Ghosts in Heaven?
Some believe that we are going to be ghosts in heaven floating on clouds without a purpose. But the Bible teaches that the redeemed will have real bodies and living a fulfilled life. Jesus showed His disciples, after His resurrection, that He had a flesh and bone body and He ate with them.
Luke records, “Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” “And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.” “And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and … while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven” (Luke 24:36-39, 41-43, 50, 51).
Jesus with His body ascended to His Father and will come again in the same manner to the earth (Acts 1:11). The righteous will be given bodies just like the body of Christ and will be real people with flesh and bones throughout eternity (Philippians 3:21). But their bodies will not be subject to death (1 Corinthians 15:51–53). The teaching that the saved in heaven will be ghosts who float on clouds is not Biblical.
Real People Doing Real Things
In heaven, the saints will “build houses, and inhabit them and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit they shall not plant, and another eat: … mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands” (Isaiah 65:21, 22). They will also have a city mansion built by Christ (John 14:1-3). The fact that they will plant vineyards and eat the fruit from them clearly indicates that they will have flesh and bone bodies.
Life in heaven will be like the life that man lived in Paradise before the fall and sin. There will be all the joys of old Eden: lofty trees, fragrant flowers, refreshing streams, delicious fruits, and beautiful homes. The new world will be without blemish. People will rejoice in God’s presence, fellowship with loved ones, travel, explore the vast universe, enjoy heavenly music, and fulfill their dreams. There will be unlimited things to do in God’s infinite creation.
Real people will do real things in heaven, and they will thoroughly enjoy it all. The blind will see, the deaf will hear, and the paralyzed will walk. This transformation will take place at the second coming of Christ. When He “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). The redeemed new bodies will be as real as Christ’s. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Isaiah 11 also tells us that in His new kingdom, there will be a change in animals as well as in human beings. Bloodshed and killing will be no more. All of God’s creatures will be friendly. God promises that in the new earth, there will be “no more death, nor sorrow nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). For “God will wipe away every tear” (Revelation 7:16,17).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
