This question was anticipated by St. Paul. After a discourse on the resurrection of the body, he launches into more detail by citing your question: “Someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” (1Cor. 15:35) His answer describes not just the resurrection of the dead bodies but also the dramatic instantaneous transformation of the bodies still living when Jesus comes again (see 1 Thess. 4:15-17) “Listen, I tell you a mystery; we will not all die, but at the last trumpet. “The trumpet will sound the dead will be raised imperishable and we (who are still living) will be changed (1 Cor. 15:51-52).

One of the best things about heaven and one of the worst things about hell will be the resurrected bodies we will receive on the last day. Persons living on earth at that time, whether they are to be saved or damned, will receive new imperishable bodies, which will share in the soul’s reward or punishment for all eternity. Jesus clearly states this in John 5:29, reiterating what Daniel had prophesied (Dan 12:2; see also, Is 26:19-21). When he (Jesus) appears, we shall be like him” (1 John 3:2). “Those already in heaven at that time will be much happier from that day on and those already in hell will experience much more anguish from that day on, says St. Thomas Aquinas.

The new bodies of the damned, like those of the elect, will be imperishable (1Cor. 15:52)- that is, indestructible: they cannot die (although the damned are “dead” to the life of grace). both the saved and the reprobate will have bodies that are integral; i.e. any amputated or missing parts will be restored (cf Mac. 7:11 and 14:46). There will be no defective eyesight or arthritics deformities, etc, in either the saved or condemned persons. However, in the reprobate defects resulting from the nature of the body itself, such as fatigue, pain sensitivity, etc., will be present to instrument their punishment (partially). Their features will appear horribly ugly, but not with any deformity that would violate the due proportion of parts to the whole, surmises St. Thomas (St. Augustine had doubts about this conjecture).

In our weariness “we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling “(2 Cor. 5:2). The exciting revelation of what awaits us in our glorified body should be a stimulus for hope. It is thrilling to know that “by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, he will transformed our lowly bodies so they will be like his own glorious body” (Phil. 3:21). The prospect of it is intoxicating)