ALL MEN AND WOMEN BELIEVERS WILL BE TRANSFORMED IN HEAVEN LIKE UNTO THE ANGELS – MOSTLY OF MALE GENDER. THIS ISSUE BECOMES ADEQUATELY CLEAR WHEN WE EXAMINE WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT THE ISSUE OF MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY IN HEAVEN. “There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; and the second married the widow and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; none of the seven left children. Last of all, the woman herself died. In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.” (Mark 12:20-22). “For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” (Mk 12:25). THE KEY TEXT IS IN MK 12:25, MT 22:30 AND LK 20:36, THAT ‘THEY WILL BE LIKE THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN’. “LIKE ANGELS IN HEAVEN” MIGHT MEAN LIKE  MALES BECAUSE THERE IS NO FEMALE ANGEL. Angels in the Bible consistently appear to be male, not sexless or female. And in Genesis 6, this is particularly clear. In resurrection people shall be "like the angels." The fact that there is no marriage does not necessarily mean there is no gender.

EVERY REFERENCE TO ANGELS IN THE SCRIPTURE IS IN THE MASCULINE GENDER. The Greek word for “angel” in the New Testament, angelos, is in the masculine form. Angels are never referred to in any gender other than masculine. In the many appearances of angels in the Bible, never is an angel referred to as “she” or “it.” Furthermore, when angels appeared, they were always dressed as human males (Gen 18:2, 16; Eze 9:2). No angel ever appears in Scripture dressed as a female. The only named angels in the Bible - Michael, Gabriel, Lucifer - had male names and all are referred to in the masculine. “Michael and his angels” (Rev 12:7). “Mary was greatly troubled at his (Gabriel’s) words” (Lk 1:29). “Oh, Lucifer, son of the morning” (Isa 14:12). Other references to angels are always in the masculine gender. In Judges 6:21 the angel holds a staff in “his” hand. Zechariah asks an angel a question and reports that “he” answered (Zech 1:19).  The angels in Revelation are all spoken of as “he” and their possessions as “his” (Rev 10:1, 5; 14:19; 16:2; 4, 17; 20:1). ANGELS WHO CAME TO LOT AND SODOM WERE CALLED MALE MEN. GENESIS 19:1-5 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

THERE ARE NO FEMALE ANGELS. ANGELS ARE AGELESS SPIRITUAL BEINGS THAT DO NOT NEED TO REPRODUCE TO SURVIVE, UNLIKE MORTALS. But the sinful, fallen angels were aroused by mortal females as evidence by the Nephilim. See Gen 6:1-4 ‘When people began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them, the sons of God (angels) saw that they were fair; and they took wives for themselves of all that they chose. Then the LORD said, ‘My spirit shall not abide in mortals forever, for they are flesh; their days shall be one hundred and twenty years.’ The Nephilim were on the earth in those days - and also afterwards - when the sons of God went in to the daughters of humans, who bore children to them’.

THE IDENTITY OF BELIEVERS IN HEAVEN SHALL BE THE SONS OF GOD TRANSFORMED AFTER THE IMAGE OF JESUS CHRIST WHO IS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN THE SON OF GOD. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor 3:17-18). For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God (Rom 8:18-19).

IN THE BIBLE THE ONLY FEMALE CONCEPT FOR ETERNITY IN HEAVEN IS ONLY ABOUT THE CHURCH IN THE CORPORATE SENSE. In the Scripture God is always described in the male role with his people corporately described as female. Thus God is presented as husband and Israel as wife, Jesus as bridegroom and the Church as the bride (Eph 5:25-32). THERE IS NO REFERENCE IN THE BIBLE ABOUT THE FEMALE SAINTS IN HEAVEN AS THERE ARE ABOUT MALES. In LK 16:19-21, Abraham and Lazarus were both recognized and identified as men. When Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus at the Transfiguration, they were clearly identified as men both in description and in the use of male pronouns. MT 17:1-13. The same is true when Jesus spoke of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in refuting the Sadducees in MT 22:29-32. But Jesus answered and said unto them, ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not [the God] of the dead, but of the living.

WOMAN EVE WAS MADE FROM MAN ADAM. This was a temporary arrangement to meet the exigencies of the reproductive process on the earth. But when that requirement is fulfilled on the earth, and thereafter in the life in heaven, it shall not be like that. IN THE GLORIFIED BODIES OF RESURRECTION THE WOMANHOOD SHALL BE RENOUNCED TO RECOVER THE MANHOOD OF THE PERSON. HENCE THERE SHALL NO WOMANKIND IN HEAVEN. ALL THE SAVED WOMEN SAINTS ON EARTH WILL BECOME SAINTS OF THE NATURE OF MANKIND LIKE UNTO ANGELS.

THE NATURE OF OUR RESURRECTION BODIES WILL BE CHANGED INTO SPIRITUAL. Jesus takes his bodily wounds into the resurrection life. "After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing," (Jn 20:26-27). Luke 24 tells us that he ate fish, and John 21 that he cooked some for others.  "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body," (1Cor 15:42-44). So, our resurrected bodies will be like that of Jesus. HERE WE SHALL EXAMINE SOME OF THE SUPPORTING VERSES. ROM 8:18-23 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward. For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for [our] adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body. REV 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. REV 22:3-5 And there shall be no curse any more: and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein: and his servants (Part of Speech: Noun Case: Nominative Gender: Masculine Number: Plural) shall serve him; and they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] on their foreheads. And there shall be night no more; and they need no light of lamp, neither light of sun; for the Lord God shall give them light: and they shall reign forever and ever.

NO FLESH AND BLOOD ENTER CAN HEAVEN. HENCE THOSE WHO ENTER HEAVEN WILL UNDERGO A CHANGE IN THE NATURE OF THEIR BODIES. 1 Cor 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  The Bible speaks of the resurrection of the physical body from the grave, which is composed of “flesh and bones” and which leaves an empty tomb behind (Lk 24:39; Mt 28:6). However, according to this verse, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” The expression “flesh and blood” occurs only five times in the New Testament.  Mt 16:13-17: “Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father who is in heaven.” Gal 1:16: “Straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood. Eph 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood.  Heb 2:14:, “For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same. Rom.8:3 says Jesus came in the “likeness of sinful flesh”, in other words he was fully man, he looked like any other but without the sin. We can see that in all these cases the expression FLESH AND BLOOD can be understood as referring to the SPIRITUAL IN CONTRAST TO THE MATERIAL. In Jn.3:3-5 Jesus explains that one cannot enter God's kingdom without being spiritually regenerated. Only that which is pure, incorruptible and immortal can enter heaven, this is why there must be a change. The believers will receive  a SPIRITUAL BODY in the resurrection. The “spiritual body” should be defined by the example of the resurrected body of Jesus. He described his body as one of flesh and bone, probably without blood (Lk.24:39). The resurrection body has no need of blood as its life because its nature will not be the same.  There is neither hunger nor thirst. But we can eat but not from necessity. We will still have our body but many things will change. 1 Cor 15: 51-52 The corruptible will put on incorruption, and mortality will become immortality. We need to have a complete change to make us suitable for our new environment. This implies a conversion of our same physical bodies to a body with heavenly qualities. 2 Cor. 5:1-6: For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. Thus we will have a new body and new place to live.

To convince the frightened disciples that He was not an immaterial spirit, Jesus emphatically told them, 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. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. (Lk 24:37-43). Christ uses the “Flesh and Bone” imagery precisely to recall  and relate Adam and Eve, to Christ and Church.  And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man (Gen 2:21-23). Eph 5:30, For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. Thus Church identified as the New Eve and Christ as the New Adam.  God took a rib from Adam’s side to make Eve. Christ gave us blood and water from His side to make the Church. God took the rib when Adam was in a deep sleep, and in the same way Christ gave us the blood and the water from His body after His own death.

THUS ALL WILL RECEIVE NEW BODIES AND EVEN NEW NAMES. REV 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it. IN THE SCENE IN HEAVEN IN REV 5:8, 24 ELDERS ARE ALL REFERED TO AS MALES. And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. IN REV 5:10 THE SAVED PEOPLE ARE REFERED TO AS KINGS AND PRIESTS. And madest them [to be] unto our God kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth.1PET 2:9 But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood,   a holy nation, a people for [God's] own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

THERE WILL BE NO CONTINUITY OF THE EARTHLY HUMAN RELATIONS IN HEAVEN. THE PRIMARY RELATIONSHIP IN THE FAMILY OF GOD SHALL BE BASED ON THE BLOOD OF JESUS. In hell there might be. The rich man could recognize lazar. But that can only be part of the torture in hell. In heaven the most honorable relationship imaginable is with god, worshipping him, with all the redeemed. We should look at these great truths not just from human perspective, but the perspective of the word of God, and God’s eternal truth. WE WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF JESUS AND MALE LIKE ANGELS. This does not mean people are genderless, as the masculine pronoun is always used many times to describe angels. Jesus also retained His gender after His death and resurrection.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

THERE IS NO MARRIAGE IN HEAVEN. While we do not lose our identity in heaven, we will not hold the same relationships that we do on earth. The nature of our existence will be quite different from what we are used to on the earth.  In heaven there is no need of differentiated biological sex identity as male and female as procreation is no longer necessary. The debate between Jesus and the Sadducees about the possibility of marriage relations in heaven at the instance of bodily resurrection proves that in heaven all shall be like angels. Jesus taught very clearly that marriage is a relationship to be enjoyed in this life, but it will not carry forward into the next life. There will be higher appetites and desires which are infinitely more gratifying in heaven. The marriage relationship is a picture of our relationship with Christ. The reality of the spiritual relationship with Christ is yet to come. Hence Jesus is illustrated as the Bridegroom, the Church as the Bride, and our celebration in heaven as Wedding.

THE TRUE LIBERATION OF WOMEN AND MEN IS AT THE RESURRECTION WHEN ALL WILL BE REVEALED AS SONS OF GOD. Masculinity or maleness is the original sex identity of the human being, as is clear from the case of Adam. Man is created in the image of God. Sex wise masculinity is the image of God, not feminity. Women share the humanity and image of God equally, just as men do share. Here lies the essential equality of men and women. Only thing is that in resurrection women will recover their original masculine identity. Till then woman is an ideal help for man, and all women do a very key ministry in the entire human project. Hence gender shall remain and it shall be male, but might not be exactly retaining all the current features of human masculinity. Womanhood is a temporary arrangement, made from the rib of man. So is all the social status, jobs, physical markings like broken limbs, etc., will not be retained in heaven. All the wounds of Jesus were not retained in the resurrection body. In fact woman is also equally man, in the essentials of the humanity. But not independently created like man, so that woman shall invariably be related to man, in all the affairs of life. So in resurrection, there shall be an eschatological transformation and all shall be transformed into glorified male, masculine authoritative resurrected bodies, and shall become like angels. Only in a temporal and transient sense women are addressed as daughters of god. In the more substantial and eternal sense women are also addressed as sons of god, as is clear from Rom 8:18-23. The present differences between man and woman are marked by the reproductive exigencies. As life in heaven does not have those, there would not be any male female distinctions in the glorified resurrected bodies. Hence humans shall be like the angels, said Jesus.

THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO MOTHER IN THE PARABLE OF PRODIGAL SON, IS YET ANOTHER DEFINITE BUT INDIRECT PROOF THAT THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR FEMALE GENDER IN HEAVEN. The saved men and women shall be the sons of God in heaven.