Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 3/7/2010

Question
It is apparent that Jesus had a male Glorified body, is this to say that all females will have a male body? or do you think we will keep our same bodily characteristics?

Answer
Hi Duane,
   Good question.  The Bible strongly implies that although there will not be gender in heaven that a person's gender appearance will be retained.  For example:
   Jesus said speaking of a believer's state in heaven after their resurrection,  "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." (Matthew 22:30)   He said they neither marry, which would refer to the male or are given in marriage, which refers to the female.  
   Mark 12:25 states the same truth.
   Jesus said we will be like the angels which mean believer's will not procreate, but that does not mean that we will all be alike. Angels have idenity such a does the angel Michael and Gabrael.  It simply means gender will have no significance in heaven.  We will retain our human identity and apparently our appearance as well, but this will be for identification only.
   A believer after the resurrection will receive a new body which will like Jesus' body after His resurrection having both physical and spiritual attributes.
   "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. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven" (2 Corinthians 5:1-2)
    John explains this, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth 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."  (1 John 3:2)  Believers will have a body like Jesus has after He was resurrected. It is often referred to a a "glorified body."
    Jesus after His resurrection appeared to the disciples who were gathered in a room behind locked doors.   "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord." (John 20:19-20)
    Note the disciples recognized the Lord by his appearance and although He had materialized in the room without entering thought a door.  Clearly He has the attributed of being a spirit.  He also had fully His earthly physical characteristics because they could touch His hand and feet which were pieced when He was crucified.
    In the Millennial Kingdom that follows the Tribulation and Christ's Second Coming, believers are said to rule with the Lord.   In the Millennium there will be people on earth in their human and natural bodies who lived through the Tribulation.  They will repopulate the earth and there will be many nations during that period.  Believers of this age will serve the Lord by ruling or governing the nations as Christ rules from Jerusalem.  So believers having physcial charactistics will help govern the world with Christ.
   Paul stated "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."  (1 Corinthians 13:12)   He is saying that he does not know the Lord "perfectly" with full knowledge because he is in his earthly body and not resurrected.  God is Spirit and in our physical human state we cannot see God. (John 1:18,  4:24,  After a believer's resurrection he will be able to see the Lord "face to face" meaning with perfect knowledge because he will have a spiritual body.   He says he will know the Lord "as also I am known" will implies his identify will be retained in heaven.
   I hope this helps clarify this for you.  If you have further questions or comments please write.
Cooper Abrams
Romans 12:1-2
http:bible-truth.org
"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity"  (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 )