When Jesus was resurrected, He was raised in His new glorified, immortal body. And recall Jesus was/is the firstfruits of the harvest. Therefore, all justified mankind, i.e. those redeemed from the curse pronounced in Genesis chapter 3, will be raised in like fashion as their Redeemer.
“…we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…” Romans 8:16-17
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” I John 3:2
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body…” Philippians 3:20-21
“…In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” I Corinthians 15:52-53
Not only will the redeemed be raised with immortal bodies, they will be granted extra-human wisdom and understanding.
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I am known.” I Corinthians 13:12
The Bible further reveals that each individual will be different. Recall what the Apostle John said above…“it has not yet been revealed what we shall be…”
“But someone will say, ‘How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain – perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.” I Corinthians 15:35-38
“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God…Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” Romans 8:19, 23
The question has also been raised whether those living on the renewed earth and New Jerusalem will recognize each other as it is today. It may appear obvious to some but consider Mary Magdalene did not immediately recognize Jesus after His resurrection nor did His disciples.
“Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.” John 20:14
“But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.” John 21:4
The future redeemed will also be given extra-human powers similar to the resurrected Christ. They will not be restricted to time and other physical dimensions and limitations.
“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week. When the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst…” John 20:19
Jesus just appeared behind locked doors, and could likewise just vanish. Consider further that presently the space station is in an elliptical orbit ranging from 172 to 286 miles from the earth. At that distance man cannot breathe naturally. New Jerusalem, the future home of the redeemed, is approximately 1,400 miles in height and nowhere is it stated that it will be pressurized.
The inheritance of the redeemed is beyond description.
“…Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” I Corinthians 2:9
What a glorious future for those who take God at His word. The hope of the redeemed will be realized when faith in that which cannot be seen is seen.
Next week we’ll consider some of what the redeemed will be doing in future ages.