Our Physical World |
In the Heavenly State, when all spirits were created, they were commanded to be obedient to God, their Creator. Lucifer, one of the head Archangels whom God had placed over some of His works, endeavoured to get all spirits to give allegiance to him and not to God. Some went fully with him, others endeavoured to resist him and only gave him partial allegiance, while the third group stood loyal to God and gave him no allegiance at all (see Isaiah 14:12-15).
God is now giving those of the second and third group an opportunity to prove their loyalty and obedience to Him through the means of a body and soul (see Romans 8:20).
God initially created a physical body called Adam, and sent one of the duo-spirits to "breathe life" into it. Later, he separated the male and female portions and created a second body - called Eve (see Genesis 2:7,21-23). After eating of the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve each possessed a physical body, with a life of blood, kept alive by the influence of the spirit which had been driven outside the body, then subject to death (see Genesis 3:19-23). The spirit ceased to be the direct life-source of the body. Both received a soul which had the same shape and form as the body, although not physical, and which was to learn the difference between good and evil (see Hebrews 4:12).
Physical death has reigned over the bodies of all who have come of Adam - with just a few exceptions. After death, the spirit returns to God who gave it. The body returns to dust in the grave, where the soul "sleeps" until the resurrection and day of judgment (see Ecclesiastes 12:7).
At our Saviour's return, each who has believed will arise with a "spiritual" body - the soul being as a "house" for the spirit to dwell in (see 1 Timothy 4:10).
There will, however, be a small number who will overcome the power which Satan has in causing man to die physically. These people will first enter fully into the presence of God's Spirit, into a condition referred to as "The Partial Redemption" (see Revelation 14:1,5).
Then at Jesus Christ's return, their spirits with God's Spirit will enter their souls and bodies, and become the life of them. There will be no longer a need for blood, as these people will have immortal physical bodies. They will have life by the indwelling Power of God, as Adam when first created, except that they will then be greater because they will have souls and a knowledge of good and evil, and not be subject to Satan's temptations again.