BEHOLDING GOD WITH A RESURRECTED BODY
BIBLICAL FOUNDATION FOR THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
A. A day is appointed for every human that has ever existed and has died to be raised with a body again. We know from
1 Cor. 15:51-52 that we who are still alive when the Lord returns will be changed (given glorified bodies) in a moment,
in the twinkling of an eye.
John 5:28-29 the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth -- those who
have done good, to the resurrection of life, those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (Note: two
resurrections)
Rev 20:5-6 the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death (lake of fire) has no power
Rev 20:12-15 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God (2nd resurrection), and books were opened.
And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works... 13 ..
.they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is
the second death. 15 anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Luke 14:14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the
just (1st Resurrection).
Acts 4:2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the
dead. (the apostles consistently preached on the resurrection)
Job 19:25-26 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; 26And after my
skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God
II. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
Rom 6:5-6 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the
likeness of His resurrection
A. Let’s consider Jesus after His resurrection and know that we will be in the likeness of His resurrection. These
verses give us great detail and hints into what it will be like in the resurrection of our bodies.
Luke 24:36-43 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them (suddenly appeared)...But they
were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit (He seemed to be spiritual yet physical at the same
time). 38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? 39 Behold My hands and My feet (touch, grasp), that it is I Myself.
Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." 41 ... He said to them, "Have you any
food here?" 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their
presence. (in His resurrected body He could eat)
Luke 24:30-31 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to
them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him and He vanished from their sight. (He handled the food,
spoke with them, and then vanished)
John 20:25-27 So he (Thomas) said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the
print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside,
and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in their midst (suddenly appeared), and said,
"Peace to you!" 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here,
and put it into My side..."(the natural body, Thomas, and the supernatural body, Jesus, interacted and touched)
John 21:9-14 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread...
12 Jesus said to them "Come and eat breakfast... 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and
likewise the fish. 14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
(He made a fire and breakfast in His resurrected body)
B. We can plainly see that Jesus, being the first fruits of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15), has flesh and bones. He
has skin, eyes, hair, feet and hands. He can touch, handle and eat! He’s still a physical man.
C. They knew Him. In other words He was physically recognizable.
D. At the same time His body is spiritual in the sense that He suddenly ‘appears’ in the midst of them and then ‘vanishes’
from their sight. He had the ability to veil His appearance from them and go in and out of the two realms (physical/spiritual).
E. So we can safely say in the resurrection we are given ‘spiritual bodies’...both spiritual and physical.
Eph 1:10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both
which are in heaven (spiritual) and which are on earth (physical) -- in Him.
1 Cor 15:44 The body is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual
body.
III. THE RESURRECTION FOR BELIEVERS
Rom 6:5-6 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness
of His resurrection
Philippians 3:21 He will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed (be similar in function and ability) to His glorious
body
Luke 20:34-36 Jesus answered, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are counted
worthy to attain that age...the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 nor can they die
anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
1Cor 15:42-49 The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is
sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body,
and there is a spiritual body. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust (Adam), we shall also bear the image
of the heavenly Man (Jesus).
1Cor 15:41-42 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star
differs from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead
Dan 12:2-3 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life (1st resurrection),
Some to shame and everlasting contempt (2nd resurrection). 3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the
firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
Rev 19:7-8 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made
herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous
acts of the saints.
IV. WHEN WILL WE GET THIS SPIRITUAL BODY?
1 Cor 15:51-52 ...we shall not all sleep (die) but we shall 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 (1 Thess 4:16) and we shall be changed.
1 Thess 4:16-17 ...with the trumpet of God the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain
shall be (insert 1 Cor 15:52) caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air...
A. At the last trumpet (Rev 10:7, Rev 11:15-19, 7th trumpet) the dead in Christ will rise first. Paul emphasizes that
we who are alive and remain do not precede the dead in Christ in the resurrection. The resurrection of the dead will
happen first, and then those who are still alive will be transformed in the twinkling of an eye.
1. A foreshadowing: Matthew 27:52-53 the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen
asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to
many.
B. A foreshadowing of ‘being changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye’ and the rapture:
Matthew 17:1-2 ...Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain 2 and He was transfigured before them.
His face shone like the sun and His clothes became as white as the light.
Acts 1:9-10 while they watched He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly
toward heaven as He went up...
V. THE CALL TO PERSEVERE
A. The book of Revelation was written to give us boldness to live under extreme circumstances and persevere until
the end. The reward of perseverance is mighty!
1. Perseverance: the steadiness of doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success
B. When facing tribulation, delay or martyrdom we can boldly endure because we know in a moment we’re going to
experience the fullness of God in our glorified, resurrected body.
C. Having a firm understanding of the resurrection gives us something concrete to relate to in the age to come.
D. Jesus gave the book of Revelation to the church to keep us focused and to encourage us of the realities we’re to behold
in a minute. There are powerful exhortations in this book that fuel us to overcome till the end. What wisdom...Jesus uses
the glory that we’re to inherit to equip us for tribulation and to shake off apathy.
VI. BEHOLDING GOD IN A RESURRECTED BODY
A. Rev 2:7 To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.
1. Notice there are things of God reserved specifically for a company of people who overcome at the heart level.
These are who Paul said would receive reward (1 Cor. 3:14).
2. In our resurrected body we’ll take from the tree that’s in the midst of paradise and eat. When God says paradise
He means paradise (bliss, 7th heaven, ecstasy, delight, cloud nine). When He serves food you can believe its food from
another age FOR REAL.
3. We know this fruit releases immortal life. When we eat of it life increases within us. Who knows what all happens
when we eat this fruit!? Imagine the taste, the energy, the life that is released. We eat and not only do our bellies get full
(?) but we grow in wisdom and knowledge.
Gen 3:22 Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us (Trinity), to know good and evil.
And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"
B. Rev 3:5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life;
but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
1. Revelation 19:8 tells us that the white garments represent the ‘righteous acts of the saints’. We’ll be clothed in
bright, glorified garments that ‘shine as the firmament and the stars’ (Daniel 12:3).
2. This verse is mentioned just before John is introduced to the Father and His angels in chapter 4. Revelation 4 is
arguably the most detailed chapter in the Bible concerning the details of the Father’s throne-room.
3. To think that Jesus will speak your name audibly before the activity of Revelation 4 is incredible! Think of it...
lightning, thunder, seraphim, elders, angels...and then it’s silenced...not a peep can be heard as the multitudes wait for
what will come ‘from the Throne’ next...and then...Jesus confesses your name! UNTHINKABLE!!!
C. Rev 21:3 the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God
Himself will be with them and be their God.
D. Rev 22:1 he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of
the Lamb...3 there shall be no more curse but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and His servants shall
serve Him. 4 They shall see His face and his name shall be their foreheads.