Could you please answer the following: After the church is caught up with the believers already dead to be with the Lord, why is it necessary for us to be reunited with our bodies already in the grave upon returning with the Lord to the earth? I have searched the writings of Dake, Pink, and Payson but cannot find a satisfying answer. Any light you may shed on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

Our Resurrection Bodies:
Changed Into His Image

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Thanks, Dale! I will do my best to answer your question, and lead you to some further study. Pastor Yandian has addressed many of the issues of the resurrection of the believer in his study book, Resurrection. I will specifically address answering the questions of why and when we will be changed.

Present With the Lord:

 When a believer dies, his body remains confined to this earthly sphere. His spirit and soul, however, are immediately translated to the presence of God—Heaven or Paradise.

2 Corinthians 5:1—9:
For we know that if our earthly house, a tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2) And, in fact, we groan in this one, longing to put on our house from heaven, 3) since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.  4) Indeed, we who are in this tent groan, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5) And the One who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down-payment.  6) Therefore, though we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord [7) for, we walk by faith, not by sight] 8) yet we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord. 9) Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.  [Holman Christian Standard Bible]

This is a great passage of Scripture, for many reasons. There are numerous lessons that can be derived from these verses, but I want to stay focused on our topic. The apostle Paul states that he was limited while in this body. The physical body is subject to the weaknesses and trials mentioned in Chapter 4, and also to the cravings of the flesh. A physical body is necessary to live and glorify God in this world through the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul often cried out to be delivered from the “bondage” of a natural body, yet understood this would not be accomplished until the Rapture of the Church, when all believers will receive an eternal, resurrection body. Paul knew that One Day, he would be released from his physical body to live in the glorious presence of the Lord. This is the future of all believers.

In verse 8 Paul proclaimed, “…to be out of the body, is to be present (at home) with the Lord.” I really like the word Paul uses for “present.” It is commonly used as reference to being “in one’s own country”. Isn’t that great? When we leave this body of flesh, we are immediately found to be in our “home country.” There is no intermediary step, no in-between realm, no wandering around in some “psychic soup.” When we are alive in this body, we are confined to this world. When we leave this body, we are “home” in the presence of the Lord.

At death, the believer enters God’s presence and exists in a “spiritual state” until the time of the Resurrection. This spiritual state of existence prior to receiving our resurrection bodies is temporal and not to be interpreted as a loss or detriment. In fact, Paul calls it “gain.”

Philippians 1:21-24:
For me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22) Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don't know which one I should choose. 23) I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ--which is far better—24) but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.  [HCSB]

A better wording for the phrase in verse 21 is: “…to have died is profit.” Paul is not talking about the act of dying, but about the resulting state. There is “profit” in being released from this body and its limitations, and being elevated to the presence of God. To the unbeliever, physical death may appear to be “loss.” However, Christians are not to view death this way. To a certain degree, Paul desired to be released from this natural life, and although that would have been profit for him, he would not have accomplished what he had been ordained to do. It was necessary for Paul to remain because he had not yet finished declaring the work and blessing of Jesus Christ, which the Philippians needed and Paul resolved to accomplish.  We too are in the earth to declare Jesus Christ.

Saved By Hope:

Why is it “gain” to be present with the Lord? Our physical body is still subject to the “curse” that came as a result of the fall of Adam. Satan uses the physical body to tempt our flesh. When we were saved, our spirit was “re-born” and created in the image of God (Ephesians 4:24). A study of Romans 6 and 8 will reveal the contrast between the “flesh” (the old man/outer man), and the “spirit-being” (new man/inner man). Through the work of salvation, we have been given power over our flesh, but unless we exercise this power to serve God, we will fall subject to the temptations of the flesh. By living in accordance to the leading/teaching /help of the Holy Spirit, we can walk in victory. However, we will always content with the flesh while in this life.

Romans 8:22—25:
22)  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. 23)  And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits--we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24)  Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25)  But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

There are three “tenses” to our salvation:

1. Past:
   The moment we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, our spirit-being is saved (Ephesians 2:8).
   
   
2. Present:
   Our soul is in the process of being saved as we renew our minds to the Word and live to glorify God in this life (Hebrews 9:14).
   
   
3. Future:                        
   We are awaiting the salvation of our bodies when we will ultimately be released from the weaknesses of the flesh (Romans 8:22—25).

In this article I am focusing on the third tense of salvation. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:1—9, we often “groan” in frustration, awaiting this promised release. Yes, we want to continue living and working for the Lord in this earth, but the “flesh” can be so discouraging at times. The “hope” we have is that when the Lord returns, we will receive a resurrection body which will not be subject to the “curse” that currently exists in this world.  Until that blessed event, we will continue in our present state.

The Body of Our Humiliation:

Philippians 3:20—21:
For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we are looking for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,  21) who shall change our body of humiliation so that it may be fashioned like His glorious body, according to the working of His power, even to subdue all things to Himself.

 Some translations of this passage use the phrase “our vile bodies,” but that really misses the true emphasis. Our physical bodies are not evil. However, we have inherited weakness in the natural body because of our link to Adam, and this weakness plagues all mankind even after salvation. Adam yielded to temptation and died “spiritually.” This spiritual death has been passed on to all humanity. That weakness still exists in all flesh, even in those who have been born-again. The flesh can be tempted to serve self instead of God and our bodies remain subject to this weakness as well as disease, fatigue, and death. That is why Paul refers to our physical being as a “body of humiliation.” The natural body is constantly being humbled by the powers of this world. Although the human spirit has eternal life, our natural body is still subject to weakness, sickness, and death. That is the paradox. We are alive, yet dying. We are strong, yet weak. We are sufficient for all things, yet limited. Our “body of humiliation” stands as a reminder of our humanity. Yet, there is hope!

We Shall All Be Changed:

You really can’t read much of the apostle Paul’s writing without encountering his testament to the future hope of physical resurrection. It is one of the glorious truths that he boldly proclaimed, and one of the “mysteries” he was commissioned by God to reveal.

Philippians 3:20—21:               
For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we are looking for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21) who shall change our body of humiliation so that it may be fashioned like His glorious body, according to the working of His power, even to subdue all things to Himself.

The phrase, “shall change” is from a Greek word meaning to make an immediate change to the appearance of a thing, an external change. When you were born-again, your spirit-being was immediately changed into the image of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24). When Jesus Christ returns for us, it won’t be necessary for our “spirit” to be changed, only our physical body.  This change will be instantaneous, certain, and nothing can stop it. This “changed body” will be “fashioned like” His own body. The Greek word for this phrase means “to assume the same form (as Christ) so that what appears represents the true nature of the thing” Notice the word, “may.” This indicates the “fashioned like” cannot be accomplished without the “shall change” first being accomplished. We cannot truly be “like Christ” in this earth because although our spirit-being is made in His glorious image, our body remains in Adam’s image. However, the same power Jesus Christ used to subdue all things to Him, will be exercised when He changes us into the very same image as His “body of glory.” When Jesus Christ returns, all believers will be “like Him”—spirit, soul, and body! Gone forever will be our “body of humiliation.”

1 John 3:2:          
Dear friends, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is.

Here is that same glorious truth presented in the simple, straightforward words of the apostle John. Where Paul is deep and technical, John just makes a statement. His points are very direct:

1. We are now, not maybe in the future, but NOW, God’s children—NOW!

Although the world and those who look upon us do not see our distinction, we are not merely human, we are God’s children.

2. What we are now, in physical form and existence, is not what we will be in that future when Christ shall appear in His Glorious form.

Our lowly existence, here, does not relate to what we will be—for we shall be changed.

3. At his appearance, we will be instantly changed into the same glorious image as His.

We will be “like Him.” His very appearance is sufficient to affect this miraculous change. We will “see Him as He is” and will suddenly be made “like Him.” How Glorious!

John doesn’t take time to explain the appearance (see Paul), nor to give us any hint as to how this change will occur (see Paul). He just wants his “children” to know that no matter how troublesome the days are in which we live, nor how powerless we seem at times, it is all temporary. We will be like Him! That is our future.

1 Corinthians 15:50—55:
Brothers, I tell you this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption. 51) Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53) Because this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54) Now when this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55) O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?

Now we return to the technical language used by Paul. Why do we need this change? Because our physical bodies cannot exist in heaven—we cannot live in God’s presence until we are changed. In the verses preceding this section, Paul speaks about the reality of resurrection and the question of the “form” in which we will exist. The Corinthians had fallen under the influence of intellectual philosophers who denied the resurrection because it didn’t conform to reason as they saw it. Beginning in verse 35, Paul addresses the issue directly.

1 Corinthians 15:35—37: 
But someone will say, "How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?"  36) Foolish one! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.  37) And as for what you sow--you are not sowing the future body, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain.

Paul uses a very simple illustration to “shame” them in their pseudo-intellectualism. When a seed is sown, it dies (so to speak). The resulting “plant” does not resemble the seed; its appearance is totally different in form and appearance. Grains of wheat don’t come up as grains of wheat, but as a plant. Acorns produce oak trees, and so forth (You could carry the argument further to say that, “Yes, but the plant produces the same seed.” That misses the simplicity of the illustration—Paul is not teaching a botany lesson). What you are sowing is a future hope for what will be: a plant, a tree, a vine, etc.

In the next verses, Paul continues his argument, talking about the difference of one form (body) from another. Both earthly and heavenly bodies vary in appearance and use from one another, and the heavenly bodies differ greatly from the earthly ones. So it is with the “resurrection of the body.” The body we will one day receive will be vastly different and cannot be compared to our present earthly body. A “natural body” is sown here (at death), but a “spiritual body” will be raised at the resurrection (verses 42—48).

As Paul continues in verses 50—57, he makes application of these truths to the promise of our resurrection. Not all believers will “fall asleep” (die), but ALL will be changed. There will be some who are alive at the time of the Lord’s return. The dead will receive their resurrection bodies (conformed to His Glorious image), and those living will be instantly changed into that same resurrection body. This change is not optional; it is a necessity. The mortal MUST put on immortality—there is no other way for us to live in the glorious presence of God. And, this is the ultimate triumph of life over death. Since Adam’s fall, it appears that death has reigned. NO! It is life that triumphs! This is the life that is ours through the power of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All who believe in this are victorious over death—even though we have not seen it as yet.

The Dead in Christ Shall Rise First, Then…

The last passage I will address involves the progression of this change from corruptible to incorruptible. Although this is a future hope, Paul lived and preached as if it was ready to happen at any moment. This is the way I believe we should all live—waiting for an “any moment” appearance of Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:15—17:      
For we say this to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep.  16) For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.  17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord.

At the great moment of the Lord’s return, the dead in Christ will be raised—those who have died in faith, believing in the Lord’s promised return even unto death. In the preceding verses, they are spoken of as being “asleep.” Yes, they are dead in the earthly/physical sense, but as previously mentioned, they are very much alive in the presence of the Lord—they simply haven’t received their resurrection body. They are raised first and receive their “bodies conformed to His glorious image” as a tribute to their faith. THEN, we who are alive at that time (I like to see myself where Paul saw himself) will be instantly changed into that same image as Jesus—given a resurrection body that is not subject to the weaknesses and limitations of this physical dimension. What a glorious day that will be!

It is this resurrection of the “dead in Christ” and the transformation of the living that brings a great culmination to the plan of God. God has redeemed mankind, recreated him in His image, and transformed his body into the very image of His Son. And, all of this accomplished in the lives of those who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Take that, Satan! Life has triumphed over death and the grave!

Geof W. Jackson
Director of the Grace School of Ministry/Director of Pastoral Care