Introducing: SMOKE SIGNALS - The KING Returns: In the flesh?

Greetings All:

This is the very first of (hopefully) many, many more 'Smoke Signals'. Small, simple messages with big impact. Also be looking for 'Crimson Caplets' (those are easier to swallow) on The RED PILL Consortium!

The word 'maranatha' means, "the LORD comes" or "the LORD is coming" and this is the blessed Hope of the church (TITUS 2:13)! Yet there are some in the ranks of Christendom that state that the LORD's coming is only in a spiritual sense; they claim that He is not physically going to return to this world. Many who espouse such a belief also believe in amillennialism, that is, there is no actual Millennial age in which Christ Jesus will reign as King over Israel as her Messiah (most certainly contrary to 2 SAMUEL 7 and PSALM 89, as well as LUKE 1:31-33 and ROMANS 11:26).

Yet what does the Word say regarding the coming of the LORD? Let's look at some scriptures:

LUKE 24:36
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

So we know that the LORD resurrected with a body that was tangible; He was not merely a spirit, but possessed both flesh and bone (note: no blood however, that was all shed for you and me). Yet one that enjoyed certain properties like appearing suddenly in closed rooms, while still able to eat food (LUKE 24:41-43).
From that point to the ascension there is no indication that the LORD 'shed' this body, and became only a spirit; therefore we can rightly assume He ascended into heaven in His glorified body -

ACTS 1:9-11
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (emphasis mine).
Note that the angels specify that the LORD is going to return in the same manner in which He ascended into heaven; in a glorified body (See also ZECH 12:10).

Paul speaks of the difference between a body that is corrupt and that which incorrupt, a body that is glorified and one that is in dishonor -

1 COR 15:42
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Take care to observe that while the body is sown a natural one, it's raised a spiritual body: not merely a spirit, but a spiritual body! Paul states there are two kinds of bodies: natural ones and spiritual ones!

Some that support that Christ Jesus no longer possesses a body but is now returned to His pre-incarnate state of Spirit use the following verse to prove it:

1 COR 15:45
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Adam was made a living soul, but was that all that he was? He also possessed a body of course. The LORD Jesus was a quickening spirit, but did He not also possess a body . . . and a soul as well? The distinction here is not that Christ is without a body, but the essence of who Adam was and who Christ is. Adam was living, but Jesus is a life-giving Spirit. Its a revelation of the two natures between Adam, and the LORD Jesus, as the context of this passage reveals.

Is there a verse that actually states that Christ Jesus, in heaven, right now, possesses a body? Yes, read the following:
PHIL 3:20-21
For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: . . . so we are looking for our Savior, from the place where we hold citizenship: "in heaven". He is going to return from that place for us, and what will He do for us once He appears to us? 
Verse 21 . . .
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself

(emphasis mine).

Our vile bodies are going to be fashioned like his glorious spirit?
No, that's not what it says, does it? It specifically says that our bodies will be fashioned like unto HIS glorified body.
1 COR 15:50
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Rest assured saints, when the LORD returns, in His physical, glorified body, His spiritual body, we shall inherit ones just like His and enter into the glories of heaven! For that is where our citizenship resides, not on this Earth below! (see PHIL 3:18-20)

May the LORD bless you as you keep looking for His soon Return!