By Hank Hanegraaff

Scripture does not specifically address the issue of apparent age; however, it does provide glorious insights concerning the state of our resurrected bodies.

First, when God created Adam and Eve in Eden, He created them with apparent age and in the prime of life. Additionally, Jesus died and was resurrected at the prime of His physical development. Thus, we are justified in believing that whether we die in infancy, in our prime, or in old age, we will be resurrected physically mature and perfect, as God originally intended.

Furthermore, our DNA is programmed in such a way that at a particular point we reach optimal development from a functional perspective. For the most part, it appears that we reach this stage somewhere in our twenties or thirties. Prior to this stage, the development of our bodies (anabolism) exceeds the devolution of our bodies (catabolism). From this point on, the rate of breakdown exceeds the rate of buildup, which eventually leads to physical death. All of this is to say that if the blueprint for our glorified bodies is in the DNA, then it would stand to reason that our bodies will be resurrected at the optimal stage of development determined by our DNA.

Finally, one thing can be stated with certainty: in heaven, there will be no deformities. The body, tarnished by humanity’s fall into a life of perpetual sin terminated by death, will be utterly transformed. You will be the perfect you, and I will be the perfect me. Indeed, in heaven “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

Adapted from Resurrection

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer,
And the tongue of the dumb sing.

For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.

Isaiah 35:5–6 NKJV

For further study, see Peter J. Kreeft, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven, but Never Dreamed of Asking (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1990).

**Note the preceding text is adapted from a new Revised and Updated version of The Complete Bible Answer Book that is forthcoming. When available we will update this page with corresponding information. Until then you can still purchase or receive for your partnering gift the current version by clicking here for purchase or here for partnering gift. ***