Complimentary Story
There is a lot of misconception out there as to what happens to us human folks when we step into eternity. A lot of that misconception comes from the influence of the movie and TV portrayals of what happens, and sadly most of those portrayals are far from reality. Contrary to popular thinking, humans do not become angels after death. Angels are special beings created by God as we see in Colossians 1:15-17, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature......For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.....And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”
This tells us that angels are entirely different from humans. They are God’s special agents to carry out His plan and to minister to the followers of Christ (Christians). Hebrews 1:13-14 explains further, “But to which of the angels said He at any time, ‘Sit on My right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?.....Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
There is no mention that angels were once human beings or anything else. They were created as angels from the beginning. Because angels were originally created as eternal beings, they do not need to experience the redemption that Christ provided for the human race. 1 Peter 1:12 shares further, “they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” The angels may enjoy hearing the Gospel, but experience of salvation is needed by us human folks, not the angels. If they were formerly humans the idea of salvation would not be a mystery to them as they would have been able to experience it themselves.
Luke 15:10 tells us, “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” God provided salvation in Christ for us, not the angels. Yet they know the importance of the Gospel and they rejoice every time a sinner turns to Christ.
So just what does happen when the believer in Christ dies? What happens then? The spirit of the believer goes to be with Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:8 says, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” There is no reference to a believer becoming an angel. It is interesting that on the Mount of Transfiguration, both Elijah and Moses were recognizable. They had not transformed into angels or anything else, but appeared as themselves. Although in glorified form, they were still recognizable to Peter, James and John. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 the Bible tells us, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope..... For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.....For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.....For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.....Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord....Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Paul tells us that believers in Christ are asleep in Jesus; that is, their physical bodies are dead, but their spirits live on. This text also tells us that when Christ returns, He will bring with Him those who are asleep in Him, and then their bodies will be raised, made new like Christ’s resurrected body, to be joined with their spirits which He brings with Him. All believers in Christ who are living at the return of Christ will have their bodies changed to be like Christ, and they will be brand new in their spirits....no longer having the old sin nature. We, as believers in Christ, will recognize one another and live with the Lord forever. We will serve Him throughout eternity, not as angels, but along with the angels. We can be so thankful for the living hope that He provides for the believer in Jesus Christ.
