Posted on 09/23/2008 2:29:23 PM PDT by Ebenezer
In the Creed we profess that we believe “in the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting.” That will take place at the end of the world at the Second Coming of Christ. The saved will shine like the sun and dwell in the New Jerusalem forever.
A question that has been on my mind for a long time, and for which I have not found an answer, is whether or not resurrected bodies will wear clothes. Will they be clothed or naked? Let me list some reasons for and against.
1) They will be clothed. When the resurrected, glorified Jesus appeared to his apostles, he was clothed. The Gospels do not affirm that but they assume it. When our Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette at Lourdes and to the three children at Fatima, she was clothed in white—we know that from the images of her that the visionaries described. In the past, when saints and angels appeared to human beings on earth, they too were clothed in white. That makes sense for the sake of modesty, given our present sinful state. In the Book of Revelation, the saints before the throne of God are “wearing white robes” (7:9; see also 3:5; 4:4; 6:11; 7:13). But St. John did not see resurrected bodies because the universal resurrection has not yet taken place. The commentaries say that the white robes are symbolic of victory, joy and resurrection.
The glorified bodies of Jesus and Mary are clothed, but what is the nature of their clothing? Is it a glorified fabric, similar to a glorified body? What style is it? Jesus and Mary seem to appear in the clothing they wore in Jerusalem two thousand years ago.
2) They will not be clothed. Adam and Eve were naked before their fall into sin. The New Jerusalem at the end of the world will be like a return to the Garden of Eden. Since there is no concupiscence or attraction to sin, it would seem that the resurrected do not need clothes.
When Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning, he left the shroud in which he was wrapped, plus the cloth for his face (see John 20:5-7). Was he covered with glorified clothes we know nothing about?
In baroque churches in Europe, the many cherubs or baby angels are naked. In Orvieto, Italy, a fresco in a chapel in the cathedral portrays the resurrected as coming up out of the ground naked. Since glorified bodies are immortal and not affected by cosmic heat or cold, they do not need clothing or shoes.
A further question would concern their hair style. Will they all have long hair the way Jesus has been seen (Sacred Heart, Jesus of the Divine Mercy)? Will the men have beards or will they be clean shaven?
As far as I know, St. Thomas Aquinas in his great Summa Theologiae does not treat this question. Perhaps he raised and answered the question in one of his other writings. Also, I wonder whether or not one of the Fathers of the Church or one of the other great medieval theologians ever expressed an opinion on this point. If any reader of this essay has information on the topic, please send me a letter and give me the reference.
I do not know the answer to this question, but divine things are beyond our power of comprehension unless they have been explicitly revealed to us by God. St. Paul said, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what things God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9). The coming and going of the resurrected Jesus through walls and then suddenly disappearing is very mysterious and indicates that glorified matter has capabilities that we know nothing about. The resurrected life is a wonderful experience to look forward to. The early Christians expressed this hope with the prayer, “Marana tha,” that is, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20).
No.
Were they naked before that? The scripture doesn't say. IMHO, we are either clothed with "clothes" or we are clothed with glory.
I don't think it will matter much since we will be in our celestial bodies.
6 if they are skinny 3 if they are fat. Source Peanuts
Yes we will be clothed but not how we view clothing GOD’s garments I imagine are angelic....
I’m pretty sure everybody wears fur.
Even in the summer? That doesn't sound heavenly.
Perhaps polyester leisure suits? They’re the one item of clothing yet to make a comeback! ;-P
It’s heaven. Doesn’t matter what the temperature is or what you’re wearing...it’s perfect. Duh.
>>6 if they are skinny 3 if they are fat. Source Peanuts<<
Geeze! You made that argument short. And I paid for the full half hour! :(
Thank you! I was hoping someone had already used angels/pin so I wouldn’t have to.
:-)
I hear they have casual Friday.
One of those things that we do not know, nor really does it really matter. The Sadduccees asked Jesus similar nit-picky questions about the age to come, and he told them "you know neither the scriptures, nor the power of God."
For the record, where in the Bible—Old or New Testament— would a reader find an Angel or Angels appearing larger than humankind or small enough to fit 5000 on the head of a pin?
I hear that “Project Runway” on Bravo TV is having a competition this season to design the proper wear for passing through the Golden Gates. The losers will be “eliminated”...permanently!
Indeed, but that is the second car mentioned in the Bible.
Can you name the first?
Could not say for sure.
Adam and Eve where naked and were not ashamed.
What I do know is I will have a perfect body so I will not care one way or the other.
“The New Jerusalem at the end of the world will be like a return to the Garden of Eden.”
FALSE assumption. It will not be like a return to the Garden.
You figured that out all on your own, did you?
Damn straight! I’m NOT just another pretty blond.
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