Although many details are unanswered regarding heaven, the Bible indicates that believers will have a physical body of some kind in heaven. Several biblical examples offer evidence to support this position.
First Corinthians 15:42-44 teaches, "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." The body will be different in heaven, but will certainly exist.
The examples of people who returned to life in Scripture each included a body. The supreme example is Jesus. He was in a human body when resurrected, though it was in some ways different. At the Transfiguration, the bodies of Moses and Elijah were different, yet also clearly recognizable by Jesus, Peter, James, and John (Matthew 17:1-8).
Paul speaks of a new body in heaven using the analogy of a tent. Second Corinthians 5:2-4 notes, "For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life."
Job 19:26 poetically offers another example of longing for a future time when he would see God, saying, "In my flesh I shall see God." Job mentioned seeing God and having a body in the afterlife.
Enoch and Elijah were both taken directly to heaven in bodily form. Jesus ascended in a physical body as well. If at least these three people were taken to heaven in a body, it increases the likelihood that other believers in heaven will have a body as well.
In Revelation 6:9-11, there are believers who died for their faith who are wearing clothes. It is natural to assume that if these people are wearing clothes, they also have some kind of body in heaven. Revelation 22:14 also mentions robes worn in the new heaven.
It seems that in the New Jerusalem believers will eat from the tree of life. Revelation 22:1-2 says, "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month." A body would be required in order to eat in heaven. The biblical evidence clearly notes that believers will have a new body in heaven with which we will worship and serve the Lord for eternity future.
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