For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself (Phi. 3:20-21).
Some questions to consider as we study:
- What glory is to be revealed in us?
- How would it help to look forward to our new body, and the glory that will be revealed in us eternally?
- What would give us cause to laugh and be comforted in our trials (Rom. 8:17-25)?
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Rom. 8:17-25).
Notice what our new spiritual body will be like (Phil. 3:20-21; Matt. 22:30)? We see in Philippians 3:20-21 that our conversation is in heaven; from where we also look for a Savior who will change our vile body so that it may be made like His glorious body… Then in Matthew 22:30 we read that in the resurrection people neither marry nor or given in marriage but are like the angles.
Notice in Exodus 33:19-23 that man is flesh and blood, and he cannot see God and live, yet the angels “behold the face of the Father.”
Angels’ bodies must not be flesh and blood (Matt. 18:10). Gabriel stands in the presence of God, so he is not flesh and blood (Luke 1:19). In the account of the woman with seven husbands, we are told that we shall be “as the angels” when we are resurrected with a new body (Matt. 22:30; Mark 12:25; Luke 2:15). Many people have no understanding of the resurrection, our new spiritual bodies or the life we will lead in eternity.
Some might think being like the angels is no big deal, because they are just “people with wings and are dressed in white.” A deeper study of these mighty beings gives us a marvelous picture of God’s messengers (Heb. 1:7; Heb. 1:13-14). An angel’s body is able to “fly” (Rev. 14:6), appear and disappear (Judges 13:16-21), become a flame of fire (Heb. 1:7; Judges 13:20), take on the form of a man (Judges 13:16-21).
Just one spiritual being was all it took to kill every firstborn in Egypt in one night (Exod. 12:23, 29), or destroy 185,000 valiant soldiers in one night (2 Kings 19:35). Prophet after prophet fell on his face or fainted at the sight of one of these mighty spiritual beings (Dan. 9:27).
God’s angels appeared with horses or chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:17; Zech. 6), raiment white as snow (Dan. 7:9-10; Matt. 28:1-4; Mark 9:2-3; Rev. 1:13-15), body like beryl, eyes as lightening (Daniel 10:5-6; Exod. 24:16-17; Rev. 19:11-12), and the list goes on and on. Angels are called God’s messengers (Heb. 1:7; Heb. 1:13-14). Let’s visit each of these accounts one by one.
Angels are God’s messengers (Heb. 1:7; Heb. 1:13-14).
An angel’s body is able to “fly” (Rev. 14:6).
Angels bodies are able to appear and disappear (Judges 13:16-21).
Angel’s bodies may become a flame of fire (Heb. 1:7; Judges 13:20).
Angels may take on the form of a man (Judges 13:16-21).
Just one spiritual being was all it took to kill every firstborn in Egypt in one night (Exod. 12:23, 29)
One angel was able to destroy 185,000 valiant soldiers in one night (2 Kings 19:35).
Prophet after prophet fell on his face or fainted at the sight of one of these mighty spiritual beings (Dan. 9:27).
They appeared with horses or chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:17; Zech. 6:1-15, 17).
Some angels wore raiment white as snow (Dan. 7:9-10; Matt. 28:1-4; Mark 9:2-3; Rev. 1:13-15).
Angels had a body like beryl, eyes as lightening (Dan. 10:5-6; Exod. 24:16-17; Rev. 19:11-12).
The list goes on and on. Just how glorious will that new body be? Consider the following scriptures which describe it in some detail: (Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:35-58; Rom. 8:18-25; 2 Cor. 3:7-18; Dan. 10:5-9; Eze. 1:4-28; Psalms 113:4-6).
-Beth Johnson