Will we have physical bodies in Heaven?

Answer

Although the Bible provides limited information about the nature of heaven, it suggests that we will likely possess a physical body, albeit not in the same way as we do currently. In 1 Corinthians 15:52, it is stated that “the dead will be raised incorruptible,” and those who are alive when Christ returns for His saints “shall be changed.” Jesus Christ is described as “the first fruits” of those who have died “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”, (1 Corinthians 15:20,23) “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.”, (1 Corinthians 15:20,23). This indicates that He serves as a model and paves the way. 1 Corinthians 15:42 explains that our “body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.” In a foreshadowing of the believers’ resurrection, some individuals were raised at the time of Christ’s resurrection as mentioned in Matthew 27:52, where it is stated that their “bodies…were raised.” Thomas, in John 20:27, physically touched Christ’s body after His resurrection, indicating that He had a tangible body.

It is reasonable to anticipate that the resurrection of all believers will resemble that of Christ. What a marvelous revelation! While the Bible does not provide specific details, it suggests that we will have the ability to eat. In Revelation 22:2, John describes his vision of the eternal state, where he observed that “in the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month.” This seems to reverse the consequence from Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve, and consequently all of humanity, were forbidden from partaking of this tree. Regarding hunger, it seems that it will not be an issue. Isaiah 49:10 states that tThere will be no hunger or thirst in the millennial kingdom. This refers to mortal men during that period, not to translated saints. By extension, it can be said that if mortals on earth during Christ’s Kingdom do not hunger, then surely there will be no hunger in heaven (see also Revelation 7:14-16).

Finally, Job wrote that he knew for sure that even after he dies and his skin is long gone, he will “in my FLESH SEE God” (Job 19:26 – all caps added for emphasis). This means our bodies will consist of some kind of glorified flesh. Whatever form we have, we know that it will be perfect, sinless, and flawless.