Heavenly Father, please send back Your son to set up Your Kingdom.
We've covered some parts of this topic in the past ( Isaiah – Prophesies of the Kingdom, The Millenium and The Kingdom of God) but while they look at the Kingdom, this time we'll look at people in the Kingdom.
The Kingdom is to be on earth. We've already covered the pagan idea of heaven/Valhalla/Mount Olympus (The Ascension, Principles of the Early Church, First Principles – The Immortal Soul and Hell and death).
It is to be for those who God says is worthy. We will still have physical bodies, but instead of flesh and blood we will have flesh and spirit.
What our appearance is like, I don't know. Paul talks about this in his first letter to the Corinthians. It might be worth reading the entire chapter, but here are two sections which are highlight what we will be like
(1 Cor 15:51-54) ;
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
(1 Cor 15:35-44)
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
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.
What we will look like? Will I recognise my grandparents? How 'old' will I look? My answer to these questions is simply; I don't know!
But one day, I'll find out.
And so will everyone else who has been baptised in the name of Jesus and is trying to do what he would want.