Incorruptable Heavenly Spiritual Bodies

Dateline: Kodiak, Alaska

“Believe” in Matthew, Mark & Luke - Part 17:

(Spiritual Wickedness and Our Heavenly Hope - Part 4):

Our last study dealt with the opposition or battle that believers face; spiritual wickedness in the heavens: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies.” Ephesians 6:10 - 1210 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

. The “devil” in Ephesians 6:1111 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

is Satan himself and we contend with his wiles (trickery.) It is he and his minions who are the rulers of darkness/spiritual wickedness in the heavens, Ephesians 6:1212 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

. In today's study we will briefly explore what the Apostle Paul reveals about the believer's position in the heavens; present and future.

The word “heavenlies” in Ephesians 6:12 is from the Greek “epouran'ios,” #G2032, which is found 20 times in the New Testament (NT), once each in Matthew and John; 12 in the Pauline epistles and 6 in Hebrews. It is translated in the King James Version (KJV) variously as “heavenly, celestial, in heaven, or high.” We will examine its use in the Pauline epistles, beginning with the epistles in which it appears most frequently; five each in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians. (The number five is significant in Scripture because it is the number for Grace.) In 1 Corinthians, Paul uses “epouran'ios” to teach that our human bodies are inherited from the first Adam; they are natural, of the earth and corrupt, that is, our physical bodies are dying in corruption. However, the bodies of believers will be raised some day to spiritual, incorruptible bodies. This is possible because the last Adam (The Lord Jesus Christ) was made a Spirit who gives spiritual life to the believer. In the KJV the Greek word “epouran'ios” is translated “celestial” twice in 1 Corinthians 15:4040 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

; twice as “heavenly” in 15:48 and once as “heavenly” in 15:49, as follows:

“There are also celestial (heavenly) bodies, and bodies terrestrial (worldly, earthly): but the glory of the celestial (heavenly) is one, and the glory of the terrestrial (worldly, earthly) is another. 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. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening (making alive or life giving) spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” 1 Corinthians 15:40 - 4940 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

41 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.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

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These earthly, corrupt, dishonorable, weak human bodies we inherited from the first Adam cannot exist in heaven. The bodies of believers are sown (or planted as seed) and will be raised (from corruption/death) into spiritual bodies. This will be accomplished because of the finished work of the last Adam, that is, Jesus Christ. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ will someday be raised into incorruptible bodies; that is, spiritual bodies just like His - read also 1 Corinthians 15:50 - 5850 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 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.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 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.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

. Whereas Paul used the word heavens or heavenly (the Greek “epouran'ios”) five times in 1 Corinthians to explain the believer's present physical body as opposed to the hope for a future spiritual body; he used it five times in Ephesians to explain the believer's present position and hope in the heavens (by faith.) In the KJV of Ephesians “epouran'ios” is translated “heavenly places” and “high places,” as follows: