philippians 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
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.
We that are resurrected to eternal life will have a body like Jesus’ resurrected body.
Two Different Resurrections
John 5:21-29 for as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Daniel 12:2 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.
Rev 20:4-6 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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:7,11-15 And when the thousand years are expired...I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hades delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Jesus said, “this is the work of God that you believe in him whom he has sent.” You will not be judged according to your good works, you will be judged according to doing the work of God, which is believing in Jesus. Those who have believed and received Jesus into their hearts are resurrected and transformed when Jesus returns. Jesus and his saints rule the earth for a thousand years, then at the end of that time the rest of the dead will be resurrected. The rest of the dead includes all unbelievers since the beginning and those believers who died during the millennium.
Conclusion:
You are a spirit being living in a temporary physical body designed for earth.
When your spirit leaves your body, then your body dies and is sown.
Everyone will be resurrected. When you are resurrected you will be reunited with your new spiritual eternal body.
There are two different resurrections - some to eternal life some to eternal damnation - occurring at two different times.
After your resurrection comes the judgment. There are two different judgments. One to receive rewards the other to receive sentencing.
You can avoid the judgment to come by believing in Jesus with your whole heart and surrender to him as Lord.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.