Some bodies of deceased believers have been cremated and/or destroyed via explosion. Others have been devoured by wild animals, and still others by fish and other creatures of the sea. Are these the same bodies that Christ will make new during the rapture? Or, do you think that Christ will make completely new bodies for those believers?
In 1 Cor. 15:53 Paul wrote, “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”
Even dead bodies that have been properly buried quickly decay and eventually turn to dust no matter what the cause of their death. The bodies of some Christians have been in their graves for centuries, while their souls and spirits have been with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6-8).
I believe at the resurrection God will make a new perfect body for each deceased believer. Then He will send their soul and spirit to dwell in them. This is what Paul meant by saying the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thes 4:16).
Paul also said we won’t all die but we will all be changed (1 Cor. 15:50-53). He meant the bodies of living believers will be instantaneously changed from mortal to immortal and completely perfected at the same time.
Today we are a new creation by faith in what Jesus has done for us (2 Cor. 5:17) and God has chosen to see us that way (Hebrews 10:12-14) even though we still sin (Romans 7:18-20). When we arrive in heaven we will be a new creation in fact, perfect in every way, finally conformed to the likeness of God’s son (Romans 8:29, 1 John 3:2). No part of our earthly imperfection will enter heaven with us.