DOCTRINE OF INTERMEDIATE STATE (ITS LOCATION)

 

Subject: Intermediate State, Personal Eschatology

Where do the spirits of believers go at death? They go to be with Christ in heaven. The spirits of all believers immediately enter heaven at death. Some think that the spirits of the deceased saints go to subterranean hades and not to heaven. Such a view is unbiblical.

SCRIPTURAL PROOFS:

2 Corinthians 5:6-8: “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

·        When we are at home in the body (i.e. when we are living on this old earth) Þ We are away from the Lord (in one sense)

·        Paul seeks to be away from the body so that he will be at home with the Lord.

Philippians 1:23: “…. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”

·        The departed soul’s experience with Christ in heaven is “far better” (ESV), “very much better” (NASB) than their life on this earth.

·        Even if they get a chance to live one more life in this old, unrestored world, they will not choose it. Because their life in heaven, with their Saviour, is far better.

·        This also implies that the departed soul is enjoying a conscious fellowship with Christ in heaven that gives him much joy and comfort.

1 Thessalonians 4:14: “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  ”

Acts 7:55-59: “But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”…… 59And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Revelation 14:13: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

Luke 23:42-46: “And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”…. 46Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.”

·        Paradise is the same as heaven. Some equate paradise with the subterranean hades. That is false.

·        2 Corinthians 12:2, 3: “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven……. 3And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows”

·        Revelation 2:7: “To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”

Hebrews 12:22-24: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”

Where do the spirits of the old covenant believers go at death (or at their separation from earth)?

They also went to heaven.

·        Genesis 5:24: “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”

·        2 Kings 2:11: “And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”

·        Psalms 73:23, 24: “Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.”

·        Psalms 23:6: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Note: In some instances, “hades” or “sheol” is used to refer to grave and physical death (Genesis 37:35; 42:38; Acts 2:31).

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