What Happens to Our Body After Death?
Will everyone receive a new body when they die or just believers?
Believers have a sure hope that our bodies will be raised from the dead—that we will be clothed with “the imperishable” and “immortality” (1 Cor. 15:54). We look forward to the day in which we will enjoy humanity to the fullest, in the presence of God and without the presence of sin. In new, sinless, glorified bodies we will celebrate this joy forever!
Scripture also describes people in eternal judgment experiencing bodily punishment. Jesus spoke of dealing with lust so that one’s “whole body” would not be thrown into hell (Matt. 5:29–30). In Revelation 20:13, “the sea gave up the dead that were in it,” the sea houses bodies, not souls. Unbelievers who perished at sea will be raised physically and receive judgment.
The true substance of these eternal bodies is unknown to us. We only know that believers will gain completely righteous bodies and will be able to stand in the presence of God and know Him in His fullness (1 Cor. 13:12). Unbelievers will undergo the torment of the wrath of God in an eternal form of a sinful body. This should motivate us with zeal, boldness, courage, and love to have conversations with our unsaved loved ones, friends, neighbors, and coworkers, explaining the gospel with clarity and urgency.
BY Ryan Cook
Dr. Ryan Cook has taught at Moody Bible Institute since 2012. He earned his bachelor of arts in Bible and Theology from Moody and his master of arts in Old Testament from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He has worked in Christian education and served as a pastor in Michigan for seven years. During his time as a professor at Moody, he earned his doctorate from Asbury Theological Seminary. He now lives with his wife, Ashley, and their three children in the Chicagoland area.