Lesson for November 8, 2026 | Our Spiritual Assets – Lesson 35

Resurrection Body

The resurrection of Jesus Christ guarantees believers, not only eternal life, but also a glorified resurrection body. The glorified body of believers will be like that of Christ. For those Church Age believers who die before the Rapture occurs, their soul and spirit go into the presence of the Lord. At the Rapture, the soul and spirit enter the glorified body. (I Corinthians 15:51-57; II Corinthians 5:1-8; Philippians 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I John 3:2)

We can get a glimpse of what our glorified body will be like by looking at Christ’s glorified body. First, we will be recognizable like Christ was after His Resurrection. (Luke 24; John 20:26-29) Christ’s body could be touched (as Thomas did) because His body had flesh and bones. (Luke 24:39-40) Christ’s body retained the scars of crucifixion. (John 20:25-27) He breathed and carried on conversations with a recognizable voice in His resurrection body. (Luke 24; John 20:26) Jesus ate food while in His resurrection body. (Luke 24:30,43) However, His body was unique in that He could walk through closed doors, He was able to disappear and appear, and He could move vertically and horizontally. (Psalms 22:16; Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 28:9-10; Luke 24:17-40; John 20:16-29; Acts 1:9-10)

The resurrection of Jesus Christ coincided with the Jewish Feast of the First Fruits, where a portion of the harvest was gathered first and given to the priest for the blessing of the entire harvest. This feast pointed to the resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and was celebrated three days after the Passover. Paul writes about “the first fruits” in I Corinthians 15:20-25. Jesus taught a parable in John 12:23-24, calling Himself:

This fruit is believers!

Christ’s humanity was resurrected, because it was His humanity that died. (Luke 24:39) It was evidenced by an empty tomb, which was witnessed by His friends, family, and followers. (Matthew 28) The Jewish religious leaders attempted to suppress the information regarding the Resurrection, which gives evidence that they believed He had risen. (Matthew 27:62-66) Jesus Christ is the only Person in history to be resurrected (some were resuscitated – arose and later died). Because of Christ’s resurrection, believers will also be resurrected. (II Corinthians 4:14; Philippians 3:21; I John 3:1-2)

At death, Christ’s body went into the grave (John 19:40-42), His soul went into Paradise (Luke 23:43; Acts 2:27), and His Spirit went into the presence of the Father (Luke 23:46). It was Christ’s body that resurrected. His soul came out of Paradise returning to the body, His Spirit came from the presence of the Father returning to the body and He rose bodily from the grave. He is now symbolically seated at the right hand of the Father. (Hebrews 1:3; I Peter 3:18-22; Romans 1:4, I Thessalonians 1:10)

There are doctrinal significances that we should note regarding the Resurrection. Christ’s resurrection indicates the completion of justification. (Romans 4:25) Jesus Christ became our mediator (equal with God and equal with man). (Hebrews 7:25, 9:15; I Timothy 2:5) It is the “risen Christ” Who became our High Priest and established the priesthood of believers. (Hebrews 10:5,10-14, 7:28; I Peter 2:5-9) The resurrection of Christ fulfilled part of the Davidic Covenant. (Psalms 89:36-37; II Samuel 7:8-16) Without the resurrection, Christ could not have been glorified, and the Holy Spirit could not have been given. (John 7:39) The Resurrection is the guarantee of Ultimate Sanctification. (I Corinthians 15:20-23; I John 3:1-2; Philippians 3:21)

For Church Age believers, there is going to be a change. Each of us is going to receive a glorified body fashioned after Christ’s body. This will be an instantaneous change, as we are being “caught up” to meet Christ in the air at the Rapture. We call this, Ultimate Sanctification which will be a reality for all believers, regardless of the stage of spiritual growth. All believers will receive a glorified body and will spend all of eternity in perfect happiness. There will, however, be a loss of magnificent rewards and blessings for those that fail to live the Christian Way of Life. We are just passing though this life, but our real citizenship is in Heaven. When Christ returns for us at the Rapture, we will realize Ultimate Sanctification.

At death, a Church Age believer’s body goes into the grave and their soul and human spirit go into the presence of God the Father, in an interim body. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Corinthians 5:8) At the Rapture, which marks the end of the Church Age, a believer’s soul and human spirit enter the resurrection body. (John 14:1-3; Philippians 3:20-21; I John 3:1-2; I Corinthians 15:51-57; I Thessalonians 4:15-16)

At death, an Old Testament believer’s body from the Age of the Gentiles (Adam to Abraham) went into the grave, and their soul and human spirit went into a compartment of Hades called Paradise. (Luke 23:43)

At death, an Age of Israel believer’s body goes into the grave, and their soul and human spirit go to Paradise in Hades. At the end of the Tribulation, an Age of Israel believer’s soul and human spirit will enter their resurrection body. (Mark 13:24-27) [Believers from the Tribulation are technically still part of the Age of Israel] (Revelation 20:4-6)

Millennial believers receive their resurrection bodies at the end of the Millennium. (Revelation 21:7)

At death, an unbeliever’s body goes into the grave, and their soul goes into a compartment of Hades called Torments. (Revelation 20:11-15; Luke 16:19-31) At the end of the Millenium, they receive a body of some kind. (John 5:28-29; Matthew 18:8-9) The soul joins the body and appears before the Great White Throne Judgment. (Revelation 20:11-15)

Hell/Hades

The word “hell” is not found in Scripture. It is a transliterated word used for the current and final abode of unbelievers. The actual place in Scripture commonly referred to as Hell is Hades (Greek) or Sheol (Hebrew). Both words mean “the lower parts of the earth.” Jesus Christ holds the keys to Hell and death – a symbol of authority over both. (Revelation 1:18)

Hades was originally made up of three parts:

1. Tartarus – comes from the Greek word “tartaroo” meaning to incarcerate in eternal torment. This is the place where fallen angels of Genesis 6 are bound. (II Peter 2:4; Jude 6-7)
2. Torments – comes from the Greek word “basanos,” meaning a touchstone (a flint-like stone used to test gold and silver by rubbing it against them). This is the place where unbelievers’ souls are awaiting the last judgment. (Luke 16:23, Revelation 20:11-15)
3. Paradise – this was a place where a believer’s soul and spirit went until Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven. (Luke 16:20-31)

Tartarus is where certain fallen angels are bound.

1. Fallen angels of Genesis 6 are bound here. (II Peter 2:4)
2. They are bound because they left heaven (their first estate) (Jude 6)
3. They disobeyed God in cohabiting with human women. (Genesis 6; Jude 7)
4. Jesus preached or proclaimed His victory to the fallen angels that they had not been successful in cutting off the line of the Messiah. (I Peter 3:19-20)

Torments was enlarged when Paradise was removed by Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 5:14)

Paradise is now located in Heaven.

1. Paul’s testimony – (II Corinthians 12:1-4)
2. Jesus “led captivity captive” (souls and spirits of believers in Paradise) (Ephesians 4:8-10)

The Lake of Fire is the final abode for Satan, fallen angels and all unbelievers. The Hebrew word “Ge-Hinnom” and the Greek word “Geenna.” are translated Hell in the King James Bible. Sometimes the word Hell refers to Hades and sometimes to the Lake of Fire, the context determines the correct usage. (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20)