When a Christian dies, initially, their spirit and soul go to heaven, which is an intermediate place for the righteous dead until the time of Christ's second coming (he only comes twice - Heb. 9:28) when they shall return to this earth with Christ in their glorified bodies in order to enter into the kingdom of God.
In relation to the same, we read:
Philippians chapter 1
[21] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
[22] But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
[23] For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
[24] Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
Again:
Romans chapter 8
[22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
[23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Yet, again:
II Corinthians chapter 5
[1] 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.
[2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
[3] If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
[4] 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.
[5] Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
[6] Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
[7] (For we walk by faith, not by sight)
[8] We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
[9] Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
While absent from the Lord who is in heaven and seated at the Father's right hand, or while still alive upon this earth in an earthly body, a Christian groans while desiring to be clothed upon with their house which is from heaven, or with their glorified body, or while awaiting the redemption of their body. At the same time, those Christians who have already died, or those Christians who are absent from their bodies and present with the Lord in heaven, similarly wait for their glorified bodies, and both sets of Christians, whether those who have already died in Christ or those who will yet be alive at his second coming, will receive their glorified bodies at Christ's second coming.
To this end, we read:
Ephesians chapter 1
[9] Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
[10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Again:
I Thessalonians chapter 4
[13] 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.
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
[15] 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.
[16] 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:
[17] 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.
[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
At Christ's second coming or at "the coming of the Lord" (vs. 15), he shall "descend from heaven" (vs. 16), and "them also which sleep in Jesus" (vs. 14) or "the dead in Christ" (vs. 16) "will God bring with him" (vs. 14), or with Jesus, from heaven because this is precisely where both Jesus and the dead in Christ are descending from. At the same time, "we which are alive and remain" unto the Lord's second coming "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" (vs. 17). These Christians who will yet be alive at the Lord's second coming "shall not prevent" or precede, which is what this Old English word means, "them which are asleep" (vs. 15) or shall not get their glorified bodies until "the dead in Christ rise first" (vs. 16).
Notice again that the both the Lord and the dead in Christ are DESCENDING FROM HEAVEN WHILE COMING TO THIS EARTH, and that the saints who are yet alive at that time are "caught up together with them IN THE CLOUDS" (vs. 17), WHICH ARE IN THIS EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE, in order "to meet the Lord IN THE AIR" (vs. 17), which is also referring to THIS EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE. In other words, no alleged U-turn back to heaven anywhere here (or elsewhere) during any alleged phony pre-tribulation or mid-tribulation rapture, but rather all of these things occur during THE LORD'S DESCENT FROM HEAVEN TO THIS EARTH.
The saints of God need their glorified bodies in order to enter into the kingdom of God which is coming to this earth, even as Jesus taught his disciples to pray:
Matthew chapter 6
[9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
[10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
[11] Give us this day our daily bread.
[12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
[13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
In relation to the exact reason why saints need their glorified bodies, we read:
I Corinthians chapter 15
[50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
[52] 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.
[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
The saints of God need their glorified or incorruptible bodies in order to inherit the kingdom of God, and, again, the kingdom of God is coming to this earth, even as Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Here, we see the same order of events that Paul described in I Thessalonians chapter 4. At Christ's second coming, the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, and we, those Christians who are yet alive at this time, shall be changed. Of course, this all transpires at the LAST trump or when the seventh or final trumpet of the book of Revelation sounds.
Having received their glorified bodies, the saints will reign and rule with Christ right here on earth for 1000 years during his Millennial Reign:
Revelation chapter 5
[9] And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
[10] And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Revelation chapter 20
[4] And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
[5] But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
[6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
This FIRST resurrection coincides with Christ's second coming, and there are no resurrections prior to this FIRST resurrection.
After Christ's Millennial Reign comes a new heaven and a new earth as the heavenly Jerusalem descends from heaven to this earth, and this is where the saints of God or Christians shall ultimately spend eternity.
Revelation chapter 21
[1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
[2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
[3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
[4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
[5] And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
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