The Way in which Jesus’ Resurrection Body Prior to His Ascension Might also be a Model of the Resurrection Bodies of the Saints according to Near-Death Experiences and Outside Expert Testimony: The Evidence
Though I believe that Jesus’ earthly resurrection body was the exact same body that he had in life, it is perhaps worth mentioning a way in which Jesus’ resurrection body prior to His ascension may have been different from His earthly body and yet could have also been a model of the resurrection bodies of the saints. The answer to how this could be the case might be found in the Bible and near-death experiences (NDE’s). The inhabitants of earth, heaven and Sheol or Hades have different appearances based on Biblical descriptions. Interestingly, these Biblical descriptions are abundantly confirmed by revelatory NDE’s.
Sheol is the dark realm of the dead frequently mentioned in the Bible. It is called outer darkness by Jesus in the Gospels and the void by NDE researchers.
Beings in Sheol or Hades are said to resemble dark shadows according to revelatory NDE’s. This idea is echoed in the Bible. In verses like Psalm 88:10-11, Job 26:5 and Isaiah 14:9 the departed who await the resurrection in Sheol are called raphaim meaning shades. Sheol is the realm of outer darkness mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 8:12, 22:13 and 25:30. It is also called the void in NDE literature. Sheol, outer darkness or the void is the dark underworld of the dead. The fact that the otherworldly inhabitants of Sheol are called shades in the Bible is an appropriate label for beings that resemble dark shadows.
According to the Bible and revelatory NDE’s, spirits in Sheol or Hades are described as dark shadows. This fact is depicted in a scene in the movie Ghost.
Ascending to higher, more pleasant realms spiritual bodies are said to increase in luminosity with beings in heaven exuding brilliant light. As explained above, heavenly beings are said to resemble beings of light according to Daniel 12:2-3 and 2 Corinthians 11:14. It is interesting to note that testimony from NDE’s overwhelmingly confirms this Biblical teaching.
Spiritual bodies that are temporarily confined to earth as Jesus was before He ascended into heaven are said to be earthbound according to the NDE literature. Perhaps Jesus’ resurrection body prior to His ascension into heaven was an earthbound resurrection body? If so, then Jesus’ earthbound post-resurrection experience is not uncommon. Like Jesus, many people are temporarily earthbound immediately after death before they finally end up in heaven or hell. These earthbound resurrection bodies are intermediate in luminosity. They neither seem to absorb light like the dark shades of Hades nor exude light like the glorious occupants of heaven. In other words, earthbound resurrection bodies look just like physical bodies in the realm of the living. This fact could explain why immediately after rising from the dead, Christ’s resurrection body so closely resembled His original physical body before He rose into heaven in Acts 1:9.
The earthbound resurrection body appears indistinguishable from living, breathing flesh and blood people though it is able to pass through walls as Jesus presumably did in Luke 24:36. It is able to appear and disappear to the living at will as Jesus had also done in Luke 24:31. These resurrected bodies have been heard speaking to the living as did Jesus in Luke 24:17-49. They have also been frequently seen moving objects like Jesus had done in Luke 24:41-43. Earthbound resurrected bodies are also often reported making the sound of footsteps when passing by. They may even be capable of eating solid food as Jesus did after His resurrection. Keep in mind that the two angels who visited Lot before the destruction of Sodom ate with Lot (Genesis 19:1-3). In light of these characteristics it appears that these earthbound resurrected bodies must have a solid, tangible form at least some of the time as Jesus had according to Luke 24:39. In fact, it might be said that the only way to know if someone has truly seen an earthbound resurrection body is if they have actually seen someone disappear before their very eyes. Of course, this is assuming that the person who has reported seeing such a specter is not taking hallucinogenic drugs, is not sleep deprived, is in good mental health and does not suffer from hallucinations as a consequence of severe vision loss.
Earthbound resurrected bodies appear to have a solid, tangible form at least some of the time as Jesus had according to Luke 24:39.
Though earthbound resurrection bodies are often called “spirits” or “ghosts,” perhaps this is a misnomer as these terms commonly imply an immaterial vapor. As stated above, the earthbound spiritual body often manifests itself in solid form. Perhaps in Luke 24:39 Jesus is confirming the solid nature of the earthbound resurrected body? In this verse Jesus tells Thomas that He is not an intangible vapor or spirit: “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit [pneuma] does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” The Greek word used for spirit in Luke 24:39 is not phantasma which is Greek for phantom or ghost, but rather pneuma which means wind or breath. Pneuma is a term used to describe things that are commonly perceived as having no material substance like the wind, spirits or ghosts. Perhaps in Luke 24:39, Jesus dispels the mistaken assumption that the earthbound resurrected body is an intangible vapor?
Brad and Barry Klinge are paranormal investigators in the TV series Ghost Lab. These two researchers confirm the seemingly solid appearance of “ghosts” in their book Chasing Ghosts, Texas Style: On the Road with Everyday Paranormal.
Brad and Barry Klinge are paranormal investigators in the TV series Ghost Lab. Brad and Barry have tried to set themselves apart from other paranormal investigators by trying to take a more experimental–and therefore scientific–approach in their investigations. Confirming Luke 24:39, Brad and Barry Klinge of Everyday Paranormal do not believe that vaporous orbs frequently labeled as “ghosts” in photographs are really “ghosts,” or earthbound spiritual bodies as I call them, since these orbs can be reproduced in dark, dusty environments from light reflecting off dust particles. These paranormal investigators believe that “ghosts” look indistinguishable from flesh and blood human beings. In each instance in which Barry and Brad reported seeing “ghosts” they initially thought that they had seen real living people until these “people” suddenly disappeared. In other words, “ghosts” or earthbound resurrected bodies appear to have a solid form that looks indistinguishable from flesh and blood living people [1]—just like Jesus’ resurrected body before he rose to heaven.
According to the Bible, angels can appear on earth in human form just like earthbound resurrection bodies.
The Way in which Jesus’ Resurrection Body Prior to His Ascension Might also be a Model of the Resurrection Bodies of the Saints according to Near-Death Experiences and Outside Expert Testimony: Are all Specters Resurrection Bodies or are some Angels?
Though some people are temporarily earthbound after their resurrection as Jesus may have been in the Gospels, not all specters are earthbound resurrection bodies. Some specters are angels. According to Genesis 6:1-4, Matthew 28:2 and Hebrews 13:2, heavenly beings or angels are able to leave heaven to visit earth. The fact that heavenly beings are able to descend to earth is also confirmed in revelatory NDE’s. Though heavenly beings sometimes appear on earth in the brilliant luminosity of their heavenly bodies as was the case in Matthew 28:2-3, they can also assume human form according to Genesis 19:1, Judges 6:21-22 and Hebrews 13:2. Because angels can appear on earth in human form just like earthbound resurrection bodies, it is not always possible to identify with certainty whether a specter is an angel in human form or an earthbound resurrection body–both can appear indistinguishable from living breathing, flesh and blood human beings.
The Way in which Jesus’ Resurrection Body Prior to His Ascension Might also be a Model of the Resurrection Bodies of the Saints according to Near-Death Experiences and Outside Expert Testimony: What is the Difference between the Spirit and the Spiritual Body?
The Bible does teach that there is a spirit that lives in our bodies. Hebrews 4:12 reads, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Echoing this idea, James 2:26 states, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” The word for spirit used in these two verses is pneuma. As stated above, pneuma means wind or breath. This term connotes an immaterial substance. However, at the resurrection, I believe that the spirit is not simply released in order to enter heaven in its pure, intangible and naked form. At the resurrection, I believe the spirit is presumably again clothed with a body, a new glorified body. This fact is implied in 1 Corinthians 15:35-49.
The Way in which Jesus’ Resurrection Body Prior to His Ascension Might also be a Model of the Resurrection Bodies of the Saints according to Near-Death Experiences and Outside Expert Testimony: The Initial Resurrection of Matthew 27:52-53 also Mirrors Jesus’ Resurrection Experience.
In support of the idea that at the resurrection the saints are to receive imperishable earthly bodies some quote Matthew 27:52-53: “The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.” In these verses, Matthew mentions the fact that some of the departed saints were raised right after Jesus’ resurrection.
Far from being evidence of an earthly resurrection, this verse is strong evidence that the resurrection is not an earthly phenomenon in which the departed receive imperishable earthly bodies. If it were then where are these immortal humans today? So far no one has ever encountered a person who does not die. Even Jesus who died and later rose from the dead did not remain on earth forever. Instead, Jesus later ascended into heaven as these saints mentioned in Matthew 27:52-53 were also expected to do at the last trumpet.
As explained above, the saints who were seen immediately after Christ’s resurrection appear to have been earthbound resurrection bodies perhaps like Jesus’ body before his ascension. After ascending into heaven at the last trumpet, the bodies of these saints are expected to have experienced further glorification as their earthbound resurrection bodies morphed into glorified heavenly bodies. Thus the resurrection experience of these saints might be said to mirror Jesus’ resurrection and subsequent ascension. As may have been the case with Christ, these saints might have also started out with earthbound resurrection bodies that were presumably later glorified into luminous heavenly bodies after their ascension into heaven. This ascension presumably occurred at the last trumpet.
The Way in which Jesus’ Resurrection Body Prior to His Ascension Might also be a Model of the Resurrection Bodies of the Saints according to Near-Death Experiences and Outside Expert Testimony: Conclusion
In summary, Christ’s resurrection body might be said to be a perfect reflection of the resurrection bodies of the saints.[2] While earthbound, the resurrection bodies of the saints are expected to mirror the appearance and characteristics of Jesus’ resurrected body before His ascension. Once the saints inevitably end up in heaven, their bodies are to be further glorified in order to resemble the radiant glory of Christ and the host of heaven.
[1] Brad and Barry Klinge, Chasing Ghosts, Texas Style: On the Road with Everyday Paranormal (Dreamscape Media, 2011), CD.
[2] With the exception of the empty tomb.
The Way in which Jesus’ Resurrection Body Prior to His Ascension Might also be a Model of the Resurrection Bodies of the Saints according to Near-Death Experiences and Outside Expert Testimony
As shown in the above article, Jesus’ resurrection body prior to His ascension might also be a perfect mirror of the resurrection bodies of the saints. This fact is supported by NDE’s and expert testimony from paranormal investigators.