David Jeremiah - A Body for Heaven (11/19/2025)
Using the amazing example of Wim Hof enduring extreme cold, the preacher illustrates that human limits are temporary for Christians, pointing to the future transformation at the resurrection when believers will receive glorified bodies like Jesus'—real, recognizable, indestructible, and perfectly suited for eternity.
Wim Hof: A Picture of Human Potential
There aren’t many normal days on the site of Camp 3 near the summit of Mount Everest. The camp is usually set up at an elevation of around 24,500 feet, which is within the death zone caused by frigid temperatures and significantly reduced oxygen. So every person there is literally taking their life in their hands.
On a particular day back in 2007, everyone stood in slack-jawed amazement as a singular climber entered the camp. That climber’s name was Wim Hof, and in many ways he was similar to the other adventure seekers looking to summit the world’s highest mountain: bold, courageous, open to the risks others preferred to avoid.
The Key Difference: Defying the Cold
But there was one key difference about Wim: his clothing. While every other climber and every member of the support staff was decked out in the latest cold-weather gear—including performance jackets, gloves, the latest boots, and many other layers—Mr. Hof wore a pair of shorts, open-toed sandals, no shirt, no hat, no socks. Nothing stood between his body and the merciless cold.
Known throughout the world as The Iceman, Hof has become a legend for his ability to thrive in severe cold. Scientists are baffled by his ability to endure extremes that would mean certain death for any other person.
The Wim Hof Method and a Greater Truth
The Iceman attributes his extraordinary feats to what he calls the Wim Hof Method, which seems to be a combination of breathing techniques, cold exposure, meditation, and sheer determination. I have no idea whether Mr. Hof is a once-in-a-lifetime physical specimen, a motivational genius, or something else entirely.
But I do know that his ideas remind me of a truth I have been pondering for a long time: Human beings are destined for more than we currently experience. The limitations on our bodies are temporary if we are Christians. I’m talking about the physical transformation of all followers of Jesus, which we will experience at the resurrection, at the time of the Rapture.
Resurrection: More Than Resuscitation
The resurrection is more than resuscitation, friends. It is transformation. We are going to be changed. Three people rose from the dead in the Old Testament, and Jesus raised three people from death during His ministry: a boy in the town of Nain, a girl in Capernaum, and His friend Lazarus.
Both Peter and Paul brought some people back from death, but each of those examples was a temporary resurrection. And I always felt bad for Lazarus—he had to die twice. They became sick or suffered an accident and once again passed away.
Christ’s Unique Resurrection
Christ arose in a different way. The essence of His physical body was changed. It was glorified. It was rendered everlasting, imperishable, and improved with various abilities to enjoy forever. After His transformational resurrection, He would not and could not ever die again.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead provides the proof and the pattern for what is ahead for all of His children. In Philippians 3:21 we are told that Christ «will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be conformed to His glorious body.»
In 1 John 3:2 we read: «It has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.»
What Will Our New Bodies Be Like?
People want to know: What is my new body going to be like? There is no passage in Scripture that says, «Here’s exactly what the new body of a Christian will look like.» But we have almost the same thing, because if we are going to have bodies like the Lord Jesus, studying Him after His resurrection will show us what kind of bodies we will have.
1. Incarnate: Real Flesh and Bones
First of all, our new bodies will be incarnate—meaning in the flesh, a real physical bodily existence. We are not going to have spirit bodies as some people teach. I don’t even know if there is such a thing—I think that’s an oxymoron, isn’t it, a spirit body?
We won’t be floating spirits. We will have real physical bodies just like the resurrected Lord. He was on earth in His resurrection body for 40 days, and in those 40 days He showed us some examples of how our resurrection bodies will function.
Jesus said His body was real: «Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have» (Luke 24:39). Jesus wanted His disciples to know this wasn’t a dream or vision. He had really and physically risen from the dead.
Eating in the Resurrection Body
Here’s something that will make many of you really happy. Jesus ate on at least two occasions after He rose. Luke 24 says they gave Him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb, and He took it and ate in their presence.
John 21 says Jesus said to them, «Come and eat breakfast, ” and He took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. More than a few people have suggested that in heaven we will be able to eat without any negative effects—no gaining weight, tasting food like never before.
Touchable and Bearing Scars
Jesus also told Thomas to touch His body: „Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.“ Jesus had real scars on a real body. He retained the scars to prove His identity and to remind us throughout eternity of the cost of our salvation.
It is possible that Jesus might be the only one whose scars remain because they tell a story no one else can tell.
2. Identifiable: Still You
Our new bodies will also be identifiable. A lot of people worry about that—you will still be you, and everyone will recognize you. You’ll instantly know your loved ones.
On two occasions people were briefly confused about Jesus’ identity—at the tomb Mary thought He was the gardener, and on the Emmaus Road their eyes were restrained—but on every other occasion people identified Him and called Him by name.
Paul said, „Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.“ In the transfiguration, Peter, James, and John recognized Moses and Elijah even though their lives were separated by centuries.
An old lady once asked her pastor, „Will I know my daughter in heaven?“ He replied, „Did you recognize her on earth? We aren’t going to be less aware in heaven—we’ll be smarter, memories keener. Yes, you will instantly recognize her.“
3. Indestructible: No More Decay
Our new bodies will be indestructible. Paul wrote: „The body is sown in corruption, but it is raised in incorruption.“ Corruption is what happens to our old bodies—strokes, cancer, arthritis, aging. But from the instant of resurrection, our new bodies will never wear out or grow old.
They will be totally resistant to deterioration or decay, designed for eternity—not subject to accidents, disease, aging, or death. Pain-free and disease-free forever.
Romans 6:9 says of Jesus: „Since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him.“ That will be true of us too.
4. Illuminated: Radiating Glory
Our new bodies will be illuminated. 1 Corinthians 15:43 says the body „is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory”—and „glory“ here means brilliance. Moses’ face shone after being with God; Jesus shone on the Mount of Transfiguration.
In the New Jerusalem there will be no sun or moon—the light will come from Christ, and we will reflect that light. Shouldn’t our faces show a foretaste of that glow even now as we contemplate the Lord’s glory?
5. Incredible: Raised in Power
Our new bodies will be incredible. Paul says the body „is sown in weakness, but it is raised in power.“ No matter how hard we work out now, these bodies grow weaker with age. But thank God we won’t drag this frame into eternity.
Our resurrection bodies will be full of energy, bursting with power, perhaps capable of extraordinary functions—like Jesus passing through walls or appearing in distant places.
6. Infinite: A Spiritual Body
Finally, our new bodies will be infinite—raised a spiritual body. The natural body is suited for this earth; the spiritual body will be suited for heaven and the new earth, capable of living in both seen and unseen realms.
Wherever you are on the body cycle today, remember: God has something special waiting for all of us in heaven.
The Pattern and the Invitation
So what have we learned? The resurrection body of Jesus is the pattern for ours. It was physical and real—He could be touched, He ate, He spoke. But it was also glorified—no longer subject to pain, weakness, or death.
He could appear suddenly and pass through locked doors. His body was transformed, and one day ours will be too. Jesus was recognized not only by His face but by His personality—and that will be true for us. We will finally be fully ourselves as God designed.
The Bible teaches that all will be raised—believers to eternal life, unbelievers to judgment. Heaven and hell are both real and physical. The question is not whether you will live forever (everyone will), but where.
Heaven is about putting your trust in Jesus Christ and in Him alone. When you do that, you can know right now that you will spend eternity with Him.
My goal in teaching about heaven isn’t just to make us smarter—it’s to take as many people there as I can. Eye has not seen nor ear heard the things God has prepared. I’ve only touched the hem of the garment today, but it’s going to be way better than I can describe.
And I’m excited—one day I’m going to get a new body.