THESE BODIES CONTINUED
I had a conversation with a dear friend about my paper yesterday, concerning our bodies, and the fact that many people assume Adam and Eve had “spiritual” or “light” bodies. As iron sharpeneth iron, I was reminded of that spiritual body, and so offer these insights to share with you regarding this subject, so before packing off for a week I shall get this related paper off now, building precept upon precept and line upon line, and letting you dear Doves add even to this.
We left off where our Lord showed us his body of flesh and bone, (see yesterday’s post related to this subject if you have not already read it).
This body of flesh and bone in which He appeared apparently was notable for some stunning tricks, in that He could appear instantaneously in a locked room (I have already in my demented mind decided upon who I will surprise with this one…..), eat meals, at least consisting of honey, bread and fish, and accomplish some form of masquerade in which others could not recognize Him. (and I have a short list of curled-lip people whom I will visit here too)….another item is that He was able to show his scars from the crucifixion – so all of these manifestations have to do with His earthly fleshly body, after the resurrection, though modified with some spectacular changes.
What I forgot entirely to go into (duhhh…..) was that there is much more.
Many Christians believe that Adam and Eve had some kind of “divine light” body. But no, they had this body which Jesus showed to us….they were told they could “eat any of the fruits”, so they could eat, and told that they could procreate, and I would surmise that Adam retained a post-surgical scar.
And here is where I entirely failed you Doves, in not carrying on with the subject.
“After six days” Jesus took three of his deciples (Peter, James and John), up the mountain, and there they saw Jesus in His “glory”; that is, HIS GLORIOUS BODY. You all know this story, and how Moses and Elijah also had this body so I will not belabor you further on this. This is the body which we shall receive when we are in the heavens, the glorious body, which is described by Paul, for this is a heavenly, glorious, body. Read the following carefully,
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1st Cor 15:35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?
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Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
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And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
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But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
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All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
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There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
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There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
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So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
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It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
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It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
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And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Gen 2:746
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
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The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
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As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
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And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
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Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Now, we have two bodies to deal with here. One that can fraternize with the people on earth, and the other one that is fitted for the heavenly realm. Don’t leave yet, there’s more.
2nd Cor 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
and remember, above
1st Cor 15:40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial
There it is folks, the mystery solved, there are two bodies. One body (the earthly body) has a glory to it, and the other body has even more glory to it. Suffice it to say, this is a pretty weighty matter, taking us from the milk of conjecture to some real truth. Think on this tonight when you are out under the stars. You see, those who are in Christ, according to Paul, “and then shall we ever be with Him”…(1st Thess somewhere). That means because He will be commuting between the earth during the millennium, and the heavens, we will need both these two types of bodies to ride shotgun!
Now I don’t have time to look this up, but maybe someone can find it or recall it,,,,,,but there is a discussion somewhere in the OT about the priests (of Zadoc?). In any event, this group of priests was instructed to change from their priestly garments when exiting the the Holy Place in the Temple and going on out into the courtyard. I recall that the fabric of these garments is also stipulated, that they be changed from linen to (don’t hold me on this) wool? I don’t have time right now to dig out this meaty “type” and hope some of you will come forth with it. But there it is!!!! --- the O.T. type for the two bodies (garments)……one which we wear in heaven (the linen) in the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, and when going to the courtyard (earth) to deal with the people of earth, the wool, (?). And our majestic and marvelous Lord showed us both of these bodies---the glorious one on the “mount” (heaven), and the earthly body on the “earth” (in the room, on the seashore, on the path)…….Further, “few” (three) saw His heavenly body, whereas “many” saw His earthly body…...Is that cool or what? The Bible rules !
I shall wander now, and lay off the intense scripture studies for awhile so that I don’t get those darned stigmata back……..
Your sister,,,,Arlene