I was watching a well known teacher on TV today and he said a fascinating thing; Quoting 2 Corinthians 5: 1-5, he explained that we will have up to three bodies. The body we have on earth which is corruptible, a second temporary body when we go to Heaven if we die before the Rapture and a third, perfect body which we will receive at our resurrection. Apparently those who go in the rapture will only get two of these, the first and the third. Have you ever heard of this?
I’m not sure I understand 2 Cor. 5:1-5 as saying we’ll have 3 bodies, but I do believe those who die before the rapture will have some kind identifiable presence during the time between shedding their old earthly body and receiving their new heavenly one. Various passages in scripture seem to indicate our spirits are not invisible wafts of air but will have a recognizable form.
The story of the rich man and Lazarus is a good example (Luke 16:19-31). First, Abraham, Lazarus and the rich man were all visible to each other. Second, how could Lazarus receive comfort and how could the rich man experience thirst or feel heat if they are only formless spirits? Third, does a spirit have fingers or a tongue as Luke 16:24 indicate? And fourth, can spirits be limited to specific locations as Luke 16:26 describes?
Clearly, there is much we don’t understand about the period between the death and resurrection of those who are in heaven awaiting our arrival.