We will all get a new body, but the old body will be buried and return to dust.
Why make this any more complicated than it has to be? It is all right there in the Bible.
1 Corinthians 15 New Living Translation
40 There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies.
44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!
First of all, I really appreciate you using the Bible, but there’s more to it actually. Yes, those chosen to go to Heaven, which are those who are in the “first” resurrection (Rev.20:6), they
need spiritual bodies, since they are
chosen to go to Heaven. As Paul said,
physical bodies cannot inherit God’s Kingdom
which is in Heaven. (You’re right to quote that.) And Paul -
all of the Apostles - were chosen for that “first” resurrection group.
(Also keep in mind, that if there is a “first” resurrection, that would imply there is
another resurrection that happens
later, doesn’t it?)
But is
everybody going to Heaven? What about Jesus’ statement, which I quoted before, at Matthew 5:5, where He said
the meek “will inherit the Earth”? Jesus was apparently quoting from Psalms 37:11. Vs.29 reinforces that point.
Plus, according to Paul at Acts 24:15, along with the “righteous” even the “
unrighteous” will have a resurrection. Their resurrection is one of “judgement”,
not on what they did (how the acted)
in the past, but rather they’ll be
judged on what they do (how they act) after their resurrection to life. To learn & become some of those meek who will ‘reside on Earth forever.’ - Psalm 37:29
The ones in the “first” Resurrection, which includes Paul, Jesus referred to as his “brothers” Matthew 25:40. If you will, please read vss.31-46. You’ll notice 3 different groups mentioned: the sheep, the goats, and the ones whom Jesus calls “My brothers / brethren.” The sheep are not his brothers, because Jesus said they are doing good things
to his brothers. They need a reward too, don’t they? Those sheep, are part of ‘the meek who will inherit the Earth.’ (Please read about the
sheep “who are not of *this fold*”, [*this fold* being those who are his brothers].. @ John 10:16; also related to this is Luke 12:32, where it mentions a “
little flock.” This”little flock” represents his brothers (& sisters)).
I hope this is understandable… if not, the fault is mine; it’s late & I'm tired.
There’s more involved. I’d like to discuss the Scripture you quoted… in fact, you
bolded it…1 Corinthians 15:51. The word the NLT translated as death
isn’t the Greek word for “death” in this text. It’s the Greek word for “sleep”.
So it should read, “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret.
We will not all sleep, but we will all be transformed [in a moment”, as it continues in vs52
.]
So the meaning is different… Looking at the context of 1 Corinthians 15, look at vs.23, where we read this resurrection occurs “at his coming /
presence”; the English word
presence is a
better rendering for the Greek word “
parousia”.
That’s important.
The Apostle Paul was discussing the “first” resurrection, of which he was involved.
It may sound complicated, but the Resurrections and what they accomplish for those involved in them, is easy to grasp.
Good night.