There are two different types of bodies: celestial and terrestrial. “There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.” (1 Corinthians 15:40 NKJV) “It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:44 NKJV)
The Old Testament shows a glimpse of two men from ancient times being taken by God to heaven without dying causing their bodies to be changed.
The first example is of the man Enoch. He did not die; he was taken to heaven. “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” (Genesis 5:24 NKJV) “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5 KJV)
The definition of the word translation is described in the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary as meaning; the removal of a person to heaven without subjecting him to death.
A translation or transmutation of a being’s body to adapt (be suitable) to live from one type of environment to a completely different environment for which the previous body could not survive.
The second man was Elijah. “Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (2 Kings 2:11 NKJV)
Both of these men, their bodies left the earth and they were transported to heaven much like Jesus was from the Mount of Olives. “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9 NKJV)
It looks like what we see happened to both Enoch and Elijah and to their physical bodies to enter into heaven can be explained in the following scripture.
“What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.” (1 Corinthians 15:50-52 NLT)
Changing from earthly to heavenly bodies also works in reverse. The following is just one of the examples of this in the Bible.
Two angles took on earthly form to pull Lot and his family out of Sodom by their hands. “When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.” (Genesis 19:15-16 NKJV)