What does the Bible tell us about the resurrected body we shall possess throughout a never-ending eternity? Scripture informs us that a person's resurrected body shall be the same body as he possessed before. His future body shall be a resurrected body, a restored body; not a newly-created body. Jesus said, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:28-29).

While our resurrected bodies will be the same bodies in essence, they will receive new and different characteristics. Of the resurrected bodies of the saints, Scripture states, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself" (Philippians 3:20-21).

I Corinthians 15 informs us that the resurrected bodies of the saints will be different from their earthly bodies in the following four wonderful ways.

1. The saints' resurrected bodies shall be perfectly incorruptible and immortal, not corruptible and mortal as their earthly bodies were. Our present bodies age, become infected with disease, suffer pain, and die. The resurrected bodies of the saints will not suffer any of these or other forms of corruption; their bodies shall be perfectly incorruptible.

"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory" (I Corinthians 15:52-55).

2. The saints' resurrected bodies shall be perfectly glorious, reflecting the perfect beauty of heaven, not the imperfect beauty of this sinful earth. All types of imperfections are witnessed in our sinful, fallen world, but not in heaven. The beauty of heaven and all those who walk there shall be without spot or wrinkle.