FBCD_FaithEssentials_June_FlipBook

Todd Gaddis

grave with a glorified, resurrection body. As Christians, we’ll have to wait until the Second Coming to receive our resurrection bodies. Note from our central text that Paul said, “We . . . would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). The phrase “home with the Lord” refers to a disembodied state in the intermediate heaven with Jesus. This discussion begs these questions: First, with our earthly shells buried in a grave, what kind of bodies will we possess during the intermediate state? Although the Bible doesn’t address this inquiry directly, answers are implied. When Lazarus, the poor man in chapter four, died, he was carried to Abraham’s side. The rich man in hell asked if Lazarus’ finger could be dipped in water. Obviously, “side” and “finger” allude to some type of physical presence. In John’s vision, he witnessed martyrs under the altar in white robes (Revelation 6:11). What good would a robe be without some type of body to put under it? Also, will we recognize one another in intermediate heaven, during our disembodied state? Although we still won’t have glorified, resurrected bodies, I believe God has provided a means for us to know one another. At the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared in recognizable, physical form to Jesus, Peter, James, and John. Although one could argue that this Old Testament pair was given some type of temporary body for their return to earth, it’s more likely that they maintained some type of incarnate presence, one that they maintain to this day. Billy Graham tells the story of his grandmother’s final moments on earth. While in her dying state, “She sat up in her bed, smiled and said, ‘I see Jesus, and He has His hand outstretched to me. And there’s Ben and he has both of his eyes and both of his legs.’ My grandfather had lost a leg and an eye at Gettysburg.” 5 In Valladolid, Spain, where Christopher Columbus died in 1506, stands a monument commemorating the great discoverer. Perhaps the most fascinating feature of the memorial is a statue of a lion destroying one of the Latin words that helped make up Spain’s motto for

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