What will our glorified bodies look like?

what does the bible say?

The Bible does not completely explain the details regarding the glorified bodies of believers, but it does provide some information about what to expect. The Bible teaches that believers will receive glorified bodies at Christ’s return (1 Corinthians 15:52–53; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). Our glorified bodies will be imperishable and glorious for all eternity (1 Corinthians 15:42–44). These bodies will reflect the image of Jesus and the state in which He originally created our bodies. Our glorified bodies will be free from sorrow, pain, and death (Revelation 21:4). This hope of a glorified body encourages believers to live with an eternal perspective, trusting that our current struggles will give way to perfect joy and peace.

from the old testament

The Old Testament does not explicitly describe glorified bodies in heaven in the way the New Testament does, but it contains hints of resurrection and transformation. In Job 19:25–27, Job expresses hope that, even after his body is destroyed, he will see God in his flesh, implying a physical resurrection.Daniel speaks of a future resurrection, where some will rise to everlasting life and shine like the stars, suggesting a transformed, glorified state (Daniel 12:2–3).Isaiah declares that the dead will rise, their bodies will live again, and they will awaken with joy, pointing to bodily resurrection (Isaiah 26:19).

from the new testament

First Corinthians 15:42 notes, "what is raised is imperishable." In other words, the glorified body of believers will be eternal and never decay.First Corinthians 15:43 states the new body will be glorious: "It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory." The rest of the verse adds, "It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power." The glorified body will be far more powerful than our comparably "weak" earthly body.First Corinthians 15:44 includes that our new body will be spiritual: "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body." We will not merely be skin and bones and blood and cells. The new body will have new abilities. Perhaps this will include some of the powers Jesus exhibited in His resurrected body, such as the ability to appear through a locked door (John 20:19) or the ability to rapidly appear in one location and then in another, as Jesus did in appearing on the road to Emmaus and then quickly being among the apostles that evening.First Corinthians 15:49 includes that we will bear the image of the man of heaven (Jesus): "Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven." Our new body will reflect His image.We receive our glorified bodies at the resurrection, when Jesus returns (1 Corinthians 15:52–53). This transformation happens at the moment of Christ's return, when the dead in Christ are raised, and those still alive are changed (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).Revelation 21:4 includes the absence of sorrow and pain: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." The human physical and emotional pains experienced in this world will no longer exist. Instead, human joy, peace, and love will be made perfect, removing the curse of sin and death.Revelation 22:4 notes the final state of believers will in some way include God's name on the forehead: "They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads." Whether this is a hat or mark or takes another form is not clear, yet just as those who took the mark of the beast worshiped the beast, so those marked by God will worship God in a new body provided by Him.

implications for today

As believers, looking forward to our glorified bodies gives us great hope and anticipation for the future. We can take comfort in knowing that our new bodies will be free from the limitations and struggles of our current ones—imperishable, glorious, and powerful, reflecting the image of Jesus. This truth should motivate us to live faithfully now, pursuing holiness and focusing on eternity, rather than being overwhelmed by temporary earthly concerns. Yes, we should take care of our bodies as best as we can; however, when age, disease, or injury impacts our bodies, we don’t need to despair, knowing that one day our bodies will be in a glorified state. Weakness and deterioration are reminders that we were made for an eternal home. God is strong in our weakness, and we can trust in Him and shine brightly for Him, even in our weakness. As we eagerly await our transformation, we are reminded that our current suffering and weakness will one day give way to perfect joy, strength, and peace in God's presence. This hope shapes how we live today as we keep our eyes on God, the strength and sustainer of our lives.