The World to Come
(Sermon Notes) By Warren Zehrung 6/20/2020
Herbert W. Armstrong began his radio programs speaking of – “The Good News of The World Tomorrow.” That actual wording is non-scriptural, but the meaning certainly came directly from the Bible. Jesus Christ distinguished between our world today and the world tomorrow:
Mark 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto [Jesus], Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. [What is in it for us if we follow you?]
Mark 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
The Title is from this next verse:
Mark 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come—eternal life.
“The World Tomorrow” comes from this phrase about another time.
The question came up recently having to do with those converted and righteous people who will live in the Millennium and The Last Great Day.
Does the Bible say that at some point they will be changed from mortal physical beings to eternal spirit beings?
We will be, but the bible does to overtly come out and say so. Why is that?
God does not openly say we will be changed from mortal physical beings to eternal spirit beings because much of His Plan is hidden from the world.
God is selecting those who truly wish to ascend the mountain of the Lord (Psalm 24:3).
Psalm 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
The worldly religious people are free to think that they will roll around heaven all day – but it does not work that way.
We, the People of God, know that the converted Church brethren will become spirit beings and marry Jesus Christ at the first resurrection—the decidedly better resurrection.
1Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Peter tells us that judgment is now on the house of God, meaning those Church brethren who are led by God’s Holy Spirit.
Now, we know about the first resurrection, the better resurrection of the Saints, and the latter resurrection of mankind. But, does the Bible say that those in the latter resurrection will also become spirit beings?
There are some incredible truths revealed to God’s people in the Scriptures. Men are not judged for good or bad without having received God’s Holy Spirit.
We battle against Satan today – those of the Millennium will not have to do that all of their lives.
Did you ever make a list of those who will be in the first resurrection? First of all there is:
Jesus Christ: He is the resurrection and the life.
John 11:25 Jesus said unto [Martha – Lazarus’ sister], I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Who else will be a part of the first resurrection?
Righteous Abel: (Matthew 23:35)
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaks.
Abraham:
Isaac:
Jacob:
The Prophets:
Daniel:
All those of the New Testament Church:
Those who are alive and remain at Jesus’ coming: (1Thessalonians 4:17)
The Saints of the Tribulation who overcome the Beast:
All these will be in the first resurrection with Jesus Christ.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power [because they are spirit beings], but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
The great majority of mankind will not be in the first resurrection with Jesus Christ.
Who are some of them? Make another list:
Cain – who killed his brother Abel:
All the billions who perished in the flood of Noah’s day:
All of Old Testament Israel:
All those uncalled people who have lived since Christ’s day:
Seven billion of those people living today:
And surprisingly,
All those of the Millennium:
And, all those who have ever lived through the ages who will stand before Jesus Christ in the Great White Throne Judgment:
The Great White Throne will be the grand sorting out of mankind. Jesus explained:
John 5:21 For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens them; even so the Son quickens whom He will.
John 5:22 For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son:
John 5:23 That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on Him that sent me [God the Father], has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
John 5:26 For as the Father has life in Himself; so has He given to the Son [of God] to have life in Himself;
John 5:27 And has given Him [Jesus Christ] authority to execute judgment also, because he is [also] the Son of man.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Therefore, Jesus is qualified to execute judgment. And He will do so at the Great White Throne Judgment.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Jesus continues:
John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,
This does not include the Saints who will have already been resurrected to everlasting life.
Then we come to the second resurrection to life of those who will not be among the resurrected spiritual Saints of the first resurrection.
John 5:29 And [they] shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life…
They will be changed from mortal physical beings to eternal spirit beings – the resurrection of life – because the earth will no longer exist after this?
The vast majority of mankind is not being called to salvation now, but God has not overlooked them.
The second resurrection is for all who have ever lived without having received God’s Holy Spirit.
Those dead people will live again on earth at the Last Great Day.
It will be a resurrection to physical life again, and to judgment – for the first time.
Acts 24:15 Have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Those of the second resurrection will be judged (for good or bad) with all who have ever lived (except for the first resurrection Saints).
The second resurrection will be back to physical life for those who have lived and died without being called to conversion by God (Revelation 20:12).
The Great White Throne will bring into judgment – both those in this second resurrection and those who lived during the millennium – having had God’s Spirit available to them (Joel 2:28) – in order to be tried and tested by Satan – because he’s been bound for 1000 years.
All who have ever lived, except for the resurrected Saints, will stand in the Great White Throne Judgment.
They will hear their verdict, for good or for bad—and be assigned to their ultimate reward, whether to Eternal Life or to the Second Death.
A major phase in God’s Plan is that of the great resurrection to physical life for the judgment of the Great White Throne.
There will be multiple billions and billions of men and women from ages past brought back to physical life.
They will see the earth in all its glory as a result of the ruling Kingdom of God, as the earth will have been developed throughout the Millennium to be a veritable Garden of Eden.
The great majority of men will then repent and have faith in Christ. God will perform this quickening to physical life in a decent and ordered way. Many will not realize at first that they have been dead for centuries—or longer.
There will not be an unmanageable screaming mass of humanity wandering about aimlessly.
There will be homes, food and clothes prepared for everyone.
More importantly, there will be teachers—messengers of the Gospel—to teach them how to live Godly lives, for the first time. And they will.
Long, and full lives, and for the first time—understanding the Plan of God, and being able to live it because of the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit—just like the first out-pouring on the Day of Pentecost some three thousand years before.
All will have sufficient time to grow in grace and knowledge to spiritual maturity.
Isaiah 65:20 Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.
Only those with adamant hearts of stone will reject God’s perfect way and remain sinners:
There are two judgments spoken of in the Scriptures: One Judgment to the glory of eternal Life in the Family of God, and the other Judgment to the condemnation of shame and everlasting contempt of eternal death.
Let’s take a look at the last half of John 5:29…
John 5:29b … and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of condemnation.
The resurrection of condemnation is the final purge when all will be burned up. Have you ever looked at who all will be in the final elimination and eradication of all those who do hurt and destroy in all God’s holy mountain?
Isaiah 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Here is another list —of those in the resurrection of condemnation:
The incorrigibly evil will be thrown into the unquenchable Lake of Hell/Fire burning with brimstone:
The Beast and the False Prophet:
Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Gog and Magog:
Revelation 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Gog and Magog represent all those who will reject God’s rule over their lives – those who do not truly love and worship God – putting Him first – above all things.
Satan:
Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Remember that Satan will be bound for the duration of the Millennium – having been cast into the pit – only to be released a little while at the end of the Millennium.
Revelation 20:2 And [the angel] laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Revelation 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
So, Satan will be in this special pit for the duration of the Millennium. Will the people of the Millennium know the location of that pit?
Will they be able to gaze down into that pit and see Satan?
In Isaiah, we read of Satan’s rebellion and fate.
Isaiah 14:13 For thou [Satan] hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: [where God’s throne is]
Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be [like] the most High.
Isaiah 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Isaiah 14:16 They that see you shall narrowly look [glance sharply] upon you, and consider thee, saying, Is this the one who made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
Maybe Satan will be in a volcano in some place like Rome or Babylon???
Death and Hell:
Revelation 20:14 And death and the grave were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Paul explained: About how men will be changed from mortal physical beings to eternal spirit beings.
God’s Spirit in us is our pledge from God of His Eternal life:
2Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2Corinthians 5:5)
Ephesians 1:13 … You were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Ezekiel 37:14 When I have opened your graves, and shall put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall you know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, says the LORD. (Joel 2:28-29)
1Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
That is because all things physical will ultimately perish. We find that in:
1Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
And again in:
1Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
And again in:
1Corinthians 15:54 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.
And again in:
2Corinthians 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle [these human bodies] do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
The apostle Paul expounded upon and developed our understanding on these matters in 1Corinthians 15 – the resurrection chapter of the Bible.
Let’s begin in 1Corinthians 15:20
1Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Corinthians 15:35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
1Corinthians 15:36 Don’t be foolish! That which you sow is not quickened, except it die:
Paul used the same agricultural analogy that Jesus had used:
John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.
1Corinthians 15:37 And that which thou sow, thou sow not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
1Corinthians 15:38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
1Corinthians 15:39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
1Corinthians 15:40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
1Corinthians 15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differs from another star in glory.
1Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Corinthians 15:43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Corinthians 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Everything physical is temporal!
1Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Corinthians 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Corinthians 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Corinthians 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Those who are saved will become spiritual Saints, because, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption… [Bible Definition: Incorruption is the quality or state of being free from physical decay]. Or, as we say down in Louisiana, “unable to rot”…
The definition of incorruption is spiritual life.
For everlasting life to exist, physical flesh must be changed to spirit!
1Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.
The Bride will be changed – converted entirely to Spirit being – as Jesus is a spirit being.
The Bride will be spotless; Divine–kind – – not man-kind or human-kind.
We will be fully like Christ – a Bride meet and suitable for her husband.
It will be a marriage made in heaven – in that God has completed His creative process in us – we will have come to the full.
Jesus longs for the day of His marriage more than we do.
1Corinthians 15:52 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.
Only a few of the resurrected Saints will have enjoyed the privilege of instantaneously being transformed and changed into spiritual beings:
1Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [Bible Definition: Immortality is the condition of living forever, or eternal life.]
1Corinthians 15:54 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.
This entire world will be given over to Jesus in the Millennium:
Revelation 11:15 The kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He shall reign forever and ever!
We find that the phrase “forever and ever” means age lasting.
In this case, the age is the one-thousand-year Millennium.
The word “Lord” in this verse is a reference to God the Father who has ordained [anointed or appointed] His Son, Jesus Christ to establish and rule the Kingdom of God on earth.
We find that a definition arises in how the Bible uses the term, “forever and ever,” because it does not always mean “without end” in biblical usage.
Jesus will reign and govern the Kingdom of God throughout the Millennium – until everything is returned to the rule, guidance, authority, auspices, and patronage of God the Father (1Corinthians 15:28).
But, does the Bible say that those converted and righteous people who live in the Millennium and the Last Great Day will also be changed from mortal physical beings to spirit beings?
We find the answer to this question by scrutinizing the state of the physical earth as the Plan of God enters the Last Great Day.
Revelation 21:5 He who sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
In vision, John was shown the spiritual New Heavens and New Earth (Revelation 21:1).
At that point it time, the earth, the oceans and the stars as we know them shall no longer exist!
Peter describes how they will perish:
2Peter 3:12 As you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the Day of God, wherein The heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt [away] with fervent heat?
Romans 8
Paul wrote of the physical creation we see about us being entirely changed:
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Romans 8:20 For the creation was made subject to vanity [will pass away like the wind], not willingly, but by reason of Him who has subjected the same in hope, [What is the creation hoping for?]
That is an incredible statement – this earth was not made to last!
Romans 8:21 Because the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. [to spirit life]
This physical earth upon which we live today will be totally gone, erased and forgotten (Isaiah 65:17)!
There is more here than a mere inference that no physical people will be remaining alive.
God will usher in the spiritual New Heavens and New Earth superseding the prior physical heavens and earth.
Only those possessing spiritual eternal life will be with the Father and Jesus Christ.
Revelation 22:15 For outside the gates of the City are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.
I’m sure that a modern movie would depict this verse with disembodied ghouls and walking dead clawing at the walls of a fortress. That is not what this verse is portraying at all. Read this verse as a total exclusion of all but the righteous spiritual Saints.
Sinners have previously been eliminated from New Jerusalem. They are long-gone! We saw their fate in the final Judgment:
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
They will not exist anymore!
The Last Great Day—the last of God’s Feast Days—shows the time at the end of the Millennium when all who have ever lived will have the incredible opportunity to live their physical lives again on this earth in the second resurrection, and then to know God and be led by His Spirit for the first time!
They will not have to die.
They will be similar to the Saints of the first resurrection in that there will be no need to die anymore—death is swallowed up—they will be raised to spiritual incorruptible eternal life.
Death is swallowed up in victory (1Corinthians 15:51-54).
Ezekiel 37:14 When I have opened your graves, and shall put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall you know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, says the LORD. (Joel 2:28-29)
Those of the Millennium and those of the Last Great Day resurrection will be judged by Jesus Christ in the Great White Throne Judgment.
Revelation 20:11 I saw a Great White Throne and He who was sitting on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and no place was found for them.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, … [raised back to life] …small and great, standing before God; and the books were opened [The books of the Bible, and each person’s record], and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
The Last Great Day will usher in the grand transition between the old physical world and the spiritual New Heavens and New Earth.
When the work of salvation and redemption of mankind is accomplished at the close of the Millennium, and the resurrection of just men is concluded, there will be no more need of the physical old heavens and earth—which will be totally forgotten forever more.
Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create New Heavens and a New Earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Genuine Christians, who are spirit born into the first resurrection from the dead at Christ’s return, will rule with Him—for the thousand years.
But what of those in the Millennium? After Adam and Eve had partaken of the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil…
Genesis 3:22 …the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the Tree of Life, and eat, and live forever:
That is one thing that God is never going to allow – and that is for the incorrigibly evil to live forever.
Genesis 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent them forth out of the garden of Eden.
But that is not the “take away” of this verse.
This verse tells – most importantly – tells us that the Tree of Life imparts eternal life.
And since this corruptible flesh in which we exist cannot inherit eternal life – there is the necessity that this corruptible life of man be changed to incorruptible spiritual life – to be in the Kingdom of God.
That is very hard for most people to envision:
1John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
How will the resurrected Saints appear during the Millennium?
We are not told how the Saints will appear while they are reigning and ruling with Jesus Christ.
As a matter of fact, we are not told exactly how Jesus, Himself, will appear as He rules from His throne in Jerusalem.
He cannot function with mortal men in His dazzling spiritual glory—for they would be burnt to a crisp and die (Exodus 33:20).
How will Jesus manifest Himself as He rules from David’s throne at Jerusalem?
He will probably appear as He did to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
He will be composed of spirit but appear as He did in Genesis (Genesis 1:28; 2:16; 3:8-19).
Adam and Eve were hiding from Jesus as He walked in the Garden of Eden with them:
Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Genesis 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man [Jesus] with him until the breaking of the day.
Genesis 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
It was a painful dislocated hip joint – The hip joint is a ball and socket joint.
Genesis 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaks. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
Genesis 32:27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Genesis 32:29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
Genesis 32:30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
However, the encounter with Jesus Christ left Jacob crippled for life – having to use crutches – a sign that God gave him so that he would remember.
Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped while leaning upon the top of his staff.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
The Portal through which Jesus passed easily – as easy as going from one room to the next: From His spiritual dimension into our space.
Jesus appears to disciples in the middle of a locked room.
Not a hazy pixilated hologram – but in stark living reality – not a phantom or an illusion.
Luke 24:36 And as they thus spoke, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Luke 24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit [pneuma].
Luke 24:38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Again, Jesus miraculously appears in the flesh.
Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Luke 24:40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
Luke 24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
Luke 24:42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
Luke 24:43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
It seems fair to assume that Jesus and the Saints will appear during the Millennium just as Jesus, the God of the Old Testament, did when He wrestled with Jacob/Israel.
He appeared as a normal man in his prime—perhaps about 30 years old (Genesis 32:24-28).
The Saints too, in order to have the needed respect, authority and acceptance when teaching and counseling those people in the Millennium, cannot appear to be too young, or too old while instructing them in, “this is the way, walk ye in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
Let’s recognize that Scripture reveals that one day we will cross the dark and endless sky.
The transition from the Fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles to the Last Great Day tells us that Christ’s Joy will last ‘til the end of time.’
You probably haven’t thought much about it, but when this earth has run its course—there will be no more time as we experience it.
Those Saints who will be able to cross that expanse of reality—a great gulf—will simply exist in a timeless state as God does – knowing the end from the beginning.
Luke 16:26 [Jesus said] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
2Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. No Chapter Break
Temporal means happening in time and space – as we see about us.
The Eternal realm is not subject to the restraints of time, space, gravity, air, food…etc.
2Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2Corinthians 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
2Corinthians 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
2Corinthians 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
2Corinthians 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
2Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.