Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Cor 5:1-8 NIV)
This speaks of the new body that we shall receive after this age. It refers to it as our "heavenly dwelling". In another place, 1 Corinthians 15, it is called a "spiritual body" and a "celestial body" as apposed to one "terrestrial".
Only a spiritual body can ascend into the heavenly realm, but not all shall dwell there. For;
"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." (1 Cor 15:50-54 NIV)
At this "last trumpet" those who are alive at his coming will be changed to receive their new spiritual bodies. And we may go to heaven for a very short while but we will not remain there, for,
"You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." (Rev 5:10)
At the end of this current age God will bind the Deceiver, and Christ will rule upon the earth for one thousand years. And we, believers, will be participants in his government and "will reign on the earth" with Him. At the end of that 1000 year age this heaven and earth will pass away a New heaven and earth will be created in the form that God originally intended. Man and creation will no longer be subjected to decay.
I believe that on the new earth, and beyond into the heavens, there will be those in celestial bodies and those in physical bodies. I understand this from Rev 22:1-6
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place."
The passage "And they will reign for ever and ever" speaks of those in celestial bodies. And the fact that there is the "river of the water of life" and "the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" says to me that there are those present who are in physical bodies, otherwise why the need for "healing of the nations"?
A side note: "...the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month..." makes clear that there will also be a 12 month year, the measurement of time, in eternity. I find this interesting for "there will be no more night" either.
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